diff --git a/src/pobsync_backend/forms.py b/src/pobsync_backend/forms.py
index f2f33ad..3254dd3 100644
--- a/src/pobsync_backend/forms.py
+++ b/src/pobsync_backend/forms.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 from django import forms
 
-from .models import HostConfig, ScheduleConfig
+from .models import GlobalConfig, HostConfig, ScheduleConfig
 from .scheduler import parse_cron_expr
 
 
@@ -64,6 +64,52 @@ class HostConfigForm(forms.ModelForm):
         }
 
 
+class CreateHostConfigForm(HostConfigForm):
+    class Meta(HostConfigForm.Meta):
+        fields = ("host", *HostConfigForm.Meta.fields)
+        help_texts = {
+            **HostConfigForm.Meta.help_texts,
+            "host": "Stable internal host name used for backup paths.",
+        }
+
+
+class GlobalConfigForm(forms.ModelForm):
+    ssh_options = NewlineListField(help_text="One SSH option per line.")
+    rsync_args = NewlineListField(help_text="One default rsync argument per line.")
+    rsync_extra_args = NewlineListField(help_text="One extra rsync argument per line.")
+    excludes_default = NewlineListField(help_text="One default exclude pattern per line.")
+
+    class Meta:
+        model = GlobalConfig
+        fields = (
+            "name",
+            "backup_root",
+            "pobsync_home",
+            "ssh_user",
+            "ssh_port",
+            "ssh_options",
+            "rsync_binary",
+            "rsync_args",
+            "rsync_extra_args",
+            "rsync_timeout_seconds",
+            "rsync_bwlimit_kbps",
+            "default_source_root",
+            "default_destination_subdir",
+            "excludes_default",
+            "retention_daily",
+            "retention_weekly",
+            "retention_monthly",
+            "retention_yearly",
+        )
+        help_texts = {
+            "name": "Usually 'default'. The backup engine currently reads the default config.",
+            "backup_root": "Directory that contains host backup folders.",
+            "pobsync_home": "Base directory for runtime state inside the container or host.",
+            "default_source_root": "Used by hosts without a custom source root.",
+            "default_destination_subdir": "Optional subdirectory below each snapshot.",
+        }
+
+
 class ScheduleConfigForm(forms.ModelForm):
     cron_expr = forms.CharField(
         label="Cron expression",
diff --git a/src/pobsync_backend/templates/pobsync_backend/base.html b/src/pobsync_backend/templates/pobsync_backend/base.html
index ad73b00..5db2f87 100644
--- a/src/pobsync_backend/templates/pobsync_backend/base.html
+++ b/src/pobsync_backend/templates/pobsync_backend/base.html
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@
     .stack { display: grid; gap: 4px; }
     .two-col { display: grid; gap: 18px; grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 1fr); }
     .actions { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 10px; margin: 0 0 18px; }
+    .actions.inline { margin: 12px 0 0; }
     button, .button-link {
       appearance: none;
       background: #17202a;
@@ -92,6 +93,12 @@
       padding: 8px 12px;
     }
     button:hover, .button-link:hover { background: #2a394a; text-decoration: none; }
+    .button-link.secondary {
+      background: #fff;
+      border-color: var(--border);
+      color: var(--text);
+    }
+    .button-link.secondary:hover { background: #eef3f8; }
     .messages { display: grid; gap: 8px; margin-bottom: 18px; }
     .message {
       background: var(--panel);
@@ -113,6 +120,7 @@
     }
     .field textarea { min-height: 92px; resize: vertical; }
     .field .helptext { color: var(--muted); font-size: 12px; }
+    .field input[type="checkbox"] { justify-self: start; }
     .errorlist {
       color: var(--failed);
       list-style: none;
diff --git a/src/pobsync_backend/templates/pobsync_backend/dashboard.html b/src/pobsync_backend/templates/pobsync_backend/dashboard.html
index 79bd17b..ce0cbb9 100644
--- a/src/pobsync_backend/templates/pobsync_backend/dashboard.html
+++ b/src/pobsync_backend/templates/pobsync_backend/dashboard.html
@@ -5,7 +5,30 @@
 {% block content %}
   <h1>Dashboard</h1>
 
