tags: administration references:
- bin/silverbullet/src/boot.rs
- server/src/multi/setup.rs
- server/src/multi/setup_api.rs
- server/src/multi/users.rs
- server/src/multi/config.rs
- server/src/multi/admin_api.rs
- server/src/multi/access.rs
- server/src/multi/dashboard.rs
A single SilverBullet server can host any number of spaces — each with its own URL, access rules, and configuration — managed through a web-based dashboard.
Setup wizard
When a server boots with an empty data folder it will run in setup mode. Setup mode has two steps:
- Account creation: creates the first administrator account.
- Space creation: creates your first space.
Accounts
Spaces
Spaces have a name and point to a folder where its content is kept. By default this will be inside the SilverBullet data folder, but you can pick any folder you like.
Bindings
Each space has a public address composed from a hostname and a path (which can be /).
The setup wizard, Create space, and Space settings → General use the same address editor. Choose the primary host, a previously configured custom hostname or hostname:port, or New hostname, then choose a path.
Access
Access to a space can be configured to one of three levels:
| Level | Meaning |
|---|---|
none | Not visible, no access. |
read | May read content. May not modify anything, and may not reach any capability endpoint (shell, proxy, runtime API). |
write | Full access to the space’s content and capabilities. |
write carries real trust — see Security#What write really means.
The effective level for a request is the maximum of three independent sources:
| Source | Values |
|---|---|
access — what a visitor with no session gets | none (default), read, write |
username.role — what one account gets | absent (no access), read, write |
| admin | always write on every space |
Dashboard access
When no space is bound to the server root (/), opening / redirects to /.dashboard instead of opening a space. Any account can log in there. Ordinary accounts see spaces with anonymous access and spaces where they are members, administrators see every space, plus the admin screens.