# The server control panel

> Academium Surepass Help › Your school server
> For: Server Edition
> Web page: https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-surepass/article/sp-the-control-panel
> Last updated: 2026-10-06

The **control panel** is where you look after the school server. On Windows it is the **Academium Surepass Server** app on the server computer. On Linux it is the **management page**, which you open in a web browser from any computer on the school network.

## The status card

The panel on the left shows whether the server is running.

| You see | It means |
| --- | --- |
| **Server Running** | Staff and students can use Surepass |
| **Server Stopped** | Nobody can use Surepass until you click **Start** |

Use **Start**, **Stop** and **Restart** here. Below them, small lights show each service: **Database**, **Application**, **Time** and the network service (**DHCP**). Green means it is working.

Once your school is set up, the panel also shows a **Scan to connect** QR code. Students and staff can scan it to open Surepass. Click **Download** to save it and print it for the lab wall.

## The tabs

| Tab | What it is for |
| --- | --- |
| **Overview** | Warnings, the server's address, connected computers, resources and quick switches |
| **Portal** | Your school's link to Academium, the question bank download, and Academium SMS |
| **Monitor** | How hard the server is working, and the health of its drive |
| **Network** | The network connections, giving out network addresses, the time server, and working beside an SMS server |
| **Backup** | Automatic backups, and restoring |
| **Logs** | Records of what the server has been doing, for support |
| **System** | Updates and version information |

The Linux management page also has **Clients**, **Terminal**, **Academium SMS** and **Mgt account** tabs. See [The Linux management page](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-surepass/article/sp-the-linux-management-page.md).

## Warnings on the Overview tab

When something needs your attention, the Overview tab shows a notice with a button to fix it. See [Server warnings](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-surepass/article/sp-server-warnings.md).

## Preferences

At the bottom of the Overview tab:

- **Auto-start on launch**: start Surepass as soon as the app opens.
- **Auto-start on OS boot**: open the app when Windows starts. Needs auto-start on launch.
- **Theme**: Light, Dark or System.

Turn both auto-start options on, so Surepass comes back by itself after a power cut.

## Closing the control panel on Windows

While the server is running, the window's close button is hidden. Minimise the panel instead: Surepass keeps running in the background. To close the app completely, click **Stop** first.

---

Need a server computer, a Windows licence, a school network or a computer lab? **Academium Plus**, from the same company as this product, supplies and sets them up, with a **free quote**: https://my.academium.com.ng/support