# Installation Guide

> Install DS Server with the official Docker image, a Linux or Windows image of your own, or by hand with systemd, a Windows service or IIS, and license it.

- **Product:** DS Server
- **Section:** Documentation
- **Kind:** Topic
- **Path:** DS Server > Installation Guide
- **Web URL:** https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/installation/
- **LLMs URL:** https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/installation/llms.txt
- **LLMs-Full URL:** https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/installation/llms-full.txt

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## On This Page

- [Choose an Installation](https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/installation/#choose-an-installation)
- [Where to Start](https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/installation/#where-to-start)
- [Find the Right Page](https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/installation/#find-the-right-page)
- [Pages in This Section](https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/installation/#pages-in-this-section)

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## In This Section

- [Configuration](https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/installation/configuration/llms.txt): Configure DS Server with hostsettings.json, appsettings.json, environment variables and web.config: ports, log files, the Admin.db database, plugins and fonts.
- [Installing With Official Image From Docker Hub](https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/installation/docker-hub/llms.txt): Run the txtextcontrol/dsserver-core image from Docker Hub: tags, docker run on port 5000, admin sign-in, licensing and a volume that keeps Admin.db and logs.
- [Installing Using Docker (Core on Linux)](https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/installation/docker-linux/llms.txt): Build your own Linux container image from the core folder: a Dockerfile on the ASP.NET Core runtime image, HTTP on port 5000, a data volume, plugins, settings.
- [Installing Using Docker (Classic on Windows)](https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/installation/docker-windows/llms.txt): Build a Windows container image of the Classic build: a Dockerfile on Windows Server Core that installs the Visual C++ and .NET runtimes and starts Kestrel.
- [HTTPS](https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/installation/https/llms.txt): Serve DS Server over HTTPS: set Kestrel endpoints with a PFX or PEM certificate in appsettings.json or environment variables, in Docker, or bind it in IIS.
- [Multiple Servers With Load Balancing](https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/installation/load-balancing/llms.txt): Run several instances behind a load balancer: license each, clone security profiles with the admin endpoints or use authentication servers, set sticky sessions.
- [Manual Installation](https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/installation/manual/llms.txt): Install DS Server from the archive without Docker: run it with dotnet on Linux as a systemd service, on Windows as a Windows service or in IIS, then sign in.
- [Requirements](https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/installation/requirements/llms.txt): Check what Core and Classic need: Linux or Windows Server, the ASP.NET Core and .NET Desktop runtimes, the Visual C++ Redistributable, IIS WebSockets and ports.
- [Upgrading](https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/installation/upgrading/llms.txt): Upgrade DS Server to a new release: keep Admin.db, settings, certificates and plugins, replace the folder or container, and follow the steps for 3.0 to 5.0.

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## Nearby

- **Previous:** [Licensing Overview](https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/overview/licensing/llms.txt)
- **Next:** [Requirements](https://docs.textcontrol.com/ds-server/installation/requirements/llms.txt)