---
title: Installation
description: This guide shows you how to install and remove Directory Services software.
component: pingds
version: 7.2
page_id: pingds:install-guide:preface
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/8.1/install-guide/preface.html
llms_txt: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/llms.txt
docs_for_agents: https://developer.pingidentity.com/build-with-ai/docs-for-agents.md
revdate: 2025-08-21T16:45:32Z
page_aliases: ["index.adoc"]
superseded_by: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/8.1/install-guide/preface.html
---

# Installation

This guide shows you how to install and remove Directory Services software.

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#### [Evaluate DS](setup-ds.html)

Try DS software.

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#### [DS for CTS](profile-am-cts.html)

Store AM CTS tokens.

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#### [DS for Identities](profile-am-idrepo.html)

Store AM identities.

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#### [DS as IDM Repo](profile-idm-repo.html)

Store IDM data.

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#### [Setup Hints](setup-parameters.html)

Review setup options.

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#### [DS Proxy](setup-proxy.html)

Install an LDAP proxy.

| Component                  | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| -------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Directory Server and Tools | Pure Java, high-performance server that can be configured as:- An LDAPv3 directory server with the additional capability to serve directory data to REST applications over HTTP.

- An LDAPv3 directory proxy server providing a single point of access to underlying directory servers.

- A replication server handling replication traffic with directory servers and with other replication servers, receiving, sending, and storing changes to directory data.Server distributions include command-line tools for installing, configuring, and managing servers. The tools make it possible to script all operations. |
| DSML Gateway               | DSML support is available through the gateway, which is a Java web application that you install in a web container.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| REST to LDAP Gateway       | In addition to the native server support for REST over HTTP, the REST to LDAP gateway is a Java web application that lets you configure REST access to any LDAPv3 directory server.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Java APIs                  | Java server-side APIs for server plugins that extend directory services.All Java APIs have Interface Stability: *Evolving*. *Be prepared for incompatible changes in both major and minor releases.*                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |

Read the [Release notes](https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/release-notes/preface.html) before installing DS software.