Network Management

Use DirectLink account to share views with non-SolarWinds Platform Web Console users

This article describes how to use DirectLink Accounts to share views with a business partner or user who does not have a SolarWinds Platform account, and how to control whether administrator or node management rights can be assigned to the DirectLink account.

First published date

10/30/2018 2:32 PM

Last published date

4/14/2026 9:36 PM

Overview

This article describes how to use DirectLink Accounts to share views with non-SolarWinds Platform Web Console users.

Product section

Network Performance Monitor

Resolution

To share SolarWinds Platform Web Console views with users who do not have a Web Console account, set up a DirectLink account that bypasses the login screen and logs the user into the DirectLink account.

If you send a link to a user without a Web Console account and the DirectLink account does not exist, the user is redirected to the login page.
See Share views with non-Orion Web Console users  for details.  

If you prefer to limit the DirectLink account to specific devices or device types, see Setting Account Limitations.

 

Controlling administrator and node management rights for the DirectLink account

Important: Because the DirectLink account logs users in without requiring a password, assigning administrator or node management rights to this account creates a significant security risk. Anyone who can access your SolarWinds Platform Web Console IP address would be able to perform administrative actions without authentication.

Starting in SolarWinds Platform 2026.2, a new advanced setting — EnableDirectLinkAccountAdminRights — controls whether the Allow Administrator Rights and Allow Node Management Rights options are available when configuring a DirectLink account.

Default behavior (EnableDirectLinkAccountAdminRights = Disabled)

By default, this setting is disabled for both new installations and upgrades. When disabled:

  • The Allow Administrator Rights and Allow Node Management Rights options are not visible on the Edit Account page for the DirectLink account.

  • It is not possible to assign elevated privileges to the DirectLink account.

This is the recommended configuration.

Enabling administrator rights for the DirectLink account

If your environment requires the DirectLink account to have elevated privileges, you can enable the EnableDirectLinkAccountAdminRights setting in Advanced Settings. When enabled:

  • The Allow Administrator Rights and Allow Node Management Rights options become available for the DirectLink account.

Warning: Enabling this setting and assigning administrator rights to the DirectLink account allows anyone with access to your Web Console IP address to perform administrative actions without entering credentials. SolarWinds strongly recommends keeping this setting disabled unless absolutely necessary, and reviewing your Account Limitations to restrict access appropriately.