# Quick Start for Infrastructure Administrators

This guide is for infrastructure administrators responsible for installing, configuring, and operating NVIDIA Run:ai.

The quick start walks through the initial infrastructure setup lifecycle, including platform installation and the essential post-installation configuration required to prepare the cluster for onboarding and workload execution. It focuses on infrastructure-level concerns such as cluster readiness, control plane behavior, security boundaries, and operational stability.

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## Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure that:

* A Kubernetes cluster is up and running.
* [Helm](https://helm.sh/) 3.14 or later is installed.
* You have `kubectl` access to the cluster with admin-level permissions.

## Installation

The platform supports deployment using two primary methods, depending on your environment:

* [Install using Helm](https://run-ai-docs.nvidia.com/self-hosted/2.22/getting-started/installation/install-using-helm) - The standard installation method using Helm charts. Provides full control and flexibility over configuration and deployment.
* [Install using Base Command Manager (BCM)](https://run-ai-docs.nvidia.com/self-hosted/2.22/getting-started/installation/bcm-install) - A guided installation method available through NVIDIA Base Command Manager intended to simplify deployment, employing defaults meant to enable most NVIDIA Run:ai capabilities on NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD systems.

## Post Installation Infrastructure Setup

After installing NVIDIA Run:ai, complete the following foundational infrastructure configuration steps to ensure the platform is production-ready and can safely support organizational onboarding and workloads. These steps focus on cluster readiness, control plane behavior, and operational guardrails, rather than day-to-day platform usage:

* Validate node readiness and assign node roles as required
* Configure advanced control plane and cluster settings based on your environment requirements
* Enable required integrations and networking components
* Apply security and operational best practices
* Prepare the platform for scale, availability, and ongoing maintenance

The exact configuration required depends on your environment, scale, and operational model. Detailed procedures and advanced options are documented in the [Advanced setup](https://run-ai-docs.nvidia.com/self-hosted/2.22/infrastructure-setup/advanced-setup) and [Infrastructure procedures](https://run-ai-docs.nvidia.com/self-hosted/2.22/infrastructure-setup/procedures) sections.