This page is an introduction for people just starting out as Confluence administrators. You will find this page useful if your Confluence site is brand new, or you are learning to administer an existing site.

Confluence is a Java-based web application. For the supported environments, there is an installer that will set up an application server and copy the application files to the designated directories on your server machine. If you prefer, you can install Confluence from a zip file. See the Confluence Installation Guide for details.

On this page:

Related pages:

 

Diagram: A Confluence installation

 

GliffyConfluenceEnvironment

 

Quick access to administrative functions via Confluence search

Quick tip for getting to administration screens: Start typing what you want to do into the Confluence search box at top right of the screen. The matching administrative functions will appear with a cog icon at the top of the dropdown search results.

Even faster via 'GG': Press 'G' twice on your keyboard then continue typing the action you want.

Notes about finding administrative options via the search box:
  • Pressing 'GG' puts your cursor into the search box.
  • The 'GG' combination is familiar to JIRA users, because the same shortcut opens the JIRA administration search dialog.
  • System administration, Confluence administration and space administration options may appear in the search results.
  • Confluence permissions determine the administrative options that appear in the search results. You will only see the options that you have permission to perform.

How to administer and configure Confluence

 After installing Confluence, you will perform the initial configuration via a web interface called the Confluence Setup Wizard.

Introducing the Confluence Administration Console: From this point onwards, many of the administrative functions are available from the Confluence Administration Console, which is part of the Confluence web interface. If you have administrative permissions, you will have access to the Confluence Administration Console via your web browser, using the standard Confluence URL for your site.

To access the Confluence Administration Console:

  1. Open your Confluence URL in your web browser.
  2. Choose the cog icon  at top right of the screen, then choose Confluence Admin.

For further configuration options, you can edit the XML and properties files that are part of your Confluence installation directory. To get started, take a look at the important directories and files. The Confluence administration guide will lead you through tasks such as configuring the log files and configuring system properties.

Getting started on a new Confluence site

Is this a new Confluence site? Here are some things to get started with:

  • Decide whether you will manage your users in Confluence or hook up an external LDAP directory. See Configuring User Directories.
  • Make sure you have set up an email server. The above task list will include this step, but it is worth mentioning it here again. Email notifications are an important part of collaborating on Confluence. See Configuring a Server for Outgoing Mail.
Now you can continue getting to know your site, as described in the next section.

Getting to know an existing Confluence site

Has the site been around a while, but you are new to Confluence administration? Take a look at these topics:

Now you are ready to dive into the Confluence Administrator's Guide.

Prompts from Confluence itself

When you go to your Confluence Administration Console, you will see a handy list of tasks that need doing. 

Screenshot: The Confluence Administration Console, showing a list of tasks that need doing – these tasks are specific to your site, and those shown below are examples only


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