---
title: Starting the server
description: Start the PingDirectory server as a background or foreground process.
component: pingdirectory
version: 11.1
page_id: pingdirectory:installing_the_pingdirectory_suite_of_products:pd_ds_run_server
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingdirectory/11.1/installing_the_pingdirectory_suite_of_products/pd_ds_run_server.html
llms_txt: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingdirectory/llms.txt
docs_for_agents: https://developer.pingidentity.com/build-with-ai/docs-for-agents.md
revdate: July 3, 2024
page_aliases: ["pd_ds_start_server.adoc", "pd_ds_run_server_foreground_process.adoc"]
section_ids:
  starting-the-server-as-a-background-process: Starting the server as a background process
  steps: Steps
  starting-the-server-as-a-foreground-process: Starting the server as a foreground process
  steps-2: Steps
  example: Example:
---

# Starting the server

You can start the server as a background or foreground process.

## Starting the server as a background process

Use a terminal window to start the server as a background process.

### Steps

* To start the server as a background process on UNIX or Linux systems, run the `bin/start-server` command without any options.

  An analogous command is in the `bat` folder on Microsoft Windows systems.

## Starting the server as a foreground process

Use a terminal window to run the server as a foreground process.

### Steps

* To start the server as a foreground process, open a terminal window and enter `bin/start-server` with the `--nodetach` option.

  #### Example:

  ```shell
  $ bin/start-server --nodetach
  ```