# Getting started

## About

Lithnet Access Manager consists of two components.

The first is the Lithnet Access Manager Service (AMS). AMS is a web-based interface where users can request various types of access to computers. It's the core service of Access Manager.

The second component is an optional agent, the Access Manager agent. You can choose between using the Microsoft LAPS agent, or the Lithnet Access Manager agent to set LAPS passwords.

This document will guide you through the process for configuring Lithnet Access Manager, and the features you want to use in your environment.

## Installation

You'll need to first install and configure the Access Manager Service application.

[Installing the Access Manager Service](/ams/installation/installing-the-access-manager-server/installing-the-access-manager-service.md)

## Choosing the LAPS agent to use

If you plan on providing access to local admin passwords with Access Manager, you'll need to deploy and configure either the Microsoft LAPS agent, or the Lithnet Access Manager agent, to your devices, in order to rotate and store the LAPS passwords.

If you simply want to provide access to LAPS passwords already stored in your Active Directory or Microsoft Entra, then you can skip this step.

You can read more details in our guide for [choosing between the Microsoft and Lithnet LAPS agents](/ams/help-and-support/choosing-between-the-microsoft-and-lithnet-laps-agents.md).

An agent is not required for the other features of AMS, such as just-in-time administrative access and BitLocker recovery password access.

## Configuring features

Once you've installed AMS, you use the following guides to configure specific features as needed.

* **RapidLAPS**
  * [Setting up RapidLAPS](/ams/configuration/deploying-features/setting-up-rapid-laps.md)
* **LAPS**
  * [Setting up Microsoft LAPS for Active Directory](/ams/configuration/deploying-features/setting-up-laps/setting-up-microsoft-laps.md)
  * [Setting up Microsoft LAPS for Microsoft Entra](/ams/configuration/deploying-features/setting-up-laps/setting-up-microsoft-laps-for-aad.md)
  * [Setting up Lithnet LAPS](/ams/configuration/deploying-features/setting-up-laps/setting-up-lithnet-laps.md)
* **Just-in-time access (JIT)**
  * [Setting up JIT access for computers](/ams/configuration/deploying-features/setting-up-jit/setting-up-jit-for-computers.md)
  * [Setting up JIT access for roles](/ams/configuration/deploying-features/setting-up-jit/setting-up-jit-for-roles.md)
* **BitLocker Recovery**
  * [Setting up BitLocker access](/ams/configuration/deploying-features/setting-up-bitlocker.md)


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.lithnet.io/ams/installation/getting-started.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.