---
title: Set up the server
description: For an up-to-date list of requirements, refer to Before you install.
component: pingidm
version: 7.5
page_id: pingidm:getting-started:basic-install
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingidm/7.5/getting-started/basic-install.html
keywords: ["Getting Started", "Demo", "Install"]
section_ids:
  before-you-start: What You Need Before Starting
  download_and_start_the_server: Download and start the server
---

# Set up the server

## What You Need Before Starting

1. For an up-to-date list of requirements, refer to [Before you install](../release-notes/before-you-install.html).

2. [Check Your Java Installation](../install-guide/verify-java.html).

## Download and start the server

This procedure assumes that you are starting IDM as a regular (not administrative) user named `user`.

1. Download IDM from [Backstage](https://backstage.forgerock.com/downloads/). Releases on Backstage are thoroughly validated for ForgeRock customers who run the software in production deployments, and for those who want to try or test a given release.

2. Extract the contents of the IDM binary file to your user's `Downloads` directory. The process should unpack the contents to the `Downloads/openidm` subdirectory.

3. Navigate to the `Downloads/openidm` subdirectory:

   1. In Microsoft Windows, use Windows Explorer to navigate to the `C:\Users\user\Downloads\openidm` directory.

      Double-click the `getting-started(.bat)` file. Do not select the `getting-started.sh` file, as that is intended for use on UNIX/Linux systems.

   2. In Linux/UNIX, open a command-line interface and run the following command:

      ```
      /home/user/Downloads/openidm/getting-started.sh
      ```

4. The following message should display:

   ```
   -> OpenIDM ready
   ```

When the server is ready, you can administer it from a web browser. To do so, navigate to `http://localhost:8080/admin` or `https://localhost:8443/admin`. If you have installed the server on a remote system, substitute that hostname or IP.

|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| - | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|   | In production, you should connect to IDM via a secure port and import a CA-signed certificate into the truststore, as discussed in the [Security](../security-guide/preface.html).Until you install that certificate, a warning displays in your browser the first time you access IDM over a secure port. |

The default username and password for the IDM Administrator is `openidm-admin` and `openidm-admin`.

When you log in to IDM at a URL with the `/admin` endpoint, you are logging into the Administrative User Interface, also known as the admin UI.

|   |                                                                                                                                                        |
| - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
|   | The default password for the administrative user, `openidm-admin`, is `openidm-admin`. To protect your deployment in production, change this password. |