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In this lesson, we’ll explore the core components of the Jenkins user interface—from checking your version and logging in to managing system settings, plugins, and themes. By the end, you’ll be comfortable navigating Jenkins’ dashboard and administering your CI/CD environment.

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About Jenkins Version

Before logging in, you can verify the exact Jenkins release and view its dependencies:
  1. On the login page, click the Jenkins icon in the bottom-right corner.
  2. The About Jenkins dialog displays your version (e.g., 2.462.1), open-source capabilities, and a list of Mavenized dependencies with license links.
The image shows the "About Jenkins" page from a Jenkins server, displaying version 2.462.1 and information about its open-source automation capabilities. It includes a list of Mavenized dependencies with their licenses.
Each dependency link takes you to more information about the library’s purpose and license. This helps you stay compliant with open-source requirements.

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Jenkins Login

Authenticate with your configured credentials on the default login screen:
The image shows a Jenkins login page with fields for username and password, alongside the Jenkins logo on a colorful background.
  1. Enter your Username and Password.
  2. Click Sign in to access the Jenkins dashboard.

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Dashboard & Manage Jenkins

Once logged in, you land on the Jenkins dashboard. To adjust system-wide settings:
  1. Click Manage Jenkins in the left-hand menu.
  2. Review any security warnings at the top (for example, running the master and build node together).
The image shows the "Manage Jenkins" dashboard, displaying various configuration options and a security warning about using the built-in node.
Running both the master and build node on the same server is not recommended for production workloads. Consider separating build agents to improve security and reliability.

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Manage Jenkins: Configuration Categories

CategoryDescription
System ConfigurationHome directory, executors, labels, URLs, admin email, global message
SecurityConfigure authentication, authorization, and access control
System InformationJVM properties, environment variables, and system details
TroubleshootingLogs, system logs, and diagnostic tools
ToolsGlobal tool installations (e.g., JDK, Maven, Git)
ActionsReload configuration, safe restart, script console
Additional sections appear here when you install plugins (e.g., Credentials, Global Pipeline Libraries).

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System Configuration

Under System Configuration, you can set critical system parameters:
  • Jenkins Home Directory 
    /var/lib/jenkins
  • Global System Message
  • Number of Executors (parallel build slots)
  • Agent Labels
  • Jenkins URL
  • System Admin E-mail Address
Hover over the question-mark icon next to each field to view context-sensitive help. For example: 
Jenkins URL: http://139.84.159.194:8080/
System Admin E-mail address: nobody@nowhere
After editing, click Apply (save and stay) or Save (save and return to dashboard).
The image shows a Jenkins system configuration page where a system message is being set to "Welcome to Dasher CI Organization," with options to save or apply changes.
Use the Global System Message to broadcast maintenance windows or announcements directly on the dashboard.

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System Information & Plugins

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System Information

  • View JVM properties, environment variables, and classpath entries.
  • Inspect memory usage, file descriptors, and real-time performance graphs.

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Plugin Manager

  • Review installed plugins, versions, and enable/disable status.
  • Common plugins include Pipeline, Parameterized Trigger, Git, and Blue Ocean.
The image shows a Jenkins system information page displaying a list of installed plugins, their versions, and their enabled status. The interface includes navigation options and a search bar.
The image shows a Jenkins dashboard displaying system information, specifically focusing on memory usage over time. The interface includes navigation options and a graph illustrating memory data.

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System Logs

Quickly troubleshoot by viewing logs in the UI:
  • Navigate to Manage Jenkins > System Log.
  • Or, on the server use journalctl or inspect $JENKINS_HOME/logs/jenkins.log.
For more details, see the journalctl documentation.

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Appearance & Themes

Customize the look and feel with plugins such as Dark Theme:
  1. Install Dark Theme.
  2. Select Manage Jenkins > Configure Global Security (or similar).
  3. Enable Dark Theme and additional options (e.g., pipeline graphs on job pages).
  4. Click Save.

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