+  <section class="actions" aria-label="Dashboard actions">
+    <a class="button-link" href="{% url 'create_host_config' %}">New host</a>
+    <a class="button-link secondary" href="{% url 'edit_global_config' %}">{% if global_config %}Edit global config{% else %}Create global config{% endif %}</a>
+  </section>
+
+  {% if not global_config or not counts.hosts %}
+    <section class="panel">
+      <h2>Setup</h2>
+      {% if not global_config %}
+        <p class="muted">No default global config exists yet. Create it first so discovery, backups, and retention know where pobsync stores snapshots.</p>
+        <div class="actions inline">
+          <a class="button-link" href="{% url 'edit_global_config' %}">Create global config</a>
+        </div>
+      {% elif not counts.hosts %}
+        <p class="muted">Global config is ready. Add the first host to make this dashboard useful.</p>
+        <div class="actions inline">
+          <a class="button-link" href="{% url 'create_host_config' %}">Add first host</a>
+        </div>
+      {% endif %}
+    </section>
+  {% endif %}
+
   <section class="grid" aria-label="Summary">
+    <div class="metric"><div class="label">Global Configs</div><div class="value">{{ counts.global_configs }}</div></div>
     <div class="metric"><div class="label">Hosts</div><div class="value">{{ counts.enabled_hosts }}/{{ counts.hosts }}</div></div>
     <div class="metric"><div class="label">Schedules</div><div class="value">{{ counts.enabled_schedules }}/{{ counts.schedules }}</div></div>
     <div class="metric"><div class="label">Snapshots</div><div class="value">{{ counts.snapshots }}</div></div>
diff --git a/src/pobsync_backend/templates/pobsync_backend/global_form.html b/src/pobsync_backend/templates/pobsync_backend/global_form.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..18a9e99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pobsync_backend/templates/pobsync_backend/global_form.html
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+{% extends "pobsync_backend/base.html" %}
+
+{% block title %}Global Config{% endblock %}
+
+{% block content %}
+  <h1>{% if global_config %}Global Config{% else %}Create Global Config{% endif %}</h1>
+
+  <section class="actions" aria-label="Global config actions">
+    <a class="button-link" href="{% url 'dashboard' %}">Back to dashboard</a>
+  </section>
+
+  <section class="panel">
+    <h2>{% if global_config %}Edit Global Config{% else %}Create Global Config{% endif %}</h2>
+    <form method="post" class="form-grid">
+      {% csrf_token %}
+      {{ form.non_field_errors }}
+
+      {% for field in form %}
+        <div class="field">
+          {{ field.errors }}
+          <label for="{{ field.id_for_label }}">{{ field.label }}</label>
+          {{ field }}
+          {% if field.help_text %}<div class="helptext">{{ field.help_text }}</div>{% endif %}
+        </div>
+      {% endfor %}
+
+      <div class="actions">
+        <button type="submit">Save global config</button>
+      </div>
+    </form>
+  </section>
+{% endblock %}
diff --git a/src/pobsync_backend/templates/pobsync_backend/host_form.html b/src/pobsync_backend/templates/pobsync_backend/host_form.html
index 1e7b004..c316b88 100644
--- a/src/pobsync_backend/templates/pobsync_backend/host_form.html
+++ b/src/pobsync_backend/templates/pobsync_backend/host_form.html
@@ -1,16 +1,20 @@
 {% extends "pobsync_backend/base.html" %}
 
-{% block title %}Config | {{ host.host }}{% endblock %}
+{% block title %}{% if host %}Config | {{ host.host }}{% else %}New Host{% endif %}{% endblock %}
 
 {% block content %}
-  <h1>Config: {{ host.host }}</h1>
+  <h1>{% if host %}Config: {{ host.host }}{% else %}New Host{% endif %}</h1>
 
   <section class="actions" aria-label="Config actions">
-    <a class="button-link" href="{% url 'host_detail' host.host %}">Back to host</a>
+    {% if host %}
+      <a class="button-link" href="{% url 'host_detail' host.host %}">Back to host</a>
+    {% else %}
+      <a class="button-link" href="{% url 'dashboard' %}">Back to dashboard</a>
+    {% endif %}
   </section>
 
   <section class="panel">
-    <h2>Edit Host Config</h2>
+    <h2>{% if host %}Edit Host Config{% else %}Create Host Config{% endif %}</h2>
     <form method="post" class="form-grid">
       {% csrf_token %}
       {{ form.non_field_errors }}
@@ -25,7 +29,7 @@
       {% endfor %}
 
