Main interface

• 1: Login page
• 2: Main dashboard
• 3: Settings page
• 4: Logs page
• 5: Help page
• 6: Instance details
• 6.1: Instance informations
• 6.2: Diagnostic tools
• 6.3: Software setup page
• 6.4: Performance page
• 6.5: Disks usage page
• 6.6: Local groups page
• 6.7: Local users page
• 6.8: Applications page
• 6.9: Updates page
• 6.10: Processes page
• 6.11: Roles and Features page
• 6.12: Services page
• 6.13: Windows Event Logs page

1 - Login page

This guide explains how to log into Ohlala Operations for Amazon EC2, supporting both Active Directory (AD) authentication and local authentication based on your configuration.

Disclaimer

When accessing Ohlala Operations, you will be presented with the disclaimer page:

Required Credentials

You need to enter:

• Username: Your AD username or local account username
• Password: The corresponding password

Then click Sign in to authenticate.

Authentication Methods

Ohlala Operations supports two authentication modes:

1. Active Directory Authentication

If the system is configured for Active Directory authentication, use your corporate AD credentials:

• Username: Your AD username (e.g., jdoe)
• Password: Your AD account password

Ensure that your account has been granted access by the administrator.

2. Local Authentication

If local authentication is enabled, you will log in with a locally managed account:

• Username: The local username configured by the administrator
• Password: The corresponding password

If you forget your local credentials, please run the setup wizard to reconfigure it.

Troubleshooting Login Issues

• Incorrect Credentials: Double-check your username and password.
• Forgot Password: Contact your administrator to reset it.
• Access Denied: Ensure your account has been granted permission.
• AD Login Issues: Ensure the domain controller is reachable and your account is active.

For further assistance, refer to the official documentation or contact support.

✨ Ohlala Operations - Automate Windows Server Management on AWS! ✨

2 - Main dashboard

Welcome to the Ohlala Operations for Amazon EC2 dashboard! This guide provides an overview of the different sections, actions, and functionalities available on the main interface.

Dashboard Overview

The dashboard serves as the central hub for managing your EC2 instances efficiently. It provides key information about instance status, patching, and power actions.

1. Navigation Menu

Located on the left side of the interface, the navigation menu allows quick access to different sections:

• Dashboard: Displays an overview of managed EC2 instances.
• Settings: Configure system preferences, authentication settings, and auto-refresh intervals.
• Logs: View historical logs for audits and troubleshooting.
• Help: Access documentation and support.

2. Instance Table

The main section of the dashboard lists all monitored EC2 instances with relevant details:

• Name: The instance name (click to open instance details view).
• State: Indicates whether the instance is running or stopped.
• Power Actions: Quick controls to manage instance power:
  • Power On/Off: Start or stop the instance.
  • Restart: Reboot the instance.
• SSM Status: Shows the connection status of AWS Systems Manager (SSM).
• Windows Updates: Displays pending updates and allows immediate patching. Click Patch now! to apply updates immediately.
• Patching Schedule: Configure automatic update schedules for instances. Go in the Settings page to configure the schedules.
• AD Status: Indicate if your instance is joined to a domain. You can click Join Domain to make your instance join your domain automatically.

3. Search & Filters

Above the instance table, a search bar allows users to quickly find specific instances by name.

4. Refresh Button

Click Refresh to update the instance table with the latest status and available actions.

Please note that some actions may require several minutes before being refreshed (join domain requires a reboot for a example, if your EC2 has a lot of Windows Updates not installed…).

5. User Authentication

In the top-right corner, the currently signed-in user is displayed. Click Sign out to log out.

✨ Ohlala Operations - Automate Windows Server Management on AWS! ✨

3 - Settings page

The Settings page in Ohlala Operations allows administrators to configure various system settings, including authentication, logging, dashboard refresh rates, and patching schedules.

Sections Overview

1. Configure LDAP Settings

• This section is used to configure LDAP authentication.
• LDAP settings are initially set up using the first run setup wizard.
• To modify LDAP settings, rerun the setup wizard by clicking Run first run setup wizard.

2. Certificate Hostname

There is no support to import your own certificate at this time. We recommend setting up your own load balancer (ALB) in front of Ohlala Operations for Amazon EC2.

