> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mariadb.com/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mariadb.com/docs/gridgain/gridgain-9/gridgain9-management/installation/installing-using-zip.md).

# Installing Using ZIP Archive

Install the GridGain 9 database and CLI tool from the distributed ZIP archives, then start a node.

## Prerequisites

### Recommended Operating System

GridGain is tested on the following systems:

* Ubuntu 20.04
* Ubuntu 22.04
* CentOS 8
* RockyLinux 9
* Mac OS X 14.6
* Windows 10

Other Linux flavors and newer versions are supported, but may have minor discrepancies in performance or stability.

When running on Linux, the following libraries are also required:

* GNU C Library (glibc) version 2.29 or newer
* GNU C++ Standard Library (libstdc++) which supports GLIBCXX\_3.4.26 or newer. GLIBCXX\_3.4.26 is included with GCC 9.1.0. For more information on version mapping, see the [GNU Official Documentation](https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/libstdc++/manual/abi.html).

### Recommended Java Version

GridGain is tested on Oracle JDK 11, 17, 21, and 25 (LTS), as well as JDK 26 (STS). Other Java vendors are supported, but may have minor discrepancies in performance or stability.

Short-term support (STS) Java versions are supported only until the next STS release, Long-term support (LTS) versions are not affected by this policy.

## Version Lifecycle

The information about versioning and lifecycle of GridGain 9 is available on the [Versioning page](https://www.gridgain.com/versioning-and-support-lifecycle).

## GridGain Package Structure

GridGain provides 2 archives for the distribution. If you do not have them, [contact our support](https://mariadb.com/support).

* `gridgain9-db-9.1` - this archive contains everything related to the GridGain database, and when unpacked, the folder where data will be stored by default. You start GridGain nodes from this folder.
* `gridgain9-cli-9.1` - this archive contains the [GridGain CLI tool](/docs/gridgain/gridgain-9/reference/cli-tool.md). This tool is the main way of interacting with GridGain clusters and nodes.

## Installing GridGain Database

To install the GridGain database, unpack the database archive provided by GridGain:

1. Unpack the archive:

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Unix" %}

```bash
unzip gridgain9-db-9.1.zip && cd gridgain9-db-9.1
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Windows (PowerShell)" %}

```bash
Expand-Archive gridgain9-9.1.zip -DestinationPath . ; cd gridgain9-db-9.1
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Windows (CMD)" %}

```bash
unzip -xf gridgain9-db-9.1.zip & cd gridgain9-db-9.1
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

2. Create the `GRIDGAIN_HOME` environment variable with the path to the `gridgain9-db-9.1` folder.

## Starting the Node

Once you have unpacked the archive, you can start the GridGain node:

```bash
bin/gridgain9db
```

By default, the node loads the `etc/gridgain-config.conf` configuration file on startup. You can update it to customize the node configuration, or change the configuration folder in the `etc/vars.env` file.

When the node is started, it will enter the cluster if it is already configured and initialized, or will wait for cluster initialization.

## Installing GridGain CLI Tool

The CLI tool is the primary means of working with the GridGain database. It is not necessary to install on every machine that is running GridGain, as you can connect to the node via REST interface.

To install the GridGain CLI, unpack the CLI archive provided by GridGain:

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Unix" %}

```bash
unzip gridgain9-cli-9.1.zip && cd gridgain9-cli-9.1
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Windows (PowerShell)" %}

```bash
Expand-Archive gridgain9-cli-9.1.zip -DestinationPath . ; cd gridgain9-cli-9.1
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Windows (CMD)" %}

```bash
unzip -xf gridgain9-cli-9.1.zip & cd gridgain9-cli-9.1
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

## Software Identification

The ZIP archive includes a SWID tag in the `swidtag/` directory inside the unpacked archive.

See [Software Identification](/docs/gridgain/gridgain-9/gridgain9-management/installation/software-identification.md) for details.

## Next Steps

With the GridGain installed, you can proceed with the [Getting Started](/docs/gridgain/gridgain-9/gridgain9-get-started/quick-start.md) or [use the available APIs](/docs/gridgain/gridgain-9/gridgain9-development/accessing-data/table-api.md) immediately.