       <div class="actions">
-        <button type="submit">Save config</button>
+        <button type="submit">{% if host %}Save config{% else %}Create host{% endif %}</button>
       </div>
     </form>
   </section>
diff --git a/src/pobsync_backend/tests/test_views.py b/src/pobsync_backend/tests/test_views.py
index 3f5b7a6..0346d73 100644
--- a/src/pobsync_backend/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/src/pobsync_backend/tests/test_views.py
@@ -47,6 +47,102 @@ class ViewTests(TestCase):
         self.assertContains(response, "20260519-021500Z__ABCDEFGH")
         self.assertContains(response, "success")
 
+    def test_dashboard_prompts_for_global_config_when_database_is_empty(self) -> None:
+        self.client.force_login(self.staff_user)
+
+        response = self.client.get(reverse("dashboard"))
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+        self.assertContains(response, "No default global config exists yet.")
+        self.assertContains(response, reverse("edit_global_config"))
+        self.assertContains(response, "Create global config")
+
+    def test_dashboard_prompts_for_first_host_after_global_config_exists(self) -> None:
+        self.client.force_login(self.staff_user)
+        GlobalConfig.objects.create(name="default", backup_root="/opt/pobsync/backups")
+
+        response = self.client.get(reverse("dashboard"))
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+        self.assertContains(response, "Global config is ready.")
+        self.assertContains(response, reverse("create_host_config"))
+        self.assertContains(response, "Add first host")
+
+    def test_global_config_form_creates_default_config(self) -> None:
+        self.client.force_login(self.staff_user)
+
+        response = self.client.post(
+            reverse("edit_global_config"),
+            {
+                "name": "default",
+                "backup_root": "/backups",
+                "pobsync_home": "/opt/pobsync",
+                "ssh_user": "backup",
+                "ssh_port": "2222",
+                "ssh_options": "StrictHostKeyChecking=no\nBatchMode=yes",
+                "rsync_binary": "rsync",
+                "rsync_args": "-a\n--numeric-ids",
+                "rsync_extra_args": "--delete",
+                "rsync_timeout_seconds": "60",
+                "rsync_bwlimit_kbps": "1000",
+                "default_source_root": "/srv",
+                "default_destination_subdir": "rootfs",
+                "excludes_default": "*.tmp\ncache/",
+                "retention_daily": "7",
+                "retention_weekly": "4",
+                "retention_monthly": "2",
+                "retention_yearly": "1",
+            },
+            follow=True,
+        )
+
+        self.assertRedirects(response, reverse("dashboard"))
+        self.assertContains(response, "Global config saved for default.")
+        config = GlobalConfig.objects.get(name="default")
+        self.assertEqual(config.backup_root, "/backups")
+        self.assertEqual(config.ssh_user, "backup")
+        self.assertEqual(config.ssh_port, 2222)
+        self.assertEqual(config.ssh_options, ["StrictHostKeyChecking=no", "BatchMode=yes"])
+        self.assertEqual(config.rsync_args, ["-a", "--numeric-ids"])
+        self.assertEqual(config.rsync_extra_args, ["--delete"])
+        self.assertEqual(config.excludes_default, ["*.tmp", "cache/"])
+        self.assertEqual(config.retention_daily, 7)
+        self.assertEqual(config.retention_yearly, 1)
+
+    def test_create_host_config_form_creates_host(self) -> None:
+        self.client.force_login(self.staff_user)
+
+        response = self.client.post(
+            reverse("create_host_config"),
+            {
+                "host": "web-01",
+                "address": "web-01.example.test",
+                "enabled": "on",
+                "ssh_user": "backup",
+                "ssh_port": "2222",
+                "source_root": "/srv",
+                "includes": "/srv/www\n/srv/db",
+                "excludes_add": "*.tmp",
+                "excludes_replace": "",
+                "rsync_extra_args": "--numeric-ids",
+                "retention_daily": "7",
+                "retention_weekly": "4",
+                "retention_monthly": "2",
+                "retention_yearly": "1",
+            },
+            follow=True,
+        )
+
+        self.assertRedirects(response, reverse("host_detail", args=["web-01"]))
+        self.assertContains(response, "Host config created for web-01.")
+        host = HostConfig.objects.get(host="web-01")
+        self.assertEqual(host.address, "web-01.example.test")
+        self.assertEqual(host.ssh_user, "backup")
+        self.assertEqual(host.includes, ["/srv/www", "/srv/db"])
+        self.assertEqual(host.excludes_add, ["*.tmp"])
+        self.assertEqual(host.rsync_extra_args, ["--numeric-ids"])
+        self.assertEqual(host.retention_weekly, 4)
+
     def test_host_detail_renders_config_schedule_runs_and_snapshots(self) -> None:
         self.client.force_login(self.staff_user)
         host = HostConfig.objects.create(
diff --git a/src/pobsync_backend/views.py b/src/pobsync_backend/views.py
index c8e7fa3..64925a3 100644
--- a/src/pobsync_backend/views.py
+++ b/src/pobsync_backend/views.py
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ from django.views.decorators.http import require_POST
 