• Defines the hostname used for the self-signed certificate.
• Changing this value updates the DNS name used to access the web server.
• Enter the desired hostname and click Save hostname to apply changes.
• Adjust the A or CNAME record in your DNS accordingly.

3. Patching Groups Schedules

• Allows configuration of cron expressions to schedule patching groups.
• The cron expression format is: Minutes Hours DayOfMonth Month DayOfWeek Year.
• Click Save schedule after modifying a group schedule.
• Additional information is available on AWS Systems Manager cron expressions.

Example: cron(0 3 ? * 1 *) runs the patching every Monday at 3 AM.

4. Logging Level

• Controls the verbosity of logs generated by Ohlala Operations for Amazon EC2.
• Available levels:
  • INFO (default)
  • WARNING
  • ERROR
  • DEBUG
• Select a level from the dropdown and click Save log level.

We recommend setting the log level to INFO for regular operations.

5. Set Dashboard Auto-Refresh

• Configures how often the Dashboard refreshes automatically.
• Enter a value in seconds (e.g., 60 for 1 minute refresh intervals). We recommend to set it to a value greater than 30 seconds.
• Click Save Dashboard auto-refresh interval to apply changes.

6. DHMC (Default Host Management Configuration)

• DHMC is used to automatically assign the Ohlala automation IAM role to new EC2 instances.
• Toggle Enable/Disable to activate or deactivate this feature.
• Click Save DHMC to confirm changes.

We recommend enabling DHMC by default.

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4 - Logs page

Overview

The Logs Page in Ohlala Operations provides a detailed view of system logs, allowing administrators to track command execution and system status in real time.

Features

• Search Bar: Filter logs using keywords to find relevant entries quickly.
• Download Logs: Export logs for further analysis.
• Pagination Controls: Navigate through log pages with Next and Previous buttons.
• Log Table: Displays log details, including:
  • Date: Timestamp of the log entry.
  • Log Level: Indicates the severity or category of the log.
  • Message: Describes the action performed, including instance ID and status.

Log Table Structure

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5 - Help page

Overview

The Help Page in Ohlala Operations provides users with video tutorials to assist with navigating and configuring the product. This page is designed to complement the main documentation by offering visual guidance on key features.

Accessing the Help Page

1. Log in to Ohlala Operations.
2. Click on Help in the left sidebar.
3. Browse the available videos or use the search bar to filter content.

Viewing Videos

• Each help topic includes an embedded video.
• Click Play to watch the tutorial.
• Use the search bar to find relevant topics quickly.

Additional Support

For further assistance:

• Visit our main documentation at ohlala.cloud
• Contact our support team at contact@ohlala.cloud

✨ Ohlala Operations - Automate Windows Server Management on AWS! ✨

6 - Instance details

This menu is only available as a link in the main dashboard for Microsoft Windows EC2. It opens in a new tab.

Features

Users can navigate to other sections via the left sidebar to access:

• General instance information
• Diagnostics tools
• Software Setup
• Performance metrics
• Disks Usage
• Local Users & Groups
• Installed Applications
• Windows Services
• Running Processes
• Windows Event Logs
• Available Updates
• Roles and Features

✨ Ohlala Operations - Automate Windows Server Management on AWS! ✨

6.1 - Instance informations

The Instance Information Page in Ohlala Operations provides detailed information about a selected Amazon EC2 instance. It allows users to monitor key system details and perform essential actions such as starting, rebooting, stopping, and patching the instance.

Accessing the Instance Information Page

1. Navigate to the Dashboard.
2. Click on an instance to open its Instance Info Page.

Displayed Information

Server ID Card

This section provides a quick summary of the instance, including:

• Instance ID: Unique identifier of the EC2 instance.
• Instance Name: Tag Name of the instance
• Computer Name: Internal hostname of the server (in the OS).
• Instance Type: The AWS instance type (e.g., t3.medium).
• Private IP Address: Internal IP address within the VPC.

Instance Info Details

This section presents a more detailed view, including:

• Instance ID: AWS-assigned unique identifier.
• State: Current status (running, stopped, etc.).
• Instance Name: Tag Name of the instance
• Computer Name: The Windows hostname (in the OS).
• Domain Joined: Indicates if the instance is joined to an Active Directory domain (True or False).
• Domain: The domain or workgroup the instance belongs to.
• Instance Type: The AWS instance size and type.
• Private IP Address: The internal networking address.
• Last Boot Up Time: Timestamp of the last instance startup.
• SSM Inventory Collection: Indicates if AWS Systems Manager inventory collection is enabled.
• Reboot Pending: Displays Yes if a reboot is required.

