FeedForward

Administrator Guide

Table of contents

Overview

As a FeedForward administrator, you have complete control over the platform's configuration, user management, and system maintenance. This guide covers all administrative functions and best practices for managing your FeedForward instance.

Administrator Responsibilities

🔧 System Configuration

  • Configure AI providers and API keys
  • Set system-wide defaults and limits
  • Manage application settings
  • Configure email services

👥 User Management

  • Create and manage instructor accounts
  • Monitor user activity
  • Handle access control
  • Manage user permissions

🛡️ Security & Compliance

  • Ensure data privacy compliance
  • Manage API key security
  • Monitor system access
  • Implement security policies

📊 System Monitoring

  • Track system performance
  • Monitor AI API usage and costs
  • Review system logs
  • Ensure system availability

Quick Actions

First-Time Setup

  1. Configure AI providers with API keys
  2. Create instructor accounts
  3. Set up email service
  4. Configure security settings

Daily Tasks

  • Check system dashboard for alerts
  • Review pending user requests
  • Monitor AI API usage
  • Check backup status

Weekly Tasks

  • Review system logs
  • Update AI model configurations
  • Check storage usage
  • Review security alerts

Administrative Interface

Accessing the Admin Dashboard

  1. Log in with your administrator credentials
  2. Navigate to /admin or click "Admin Dashboard" in the navigation
  3. You'll see the main admin interface with these sections:

Dashboard Overview

The admin dashboard provides:

  • System Status: Current system health and alerts
  • User Statistics: Active users, courses, and assignments
  • AI Usage: API calls and costs by provider
  • Recent Activity: Latest system events

Key Admin Sections

AI Models Management

  • View all configured AI providers
  • Add new AI models
  • Update API configurations
  • Set model availability
  • Monitor usage and costs

User Management

  • Create instructor accounts
  • View all users
  • Manage permissions
  • Reset passwords
  • Deactivate accounts

System Settings

  • Application configuration
  • Email settings
  • Security options
  • Privacy settings
  • Performance tuning

Monitoring & Logs

  • System performance metrics
  • Error logs
  • Audit trails
  • API usage reports
  • Database statistics

Common Administrative Tasks

Adding a New AI Provider

  1. Navigate to AI Models → Providers
  2. Click "Add Provider"
  3. Select provider type (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.)
  4. Enter API credentials
  5. Test connection
  6. Save configuration

Creating Instructor Accounts

  1. Go to User Management
  2. Click "Create Instructor"
  3. Fill in user details
  4. Set temporary password
  5. Send welcome email

Monitoring System Health

  1. Check System Dashboard daily
  2. Review Error Logs for issues
  3. Monitor API Usage for cost control
  4. Check Database Size and performance

Managing Backups

  1. Configure automatic backups
  2. Test restore procedures
  3. Store backups securely
  4. Document recovery process

Best Practices

Security

  • Use strong admin passwords
  • Enable two-factor authentication (when available)
  • Regularly rotate API keys
  • Monitor access logs
  • Keep software updated

Performance

  • Monitor database growth
  • Optimize AI model usage
  • Set appropriate rate limits
  • Regular maintenance windows
  • Cache configuration

User Support

  • Maintain clear documentation
  • Provide instructor training
  • Set up support channels
  • Regular communication
  • Feedback collection

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

AI Provider Connection Failed - Verify API keys are correct - Check network connectivity - Ensure sufficient API credits - Review provider status page

Email Delivery Problems - Verify SMTP settings - Check email logs - Test with different recipients - Review spam filters

Performance Issues - Check database size - Review concurrent users - Monitor API response times - Check server resources

User Access Problems - Verify user status - Check permissions - Review login attempts - Reset passwords if needed

Administrator Tools

Command Line Tools

# Create admin user
python tools/create_admin.py

# Check system configuration
python tools/check_config.py

# Database maintenance
python tools/db_maintenance.py

# Export usage reports
python tools/export_usage.py

Monitoring Scripts

# Check system health
python tools/health_check.py

# Monitor API usage
python tools/api_monitor.py

# Generate reports
python tools/generate_reports.py

Next Steps

Explore the detailed guides for each administrative area:

  1. Initial Setup - First-time configuration
  2. User Management - Managing instructors and permissions
  3. AI Configuration - Setting up AI providers
  4. Maintenance - Keeping your system running smoothly
Administrative access provides full system control. Always follow security best practices and maintain audit logs of administrative actions.
Set up monitoring alerts to be notified of system issues before they impact users.