This guide is a jump-start to setting up your Hudu instance. As an admin, you have a complete set of tools to design and organize your documentation structure. By the end you'll have:
- Secured your instance and profile.
- Built your first space and created an example of each core tool.
- Built an asset layout and created your first asset.
- Related your documentation.
New to Hudu? Read Welcome and Key Concepts first, and see Your Hudu Environment for a tour of where each tool lives.
Guides
Step 1 — Secure your instance
Set up security before you add real data or bring your team in. Start with your own account, then apply org-wide protection so everyone is covered as they come on board.
Set up personal 2FA
- Open your profile (top-right figure icon) and click Edit Profile.
- Select Configure under 2FA. Authy or Google Authenticator are recommended but not required; a secret key is generated if the QR code isn't compatible with your app.
- Scan the QR code (or enter the key) in your authenticator app, then enter the generated code into Hudu to finish.
Configure admin security (2FA / SSO)
- Go to the Admin tab and select Security under Basic Setup. Under Authentication you can configure 2FA or SAML/SSO.
- As a best practice, enforce 2FA for all users — even during a trial. New users are then prompted to set up 2FA on first login. Duo can also be configured here.
- SSO is an alternative: Hudu supports most SAML 2.0 providers, with options like disabling password access for non-admins to force SSO.
Visit MFA: App-Based and Understanding SAML/SSO for additional information.
Step 2 — Build your first space
Spaces are the top level of organization in Hudu. Each has the same set of core tools and a standardized structure, but holds documentation dedicated to that space. Spaces are called companies by default, but the label can be changed to divisions, locations, schools, or whatever suits you.
Start with a sample company. It lets you explore the core features safely and gives your team an example to emulate. You can archive it later to declutter your environment and search results.
Create a company
- Go to the Companies tab on your Hudu toolbar.
- Click + New Company.
- Enter the company's basic details.
- Click Create Company to finalize. This establishes a unique company space with its own tools.
Want to rename "companies" to something else? It's a cosmetic change in the Hudu admin area under General. Visit General for how.
Step 3 — Add core documentation to the space
Create one example of each core tool so you can see how they work. Each links to a deeper article if you want full detail.
Create a password
- Go to the Passwords section (or hover it on the left sidebar and click the +), then select + New Password.
- Fill in the required fields (name and password). Consider adding more — for example a username and an OTP secret key.
- Save to store your first password inside the company.
Visit Password Management for additional information.
Build a KB article
- Go to the KB tab under core tools and select New Article.
- Choose Blank, give it a title, and select Create.
- Explore the editor: the WYSIWYG toolbar, the automatic table of contents built from headers (H1–H3), callouts (info, success, warning, danger), and formatted code blocks.
Visit Knowledge Base for additional information.
Monitor a website
- In the Websites tab, select + New.
- Add the URL and configure the tracking options. Add any relevant notes.
- After creation, review what Hudu pulls in — the domain and SSL expirations will also flow into the Expirations section.
Visit Websites for additional information.
Check expirations
- Go to the Expirations section under core tools.
- Filter by time frame and expiration type, and click an item's name to jump to the tracked entity.
Visit Expirations and Alerts to set up notifications as expirations approach.
Step 4 — Create your company structure
Asset layouts are customizable categories that store your documentation consistently. They're created globally so the same structure is used across all companies.
Build an asset layout (from a template)
- Go to Admin, then the Asset Layouts section.
- Select New Asset Layout and choose a template — for this guide, the People template.
- Make sure the layout is active so it appears in every company.
Visit Asset Layouts for additional information.
Create your first asset
- Navigate back to the company you created and open the People layout.
- Fill out the required and additional fields. Think about which details your technicians should capture every time — those are the fields worth requiring.
- Add context in the notes so users can see what a good entry looks like.
- Optionally, open More Options (the three dots) and choose Make Gold Standard to flag it as an example others can follow.
Visit Assets and Gold Standards for additional information.
Step 5 — Relate your documentation
Relationships connect related documentation so users get a clearer picture of what depends on what. Here we'll link your asset to the password you created.
- Open your People asset.
- On the right-hand margin, select + Add under Related Items.
- Choose Password from the drop-down, search the password's name, and select Add.
- This creates a two-way connection, visible on the right-hand sidebar of both items.
The nearby + Password option is different — it creates a "child credential" directly attached to the asset. Relationships can connect companies, assets, passwords, and websites, including across different companies.
Next steps
That completes the basic setup of a company and asset. From here, build additional asset layouts and get familiar with the related tools. When you're ready to expand your instance:
FAQ
It's optional but recommended — a sample company is a safe place to explore features and to build an example your team can copy. When you're done, archive it to remove it from your active environment and search results.
It's an asset you designate as a high-quality example. Once marked (More Options > Make Gold Standard), it appears as a reference whenever someone creates or edits an asset in the same layout — in any company. Admins and super admins can see the top examples per layout under Global > Gold Standards. Tip: use real data rather than dummy data in your examples.
Yes — it's a cosmetic label change in the Hudu admin area under General. Choose whatever fits how your documentation is organized (clients, locations, divisions, and so on). It doesn't change any functionality.
A layout must be active to appear in your spaces — check Admin > Asset Layouts. If it's active but still missing, the Hide Empty Items toggle at the bottom of the sidebar may be hiding it because it has no data for that company yet.
Troubleshooting
Global 2FA enforcement requires that you have 2FA enabled on your own account first. Set up personal 2FA (Edit Profile > Configure), then enable the org-wide enforcement in Admin > Security.
Confirm the URL is correct and publicly reachable, and that the tracking options were left enabled when you added the site. Once details are pulled, the domain and SSL expirations appear in the company's Expirations section.
The admin area and asset-layout creation are limited to admin and super admin roles. If you need access, ask an admin or super admin at your organization to adjust your role.