This guide shows you how to display an AWS CloudWatch dashboard to monitor your application performance, server health, and critical infrastructure metrics in real-time.

Prerequisites:

• An AWS account with an IAM user who has access to the target CloudWatch dashboard.

Idea: Best Practice
For security, create a dedicated IAM user with a policy granting read-only permissions (cloudwatch:GetDashboard, cloudwatch:ListDashboards) for the dashboard you intend to display. Do not use your root account or an admin-level user.

Step-by-Step Configuration:

1. Create the Dashboard App in Pickcel:

   • Log in to the Pickcel Console and navigate to Apps. Search for the Dashboard app and click on it. Then, click Create App.
   • Give a name to the app instance (e.g., "Production Server Health - AWS").
   • Now, select AWS Console from the dropdown menu. The configuration fields will open on the right.

2. Fill in the Fields for AWS Console Dashboard Configuration:

   • This section requires precise information to generate a correct and secure Auth Token.
   • AWS Console Login URL: Navigate to the AWS login page and copy the full URL from your browser's address bar.
   • Your AWS Console Account ID: Enter your 12-digit AWS account ID without hyphens.
   • IAM Username Or Email: Enter the username of the dedicated IAM user.
   • Your AWS Console Password: Enter the password for that IAM user.
   • Your AWS Console Dashboard URL: Log into the AWS console and go to the specific CloudWatch dashboard. Copy the full URL from the address bar and paste it here.
   • Click Generate Auth Token. The token will be generated, copied to your clipboard, and automatically pasted into the Auth Token field on the left.

3. Enter Screen Selection Code (Optional):

   • To isolate key graphs, use the Pickcel Dashboard Screen Mapper Extension to select an area and paste the generated code into the Screen Selection Code field.

4. Set Refresh Interval:

   • This setting defines how often the dashboard is updated. For infrastructure monitoring, a refresh interval of 5 minutes is recommended.

5. Set Session Expiry:

   • This forces a fresh login to prevent session timeouts. Set this to 1 hour, as AWS sessions are typically shorter for security reasons.

6. Enable Scroll Option for the Dashboard (Optional):

   • Enable Auto Scroll: Set a duration in seconds for the dashboard to scroll from top to bottom.
   • Enable Auto Scroll Height: Set a height in pixels for the dashboard to scroll down incrementally.

7. Create and Publish:

   • When you are done, click Create App. The app instance will now be available in the Media section.
   • To preview, go to Media, find the app by name, and click its thumbnail. If the preview is correct, assign it to your signage screens.

That's a wrap! 🎉

What's Next?
Your AWS CloudWatch Dashboard App is now ready. For further reading:

• To create a multi-zone layout: Learn about Compositions.
• To send it to your screens: Learn how to Publish or Schedule Content.