ARROW Control Overview
Arrow Control is a comprehensive web-based management platform for Arrow VMs. It provides secure access to system resources including file management, terminal access, remote desktop, system monitoring, and advanced networking tools - all from your web browser.
What is Arrow Control?
Section titled “What is Arrow Control?”Arrow Control is pre-installed on all Arrow VMs deployed via Arrow Manager or standalone installation. It serves as your central command center for managing and interacting with your virtual machine, offering a rich set of features designed for security professionals and system administrators.
Key benefits include:
- Secure Access: All connections are encrypted with TLS/SSL
- VPN Integration: Works seamlessly with Netbird VPN for secure remote access
- Comprehensive Toolset: File management, terminal, VNC, monitoring, and more
- Professional Security Tools: Install and manage 30+ penetration testing and security applications
- Audit Logging: Track all activities for compliance and security review
How to Access Arrow Control
Section titled “How to Access Arrow Control”Arrow Control is accessible only over the Netbird VPN. Connect to your VPN first, then navigate to your VM’s VPN IP address on port 20443:
https://<vm-vpn-ip>:20443For example: https://100.64.0.5:20443
Note: On first access, your browser will display a security warning for the self-signed certificate. This is expected behavior - proceed by accepting the certificate to continue.
Core Features
Section titled “Core Features”File Management
Section titled “File Management”Browse, upload, download, and manage files on your VM through an intuitive web-based file browser.
- Drag-and-drop file uploads
- Download files and folders as archives
- Built-in text editor with syntax highlighting
- Create, rename, move, and delete files and directories
Terminal Access
Section titled “Terminal Access”Access the command line directly from your browser with full terminal capabilities.
- Multiple concurrent terminal sessions
- Full PTY support for interactive applications
- Session persistence during navigation
- Copy and paste support
VNC Remote Desktop
Section titled “VNC Remote Desktop”Access your VM’s graphical desktop through the browser without additional software.
- Web-based VNC client
- Clipboard sharing
- Keyboard and mouse input
- Connection status monitoring
System Monitoring
Section titled “System Monitoring”Monitor your VM’s health and performance in real-time.
- CPU, memory, disk, and network metrics
- Process management (view and terminate processes)
- Resource usage graphs and trends
- System information overview
Application Management
Section titled “Application Management”Install and manage security and penetration testing tools with a single click.
- 30+ pre-configured security tools
- Multiple installation methods (APT, Git, Go, Rust, PIPX, direct downloads)
- Installation progress tracking
- Easy tool discovery and management
Pivot & Tunneling
Section titled “Pivot & Tunneling”Set up network proxies and tunnels for advanced networking scenarios.
- SOCKS5 proxy server
- HTTP proxy server
- SSH tunnels (local, remote, dynamic)
- Network discovery tools
- Interface and routing management
Audit Logs
Section titled “Audit Logs”Track all activities on your VM for compliance and security review.
- Comprehensive activity logging
- User session tracking
- Action history and timestamps
- Exportable audit reports
Authentication & Security
Section titled “Authentication & Security”Arrow Control uses robust security measures to protect your VM:
- OS-Based Authentication: Login with your system user credentials (same as SSH)
- TLS Encryption: All traffic is encrypted using HTTPS
- License Enforcement: Managed through Arrow Manager for production deployments
- Session Management: Configurable session timeouts (default: 8 hours)
- VPN-Only Access: Arrow Control is only accessible over the Netbird VPN
Security Note: Root login is disabled by default. Use a non-root system user account for authentication.
Navigation Overview
Section titled “Navigation Overview”Arrow Control provides easy access to all features through the sidebar navigation:
| Menu Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Dashboard | System overview and quick access to features |
| File Manager | Browse and manage files on the VM |
| Terminal | Web-based terminal sessions |
| VNC | Remote desktop access |
| Metrics | System monitoring and process management |
| Apps | Install and manage security tools |
| Pivot | Network proxies, tunnels, and discovery |
| Audit | Activity logs and compliance reporting |
| Settings | User preferences and configuration |
Getting Started
Section titled “Getting Started”To begin using Arrow Control:
- Ensure your VM is running - Deploy via Arrow Manager or verify your standalone installation
- Connect to the VPN - Arrow Control requires a Netbird VPN connection
- Navigate to Arrow Control - Open
https://<vm-vpn-ip>:20443in your browser - Accept the certificate - Proceed past the browser’s security warning
- Log in - Use your system user credentials
For detailed login instructions, see the Accessing Arrow Control guide.
Related Documentation
Section titled “Related Documentation”- Accessing Arrow Control - Step-by-step connection and login guide
- VPN Management - Setting up Netbird VPN for secure access
- Arrow Manager Overview - Managing your Arrow devices and VM deployments