Available Actions

Instance Control

Users can perform the following actions on the instance:

• Start: Power on a stopped instance.
• Reboot: Restart the instance.
• Stop: Shut down the instance.

Patch Management

• Patch Now: Apply pending updates immediately.

Active Directory membership

• Join Domain: Join the machine to your Active Directory domain. This only applies if you provided Active Directory credentials.

✨ Ohlala Operations - Automate Windows Server Management on AWS! ✨

6.2 - Diagnostic tools

Overview

The Diagnostics Tools Menu in Ohlala Operations provides essential troubleshooting tools to help users diagnose network and system-related issues on their Windows EC2 instances. These tools allow administrators to execute commands directly from the web interface, making it easy to gather system information and test connectivity.

Available Actions

1. Run a Custom PowerShell Script

• Users can provide their own PowerShell script to be executed on the instance.
• This allows for advanced diagnostics and custom troubleshooting.
• Example usage:

Get-ChildItem C:\

2. Run a Ping Command

• Tests network connectivity to a specified hostname or IP address.
• Helps identify packet loss and response times.

3. Run a Traceroute Command

• Determines the route packets take to reach a destination.
• Useful for identifying network bottlenecks and latency issues.

4. Run a DNS Lookup

• Resolves a domain name to an IP address using DNS servers.
• Helps troubleshoot domain resolution issues.

5. Run Netstat to Check Listening Ports

• Displays active network connections and listening ports on the instance.
• Helps identify running services and potential security risks.

6. Run IPConfig

• Displays the current network configuration of the instance.
• Useful for checking assigned IP addresses, gateways, and DNS servers.

7. Run Test-NetConnection to a Host and Port

• Tests connectivity to a specific host and port.
• Useful for verifying if a remote service is reachable from the EC2.

✨ Ohlala Operations - Automate Windows Server Management on AWS! ✨

6.3 - Software setup page

Overview

The Software Setup page in Ohlala Operations for Amazon EC2 simplifies the installation and configuration of essential tools and settings on your Windows EC2 instances. This functionality ensures that your instances are optimized and pre-configured for automation, monitoring, and management.

Available Actions

Install/Uninstall AWS Components

• VSS Components - Manages the installation of Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) components for backup and restore operations.
• CloudWatch Agent - Installs or uninstalls the Amazon CloudWatch Agent to enable system monitoring and logging.
• CloudWatch Agent - Apply default configuration or unconfigure Amazon CloudWatch Agent.

Install/Uninstall Software

• AWS CLI V2 - Installs or removes AWS CLI V2 to enable interaction with AWS services.
• Google Chrome - Provides an option to install or uninstall Google Chrome for web browsing.
• PowerShell 7 - Installs or removes the latest version of PowerShell 7 for advanced scripting and automation.

Install/Uninstall tools

• Process Explorer - Installs or uninstalls Process Explorer, a tool for detailed process management.
• Process Monitor - Installs or removes Process Monitor, useful for troubleshooting and system analysis.

Configuration and System Tweaks

• Default CloudWatch Agent Configuration - Applies a default configuration to the CloudWatch Agent for monitoring logs and metrics.
• Disable First Run Experience for Microsoft Edge - Prevents Microsoft Edge from displaying the first-run experience setup screen.
• Disable Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration - Turns off IE Enhanced Security Configuration for a smoother browsing experience.
• Disable Server Manager Auto Launch - Prevents Server Manager from automatically launching on login by disabling the scheduled task.

The list will keep on growing!

✨ Ohlala Operations - Automate Windows Server Management on AWS! ✨

6.4 - Performance page

Overview

The Performance Page in Ohlala Operations for Amazon EC2 provides performance monitoring of your Windows EC2 instances. It presents key system metrics in an easy-to-read chart format, allowing administrators to track resource usage and detect performance bottlenecks.

Monitored Metrics

CPU Utilization

• Displays the percentage of CPU usage over time.
• Helps identify high CPU consumption caused by processes or workloads.

Memory Utilization

• Shows the percentage of RAM usage.
• Useful for diagnosing memory pressure and optimizing resource allocation.

