> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.abbyy.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Getting Started with Installation in Linux

> Get started installing ABBYY FineReader Engine on Linux: pick Developer or Runtime, automatic, manual, or wizard mode, and Online or Software protection.

## Choosing your installation

To identify the best installation help for you, you'll need to answer a few questions.

First, why are you installing the library?

* If you are going to develop a new application that uses the library, you need a [Developer installation](/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/developer-installation).
* If you have developed an application that uses the library, you need a Runtime installation on the end user computer.

<Note>
  Both installation types require root permissions and running service as root. If you would like to install and run ABBYY FineReader Engine without root privileges, check out the [Non-root installation](/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/non-root-installation) section.
</Note>

### Installation type

Next, which installation type do you need?

* Standalone installation is intended for when your application is running on just one local computer; the license information will be kept on the same computer.
* Network installation allows you to store the licenses on a remote server and distribute them between the workstations as needed.

### Installation method

Then, which installation method will you use?

* Automatic installation - uses the built-in ABBYY command-line installer
* Installation wizard - uses the setup assistant
* Manual installation - copy the files manually/write your own script to do it

Manual installation mode can be useful if your application requires a specific functionality subset, and you want to save disk space by omitting all unnecessary resource files.

### License Protection

Finally, which license protection type do you have? As described under [Activation](/fine-reader/engine/licensing/activation), two types of protection are available:

* online protection — connection with ABBYY Online licensing service over the Internet for license usage
* software protection — a serial number requiring activation

There are minor differences in the installation instructions, and each scenario is described for these protection types.

## Installation scenarios

Now that you have the necessary information, use the table below to choose your installation scenario.

<Accordion title="Installations with root">
  <table><thead><tr><th rowspan="2"><p><strong>Installation Type</strong></p></th><th colspan="3"><p><strong>Mode of Library Installation</strong></p></th></tr><tr><th><p><strong>Using wizard</strong></p></th><th><p><strong>Automatic</strong></p></th><th><p><strong>Manual</strong></p></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Developer</strong></p></td><td><ol><li value="1"><a href="/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/developer-installation/using-installation-wizard/online-protection">Online protection</a></li></ol><ol><ul><li>Standalone license</li><li>Network license</li></ul></ol><ol start="2"><li value="2"><a href="/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/developer-installation/using-installation-wizard/software-protection">Software protection</a></li></ol><ol><ul><li>Standalone license</li><li>Network license</li></ul></ol></td><td><ol><li value="1"><a href="/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/developer-installation/automatic-installation/online-protection">Online protection</a></li></ol><ol><ul><li>Standalone license</li><li>Network license</li></ul></ol><ol start="2"><li value="2"><a href="/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/developer-installation/automatic-installation/software-protection">Software protection</a></li></ol><ol><ul><li>Standalone license</li><li>Network license</li></ul></ol></td><td><ol><li value="1"><a href="/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/developer-installation/manual-installation/online-protection">Online protection</a></li></ol><ol><ul><li>Standalone license</li><li>Network license</li></ul></ol><ol start="2"><li value="2"><a href="/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/developer-installation/manual-installation/software-protection">Software protection</a></li></ol><ol><ul><li>Standalone license</li><li>Network license</li></ul></ol></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Runtime</strong></p></td><td><ol><li value="1"><a href="/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/runtime-installation/using-installation-wizard/online-protection">Online protection</a></li></ol><ol><ul><li>Standalone license</li><li>Network license</li></ul></ol><ol start="2"><li value="2"><a href="/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/runtime-installation/using-installation-wizard/software-protection">Software protection</a></li></ol><ol><ul><li>Standalone license</li><li>Network license</li></ul></ol></td><td><ol><li value="1"><a href="/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/runtime-installation/automatic-installation/online-protection">Online protection</a></li></ol><ol><ul><li>Standalone license</li><li>Network license</li></ul></ol><ol start="2"><li value="2"><a href="/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/runtime-installation/automatic-installation/software-protection">Software protection</a></li></ol><ol><ul><li>Standalone license</li><li>Network license</li></ul></ol></td><td><ol><li value="1"><a href="/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/runtime-installation/manual-installation/online-protection">Online protection</a></li></ol><ol><ul><li>Standalone license</li><li>Network license</li></ul></ol><ol start="2"><li value="2"><a href="/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/runtime-installation/manual-installation/software-protection">Software protection</a></li></ol><ol><ul><li>Standalone license</li><li>Network license</li></ul></ol></td></tr></tbody></table>
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Non-root installations">
  <table><thead><tr><th rowspan="2"><p><strong>Installation Type</strong></p></th><th colspan="2"><p><strong>Mode of Library Installation</strong></p></th></tr><tr><th><p><strong>Using wizard</strong></p></th><th><p><strong>Automatic</strong></p></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Developer, non-root</strong></p></td><td><ol><li value="1"><a href="/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/non-root-installation/developer-installation/using-installation-wizard/online-protection">Online protection</a></li></ol><ol><ul><li>Standalone license</li><li>Network license</li></ul></ol><ol start="2"><li value="2"><a href="/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/non-root-installation/developer-installation/using-installation-wizard/software-protection">Software protection</a></li></ol><ol><ul><li>Standalone license</li><li>Network license</li></ul></ol></td><td><ol><li value="1"><a href="/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/non-root-installation/developer-installation/automatic-installation/online-protection">Online protection</a></li></ol><ol><ul><li>Standalone license</li><li>Network license</li></ul></ol><ol start="2"><li value="2"><a href="/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/non-root-installation/developer-installation/automatic-installation/software-protection">Software protection</a></li></ol><ol><ul><li>Standalone license</li><li>Network license</li></ul></ol></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Runtime, non-root</strong></p></td><td><ol><li value="1"><a href="/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/non-root-installation/runtime-installation/using-installation-wizard/online-protection">Online protection</a></li></ol><ol><ul><li>Standalone license</li><li>Network license</li></ul></ol><ol start="2"><li value="2"><a href="/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/non-root-installation/runtime-installation/using-installation-wizard/software-protection">Software protection</a></li></ol><ol><ul><li>Standalone license</li><li>Network license</li></ul></ol></td><td><ol><li value="1"><a href="/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/non-root-installation/runtime-installation/automatic-installation/online-protection">Online protection</a></li></ol><ol><ul><li>Standalone license</li><li>Network license</li></ul></ol><ol start="2"><li value="2"><a href="/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/non-root-installation/runtime-installation/automatic-installation/software-protection">Software protection</a></li></ol><ol><ul><li>Standalone license</li><li>Network license</li></ul></ol></td></tr></tbody></table>
</Accordion>

