I'm trying to set up a dashboard to display different information for two separate service desk offices on 90-inch screens. I envision dividing the screen into quadrants, where each section shows different content. Most of the data will be web-based; for instance, I'd like to include a Kanban board app like Focalboard, a help desk queue, a weather map, and potentially other relevant info. The solution needs to be either cloud-based or compatible with Windows/Windows Server, as our network has a strict policy against open source or Linux. Any recommendations on how to achieve this? Should I consider using a digital signage app instead?
4 Answers
I recently set up three displays using mini PCs running Windows 11. I configured policies to prevent them from going to sleep, set them to restart every morning, and logged in automatically. I even wrote a PowerShell script to launch the needed browser pages full screen at startup. No need for complicated digital signage software, which can often be clunky.
If you're looking for a less hands-on backend, Azure Managed Grafana could be a good option. It’s user-friendly and comes with plugins for ticketing systems, which might suit your needs well. Having a web-managed system means you can avoid issues with timeouts or needing constant updates.
You can keep it simple: just get a Windows PC, set it up behind the display, and open four browser windows in full screen. You've effectively created a dashboard for around $200!
I mean, it's tough when you're not open to any open source or Linux solutions. But really, using a standalone computer is probably your safest bet. Given the constraints, it's simple and reduces potential tech issues down the line.
It's true! Plus, even though Windows isn't open source, it has a lot of open source components built in. So you're still indirectly working with OSS tools.
Just a heads up though, a lot of Azure runs on Linux and Grafana is open source, so that might not work given your restrictions.