Disk Read/Write

• Monitors disk activity, displaying read and write speeds in KB/s.
• Helps track I/O performance and detect storage bottlenecks.

Network Traffic (Ethernet)

• Displays the amount of data sent and received over network interfaces in KB/s.
• Useful for analyzing network load and troubleshooting connectivity issues.

✨ Ohlala Operations - Automate Windows Server Management on AWS! ✨

6.5 - Disks usage page

Overview

The Disks Usage Page in Ohlala Operations for Amazon EC2 provides a clear breakdown of storage usage on each disk within your Windows EC2 instance. It helps administrators monitor disk capacity and ensure sufficient free space for optimal system performance.

Displayed Information

Disk Name

• Identifies the drive (e.g., C:\, D:\).
• Displays all mounted volumes on the instance.

Used Storage (GB)

• Shows the amount of disk space currently in use.
• Helps track storage consumption trends over time.

Free Storage (GB)

• Indicates the remaining available disk space.
• Useful for proactive disk space management.

Total Storage (GB)

• Displays the total disk capacity.
• Helps assess overall storage availability and plan for scaling if necessary.

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6.6 - Local groups page

Overview

The Local Groups Page in Ohlala Operations for Amazon EC2 provides an interface to manage Windows local groups and their members. It allows administrators to control user access efficiently and export group data for auditing purposes.

Displayed Information

Local Groups Table

• Lists all local groups on the Windows machine.
• Displays group name, description, and members (local users).
• Data can be exported as a CSV file for further analysis.

Available Actions

Add a User to a Group

• Assigns a local user to an existing group.
• Ensures users have the correct permissions.

Remove a User from a Group

• Removes a user’s membership from a specified group.
• Helps maintain security by limiting access.

Create a Group

• Allows the creation of a new local group.
• Useful for organizing users with similar privileges.

Delete a Group

• Deletes a local group that is no longer needed.
• Helps maintain a clean and organized user management structure.

✨ Ohlala Operations - Automate Windows Server Management on AWS! ✨

6.7 - Local users page

Overview

The Local Users Page in Ohlala Operations for Amazon EC2 provides a complete list of local users on a Windows machine, along with detailed account properties. It allows administrators to manage users efficiently and export data for auditing purposes.

Displayed Information

Local Users Table

• Lists all local user accounts on the Windows machine.
• Displays the following details for each user:
  • Username
  • Description
  • Domain (Windows machine name)
  • Full Name (if applicable)
  • Account Locked Out status
  • Password Change Allowed status
  • Password Expiration status
  • Password Requirement status
  • Security Identifier (SID)
  • Status (e.g., OK, Degraded)
• Data can be exported as a CSV file for reporting and analysis.

Available Actions

Add a User to a Local Group

• Grants the user membership in a specified local group.

Remove a User from a Local Group

• Removes a user from a specific local group.

Create a User

• Creates a new local user account.

Delete a User

• Removes a local user account from the system.

Reset a User’s Password

• Resets the password for a selected user.
• Useful for account recovery and security management.

✨ Ohlala Operations - Automate Windows Server Management on AWS! ✨

6.8 - Applications page

Overview

The Applications Page in Ohlala Operations for Amazon EC2 provides a comprehensive list of installed applications retrieved from the Windows Add/Remove Programs panel. This page helps administrators track software installations and manage system compliance.

Displayed Information

Installed Applications Table

• Lists all installed applications detected on the Windows machine.
• Displays the following details for each application:
  • Name – The application’s display name.
  • Publisher – The company or developer that published the software.
  • Version – The installed version of the application.
  • Architecture – Specifies whether the application is 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64).
• Data can be exported as a CSV file for inventory management and compliance tracking.

✨ Ohlala Operations - Automate Windows Server Management on AWS! ✨

6.9 - Updates page

Overview

The Windows Updates Page in Ohlala Operations for Amazon EC2 provides a detailed list of applicable Windows updates for the server. This page helps administrators track and manage system updates to maintain security and performance.

