--- title: Server overview description: Use AM to secure your resources and manage user access across your network. As a centralized access management server, AM provides authentication, authorization, web security, and federation services in a single, integrated solution. component: pingam version: 8.1 page_id: pingam:deployment-planning:am-server-overview canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingam/8.1/deployment-planning/am-server-overview.html keywords: ["deployment", "planning", "architecture"] page_aliases: ["deployment-planning-guide:am-server-overview.adoc"] section_ids: architecture: Architecture get_am: Get AM training_and_support: Training and support --- # Server overview Use AM to secure your resources and manage user access across your network. As a centralized access management server, AM provides authentication, authorization, web security, and federation services in a single, integrated solution. With AM, you can: * Control who has access to your protected resources. * Define when, how long, and under what conditions users can access resources. * Centralize access management for your cloud, enterprise, mobile, and business-to-business (B2B) systems. ## Architecture The modular and flexible architecture of AM includes multiple plugin points, so you can adapt it to your specific deployment needs. ![AM has a highly modular and flexible architecture.](_images/openam-architecture-dpg.svg)Figure 1. Architecture AM uses industry-standard protocols, such as HTTP, XML, SOAP, REST, SAML 2.0, OAuth 2.0, and OpenID Connect 1.0. All AM services are 100% Java-based and are compatible with multiple platforms and containers. ## Get AM You can deploy and integrate the AM core server into your existing network infrastructure. Download AM from the [Ping Identity Download Center](https://backstage.pingidentity.com/downloads). Before you download the files, make sure to review the Software License and Subscription Agreement. The download includes a `.zip` file with all components, such as the `.war` file, tools, the configurator, and samples. The distribution provides the following files: **Distribution Files** | File | Description | | ------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `AM-8.1.0.war` | The distribution `.war` file includes the core server code and an administrative graphical user interface (GUI) Web console.During installation, the `.war` file accesses properties to get the fully qualified domain name, port, context path, and the location of the configuration folder. These properties can be retrieved from the `boot.json` file in the AM installation directory, from environment variables, or from a combination of the two.This file is also available to download individually. | | `AM-crypto-tool-8.1.0.war` | A utility with some cryptographic functionality used for creating Docker images. Strictly for future use, not currently supported. | | `Config-Upgrader-8.1.0.zip` | Configuration file upgrade tool.Find more information on converting configuration files for import into AM in the `README.md` file in the `Config-Upgrader-8.1.0.zip` file. | | `Fedlet-8.1.0.zip` | An AM Fedlet, a light-weight SAML 2.0 service provider.The Fedlet lets you set up a federated deployment without the need of a fully-featured service provider. | | `IDPDiscovery-8.1.0.war` | An IdP Discovery Profile (SAMLv2 binding profile) for its IdP Discovery service. The profile keeps track of the identity providers for each user. | | `sample-trees-8.1.0.zip` | Sample authentication trees for demonstration purposes. The trees are provided as JSON files and can be imported into an AM deployment using *Amster*. Find information on importing files using Amster in [Import configuration data](../amster/import-config.html). | | `Truststore-Utility-8.1.0.zip` | A utility to help with creating a trust store for use with web authentication.Find more information in the `readme.md` in the `.zip` archive and [MFA: Web authentication (WebAuthn) and passkeys](../am-authentication/authn-mfa-webauthn.html). | The [Ping Identity Download Center](https://backstage.pingidentity.com/downloads) hosts downloadable versions of AM, including a `.zip` file with all of the AM components, the `.war` file, AM tools, the configurator, web and Java agents, and documentation. Verify that you review the Software License and Subscription Agreement presented before you download AM files. ## Training and support If you need help deploying AM into production, Ping Identity offers services that include training, consulting, and support.