---
title: Start here
description: Use this guide to get a quick, hands-on look at what Directory Services software can do. You will download, install, and use DS on your local computer.
component: pingds
version: 7.4
page_id: pingds:getting-started:preface
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/8.1/getting-started/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
keywords: ["Evaluation", "LDAP"]
page_aliases: ["index.adoc"]
superseded_by: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/8.1/getting-started/preface.html
---

# Start here

Use this guide to get a quick, hands-on look at what Directory Services software can do. You will download, install, and use DS on your local computer.

Expect to spend 30-120 minutes working through this guide.

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#### [Install DS](install.html)

Install DS software.

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#### [Learn LDAP](ldap.html)

Use DS LDAP tools.

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#### [Learn REST/HTTP](rest.html)

Access DS over HTTP.

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#### [Learn Replication](replication.html)

Replicate DS data.

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#### [Measure Performance](performance.html)

Measure LDAP operations.

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#### [Learn Access Control](acis.html)

Learn DS ACIs.