<Note>
  For the Red Hat-like systems installation of FineReader Engine can be performed [using Red Hat Package Manager](/fine-reader/engine/installation/installation-linux/installation-using-red-hat-package-manager).
</Note>

## ABBYY FineReader Engine in a native environment

You may run ABBYY FineReader Engine inside two separate Docker containers:

* The first one contains FineReader Engine
* The second one contains the Licensing Service.

See details in [Running ABBYY FineReader Engine 12 inside a Docker container](/fine-reader/engine/distribution/distribution-linux/running-abbyy-finereader-engine-12-inside-a-docker-container-2).

## Next Steps

All of the ABBYY FineReader Engine (FRE) installation scenarios for Linux provided in this section, except the developer installation, follow the same basic process:

1. First, install FRE on the workstation.
2. Next, install the Licensing Service.
3. Finally, set up the license which permits you to use the library.

To install, you will need.....

* For a Network license type: Your network license server connection details.
* For Online license protection: An Online License token file and the password to this file. We recommend that you install the token file with the library.
* For Software license protection: the serial number of your license.

The FRE folder structure after automatic installation contains:

<table><thead><tr><th><p><strong>Folder name</strong></p></th><th><p><strong>Description</strong></p></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p>\<FRE\_installation\_directory></p></td><td><p>A folder with the FRE files specified during installation.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><a name="datafolder" />\<FREngineDataFolder></p></td><td><p>A folder for storing the user-specific data. By default, %ProgramData%\ABBYY\SDK\12\FineReader Engine.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><a name="licensesfolder" />\<LicensesFolder></p></td><td><p>A folder for storing the Licensing Service files. After installation, It can be specified via the LicensingSettings.xml file or via API. By default, %ProgramData%\ABBYY\SDK\12\Licenses.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>\<FREngineTempFolder></p></td><td><p>A folder for storing the ABBYY FineReader Engine temporary files. By default, %TEMP%\ABBYY FineReader Engine 12.</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><Note>To change the paths to \<FREngineDataFolder>, \<LicensesFolder> and \<FREngineTempFolder> folders, use the InitializeEngine function.</Note></td></tr></tbody></table>