Displayed Information

Windows Updates Table

• Lists all Windows updates available for the system.
• Displays the following details for each update:
  • KB Article # – The unique identifier for the update.
  • Title – The name of the update.
  • Description – A brief summary of what the update addresses.
  • Downloaded – Indicates if the update has been downloaded.
  • Installed – Indicates if the update is already installed.
  • Uninstallable – Specifies whether the update can be removed.
  • Last Deployment – The date when the update was last deployed.
  • More Information URLs – Links to additional details about the update.
  • MSRC Severity – The Microsoft Security Response Center severity rating.
  • Reboot Required – Specifies whether a system reboot is needed after applying the update.
  • Security Bulletin ID – The security bulletin associated with the update (if applicable).
  • Support URL – A link to Microsoft’s support page for the update.
• Data can be exported as a CSV file for patch management and compliance tracking.

✨ Ohlala Operations - Automate Windows Server Management on AWS! ✨

6.10 - Processes page

Overview

The Processes Page in Ohlala Operations for Amazon EC2 provides a real-time view of running processes on a Windows instance. This page helps administrators monitor resource usage, detect high-consumption processes, and manage system performance effectively.

Displayed Information

Running Processes Table

• Lists all active processes currently running on the system.
• Displays the following details for each process:
  • Process ID (PID) – A unique identifier for the process.
  • Name – The executable name of the process.
  • CPU Consumption – The percentage of CPU used by the process.
  • Memory Consumption – The amount of memory consumed by the process.
  • Handles Opened – The number of handles the process has opened.
  • Start Time – The timestamp when the process was initiated.
  • Thread Count – The number of active threads within the process.
• Data can be exported as a CSV file for further analysis and reporting.

✨ Ohlala Operations - Automate Windows Server Management on AWS! ✨

6.11 - Roles and Features page

Overview

The Roles and Features Page in Ohlala Operations for Amazon EC2 provides a detailed list of Windows Server roles and features installed on an instance. This page allows administrators to manage system capabilities efficiently by adding or removing roles as needed.

Displayed Information

Roles and Features Table

• Lists all available roles and features on the Windows Server instance.
• Displays the following details for each role/feature:
  • Name – The system identifier of the role or feature.
  • Display Name – The human-readable name of the role or feature.
  • Installed State – Indicates whether the role or feature is currently installed.
  • Description – Provides a brief overview of the role or feature’s functionality.
• Data can be exported as a CSV file for auditing and compliance tracking.

Available Actions

Add a Role or Feature

• Installs a selected Windows Server role or feature.

Remove a Role or Feature

• Uninstalls a selected Windows Server role or feature.

✨ Ohlala Operations - Automate Windows Server Management on AWS! ✨

6.12 - Services page

Overview

The Windows Services Page in Ohlala Operations for Amazon EC2 provides an overview of all system services running on a Windows instance. It allows administrators to monitor service dependencies, control service states, and manage system performance.

Displayed Information

Windows Services Table

• Lists all services available on the system.
• Displays the following details for each service:
  • Display Name – The user-friendly name of the service.
  • Name – The internal system name of the service.
  • Dependent Services – Lists services that rely on this service.
  • Services It Depends On – Displays dependencies required for this service to function.
  • Service Type – Indicates whether the service is a system, user, or network service.
  • Start Type – Specifies how the service starts (e.g., Manual, Automatic, Disabled).
  • Status – Shows the current state of the service (e.g., Running, Stopped, Paused).
• Data can be exported as a CSV file for auditing and documentation.

Available Actions

Start a Service

• Initiates a stopped service.

Stop a Service

• Halts a running service.

Restart a Service

• Stops and immediately restarts a selected service.

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6.13 - Windows Event Logs page

Overview

The Windows Event Logs Page in Ohlala Operations for Amazon EC2 provides administrators with access to system logs for monitoring and troubleshooting. It allows users to view and filter key event logs, helping to diagnose issues and ensure system stability.

Displayed Information

Event Logs Table

• Displays log entries from selected event logs.
• Users can choose from the following event logs:
  • Application Log – Records application-level events and errors.
  • System Log – Captures system-related events, including driver and OS issues.
  • Security Log – Logs authentication attempts and security-related events.
• Displays the following details for each event:
  • Index – The event’s unique identifier.
  • Entry Type – Categorizes the event (e.g., Information, Warning, Error).
  • Source – Indicates which system component or application generated the log.
  • Message – Provides details about the event.
  • Time Generated – The timestamp when the event was recorded.
  • Username – The associated user (if applicable).
• Data can be exported as a CSV file for auditing and analysis.

✨ Ohlala Operations - Automate Windows Server Management on AWS! ✨