---
title: Start here
description: Use these pages to get a quick, hands-on look at what PingDS software can do. You will download, install, and use DS on your local computer.
component: pingds
version: 8.1
page_id: pingds:getting-started:preface
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/8.1/getting-started/preface.html
revdate: 2025-10-22T14:42:39Z
keywords: ["Evaluation", "LDAP"]
page_aliases: ["index.adoc"]
---

# Start here

Use these pages to get a quick, hands-on look at what PingDS software can do. You will download, install, and use DS on your local computer.

Estimated time to complete: 30-45 minutes *(tooltip: This assumes familiarity with command-line tools.)*

[icon: wrench, set=fas, size=3x]

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

Install DS software.

[icon: sitemap, set=fas, size=3x]

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

Use DS LDAP tools.

[icon: cubes, set=fas, size=3x]

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

Access DS over HTTP.

[icon: clone, set=fas, size=3x]

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

Replicate DS data.

[icon: rocket, set=fas, size=3x]

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

Measure LDAP operations.

[icon: lock, set=fas, size=3x]

#### [Learn access control](acis.html)

Learn DS ACIs *(tooltip: \<div class="paragraph">
\<p>An instruction or rule that can be used to grant or deny access to users to perform operations on a server.\</p>
\</div>)*.