# Look after a server

[Wiki](../README.md) / [Station](README.md)

The **Server** view is the dashboard for the server you are working with: an instance on
your computer, or a saved connection.

## Status

The first section shows whether the server is running, for how long and with how many
connections, beside **Start server** or **Stop server**. Below it are the instance's
database, Bolt address, user and data folder, with **Copy URL**, **Copy password** and
**Show in folder**.

If the Bolt port is taken by another program when the instance starts, Station offers the
next free port: **Use port N and start**.

For a saved connection, the section shows its address, whether it uses TLS, the server's
version, your user and the time a round trip takes. The **Databases** section lists each
database with its status and engine mode, and creates and drops databases.

## Backup and restore

Each row says what it does, and when its buttons are unavailable it says why in the row:
**Start the server first**, **Stop the server first**, or that another backup or import is
running.

- **Database snapshot:** **Back up now** writes a `.gdb` file of the database while it
  runs; clients keep working. **Restore…** replaces the database with a snapshot, after you
  type its name to confirm.
- **Import:** **Neo4j dump…** loads a Neo4j 4.x or 5.x `.dump` into an empty database.
  **Run script…** runs a Cypher file (`.cypher`, `.cql` or `.txt`) statement by statement.
- **Instance archive:** with the server stopped, **Archive…** saves the whole instance,
  users included, as a `.tar.gz`. **Restore archive…** brings one back.

Backups go to `backups` in Station's folder unless you choose another place. Progress and
the outcome of each job appear under the section, and in the corner when it finishes.

For a saved connection, the **Backups** section streams snapshots over Bolt, where the
server allows it. See [Back up or restore a database](../operations/backups.md) for how the
server makes them.

## Activity

While the server runs, **Activity** lists the queries running now, with the user, the
database and how long each has run. ■ stops one. The list refreshes every few seconds.

## Users and roles

**Users & roles** lists the accounts in the `system` database and their roles.

- **+ New user** asks for a name, offers a generated password with **Copy**, and lets you
  choose roles. Tick **Ask them to change it when they first sign in** to make the password
  a temporary one.
- Each user has **Password…**, **Suspend** or **Reactivate**, and delete. Station asks
  before suspending or deleting an account.
- A user's roles show as chips on their row: **+ Role** gives another, and clicking a chip
  takes that role away. **Add role** creates a new role.

Managing users needs the `admin` role on that server.

## Related articles

[Servers and databases](servers.md) · [Authentication](../operations/authentication.md) · [Native Neo4j dump imports](../integrations/neo4j-dumps.md)