 from pobsync.errors import ConfigError
 
-from .forms import HostConfigForm, ScheduleConfigForm
-from .models import BackupRun, HostConfig, ScheduleConfig, SnapshotRecord
+from .forms import CreateHostConfigForm, GlobalConfigForm, HostConfigForm, ScheduleConfigForm
+from .models import BackupRun, GlobalConfig, HostConfig, ScheduleConfig, SnapshotRecord
 from .retention import run_sql_retention_plan
 from .snapshot_discovery import discover_snapshots
 
@@ -22,8 +22,10 @@ def dashboard(request):
     )
     context = {
         "hosts": host_qs,
+        "global_config": GlobalConfig.objects.filter(name="default").first(),
         "latest_runs": BackupRun.objects.select_related("host", "snapshot").order_by("-created_at")[:10],
         "counts": {
+            "global_configs": GlobalConfig.objects.count(),
             "hosts": HostConfig.objects.count(),
             "enabled_hosts": HostConfig.objects.filter(enabled=True).count(),
             "schedules": ScheduleConfig.objects.count(),
@@ -37,6 +39,49 @@ def dashboard(request):
     return render(request, "pobsync_backend/dashboard.html", context)
 
 
+@staff_member_required
+def edit_global_config(request):
+    global_config = GlobalConfig.objects.filter(name="default").first()
+    if request.method == "POST":
+        form = GlobalConfigForm(request.POST, instance=global_config)
+        if form.is_valid():
+            saved_config = form.save()
+            messages.success(request, f"Global config saved for {saved_config.name}.")
+            return redirect("dashboard")
+    else:
+        form = GlobalConfigForm(instance=global_config, initial=_default_global_initial())
+
+    return render(
+        request,
+        "pobsync_backend/global_form.html",
+        {
+            "global_config": global_config,
+            "form": form,
+        },
+    )
+
+
+@staff_member_required
+def create_host_config(request):
+    if request.method == "POST":
+        form = CreateHostConfigForm(request.POST)
+        if form.is_valid():
+            host_config = form.save()
+            messages.success(request, f"Host config created for {host_config.host}.")
+            return redirect("host_detail", host=host_config.host)
+    else:
+        form = CreateHostConfigForm(initial=_default_host_initial())
+
+    return render(
+        request,
+        "pobsync_backend/host_form.html",
+        {
+            "host": None,
+            "form": form,
+        },
+    )
+
+
 @staff_member_required
 def host_detail(request, host: str):
     host_config = get_object_or_404(HostConfig, host=host)
@@ -158,3 +203,29 @@ def _default_schedule_initial() -> dict[str, object]:
         "enabled": True,
         "prune_max_delete": 10,
     }
+
+
+def _default_global_initial() -> dict[str, object]:
+    return {
+        "name": "default",
+        "backup_root": "/opt/pobsync/backups",
+        "pobsync_home": "/opt/pobsync",
+        "ssh_user": "root",
+        "ssh_port": 22,
+        "rsync_binary": "rsync",
+        "default_source_root": "/",
+        "retention_daily": 14,
+        "retention_weekly": 8,
+        "retention_monthly": 12,
+        "retention_yearly": 0,
+    }
+
+
+def _default_host_initial() -> dict[str, object]:
+    return {
+        "enabled": True,
+        "retention_daily": 14,
+        "retention_weekly": 8,
+        "retention_monthly": 12,
+        "retention_yearly": 0,
+    }
diff --git a/src/pobsync_server/urls.py b/src/pobsync_server/urls.py
index 15f28a1..c4fe56f 100644
--- a/src/pobsync_server/urls.py
+++ b/src/pobsync_server/urls.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ from pobsync_backend import api, views
 
 urlpatterns = [
     path("", views.dashboard, name="dashboard"),
+    path("config/global/", views.edit_global_config, name="edit_global_config"),
+    path("hosts/new/", views.create_host_config, name="create_host_config"),
     path("hosts/<str:host>/", views.host_detail, name="host_detail"),
     path("hosts/<str:host>/config/", views.edit_host_config, name="edit_host_config"),
     path("hosts/<str:host>/discover-snapshots/", views.discover_host_snapshots, name="discover_host_snapshots"),