> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://academy.pentaho.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://academy.pentaho.com/getting-started/pentaho-academy.md).

# Getting Started with Pentaho

Pick how to run Pentaho — a 5-hour hosted lab, a Developer Edition install for students, academic institutions and non-profits, or an Enterprise Edition trial with the Pentaho team alongside.

{% hint style="warning" icon="triangle-exclamation" %}
**Sandbox — for testing purposes only.** This is a sandbox version of the new Getting Started section, published so it can be tested. Some links and details are still being verified, and REPLACE-ME markers are intentional. The current Academy is at [academy.pentaho.com](https://academy.pentaho.com/).
{% endhint %}

## Pick how you'll run Pentaho

Three options. Run Pentaho Data Integration in a **5-hour hosted lab** with nothing to install, run **Developer Edition** on your own machine if you're a student, at an academic institution or at a non-profit, or run an **Enterprise Edition trial with the Pentaho team** alongside you. They differ in how fast you start, whether you install anything, and whether there's a form to fill in and a person involved.

<button type="button" class="button primary" data-action="ask" data-icon="gitbook-assistant">Which option is right for me?</button>

<button type="button" class="button secondary" data-action="ask" data-query="I want to try Pentaho Data Integration right now without installing anything. Where do I start?" data-icon="bolt">Try it now</button><button type="button" class="button secondary" data-action="ask" data-query="What is the difference between Pentaho Developer Edition and Enterprise Edition?" data-icon="scale-balanced">DE vs EE</button><button type="button" class="button secondary" data-action="ask" data-query="How do I connect Pentaho Data Integration to my own database?" data-icon="database">Use my own data</button><button type="button" class="button secondary" data-action="ask" data-query="What are the system requirements for installing Pentaho Developer Edition?" data-icon="list-check">System requirements</button>

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="files"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><h4><i class="fa-bolt" style="color:$primary;">:bolt:</i></h4></td><td><strong>Try it right now</strong></td><td><p><strong>~10 minutes.</strong></p><p>A hosted Pentaho Data Integration session for the free PDI in 2 Hours course. Nothing to install — request a voucher code and you're in. The session lasts 5 hours.</p></td><td><a href="/getting-started/start-here/hosted.md">Try it — hosted session</a></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><h4><i class="fa-laptop-code" style="color:$primary;">:laptop-code:</i></h4></td><td><strong>Install on my machine</strong></td><td><p><strong>~15 minutes to install, once approved.</strong></p><p>Developer Edition on your own machine, free for students, academic institutions and non-profits. Apply on <a href="https://pentaho.com/academic-access/">pentaho.com</a>; the download instructions arrive by email.</p></td><td><a href="/getting-started/start-here/developer-edition.md">Developer Edition</a></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><h4><i class="fa-building" style="color:$primary;">:building:</i></h4></td><td><strong>Evaluate Pentaho</strong></td><td><strong>2–3 business days.</strong> Request a trial on pentaho.com. A Pentaho Account Executive validates it and supports you through the evaluation. Best if you want to work against your own data.</td><td><a href="/getting-started/start-here/enterprise-trial.md">Enterprise Edition</a></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

{% hint style="info" icon="circle-question" %}
**Not sure?** Start with the hosted lab. Request a voucher and you're running Pentaho in about 10 minutes — nothing to install, and you can move to another option afterwards.
{% endhint %}

***

### How the options fit together

Every option ends the same way: with Pentaho running and ready to use. The difference is what it costs you to get there, and what you can do once you arrive. The hosted lab is a guided first look. Developer Edition is a workbench. The Enterprise trial is a proof of concept with a named person alongside you — and you can move between them at any time.

<figure><img src="https://3943728088-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FAJTEK6oUvy85HsDW5Nqk%2Fuploads%2FuFCUh7zkDYQZr4orWZev%2Fgetting-started-flow.svg?alt=media" alt="The three options: hosted lab, Developer Edition, and Enterprise trial all lead from Start here to Pentaho up and running"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

***

## Summary of the three options

Each tab below links to a full walkthrough — prerequisites, install commands, and what to do if something goes wrong. This is the short version, with enough detail to pick confidently and arrive prepared.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="⚡ Try it" %}
**The 5-hour hosted lab.** Pentaho Data Integration Developer Edition running in your browser, with a prepared dataset and the PDI in 2 Hours course (about 2 hours of labs) already loaded. Nothing to install or configure — request a voucher code, then enter it to start.

<table data-header-hidden data-search="false"><thead><tr><th width="230"></th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Who it's for</strong></td><td>Everyone — request an access voucher</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Time to start</strong></td><td>~10 minutes</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Session length</strong></td><td>5 hours to complete the 2-hour course, with a voucher valid for 5 days — the environment is torn down at the end</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Install or form?</strong></td><td>No install — a short request form for your voucher code</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Data</strong></td><td>Prepared dataset, already connected — plus limited connections to a file of your own</td></tr><tr><td><strong>You get</strong></td><td>PDI Developer Edition with embedded workshops</td></tr><tr><td><strong>You don't get</strong></td><td>Pentaho Server, Pipeline Designer, Enterprise features</td></tr></tbody></table>

**What happens:**

1. Open the lab portal and enter your voucher code — the lab provisions in about 10 minutes.

{% embed url="<https://pentaho.selfpaced.training/access/login>" %}

<figure><img src="https://3943728088-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FAJTEK6oUvy85HsDW5Nqk%2Fuploads%2FREwImgA4ikxH5ZViKvop%2Freadytech_portal.png?alt=media&amp;token=37368e8d-57f3-4845-b685-f42765fb7fd7" alt="The Pentaho Self-Paced Portal login page with the access code or voucher field"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

2. Explore PDI against the prepared dataset — build, run, and inspect a pipeline.

<figure><img src="https://3943728088-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FAJTEK6oUvy85HsDW5Nqk%2Fuploads%2FNmTCCW1tk9NTbnWLCXih%2Fpdi_2hr.png?alt=media&amp;token=c4f186a0-994d-4303-940e-ae8bee88982f" alt="The PDI in 2 Hours Lab Guide, with the time remaining at the top"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

3. Export anything you want to keep **before the session ends** — nothing survives the teardown.
4. Decide what's next: apply for Developer Edition if you're a student, academic or non-profit, or request an Enterprise trial.

{% hint style="info" %}
On a corporate VPN? Networks that block WebSocket traffic can stop the lab connecting — if the tab stays blank, try without the VPN.
{% endhint %}

<p align="center"><a href="/pdi-developer-path-sandbox/try-it-pdi-in-2-hours.md" class="button primary" data-icon="diagram-sankey">Open the Lab Guide</a></p>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="💻 Developer Edition" %}
**Apply, then install.** Pentaho on your own machine, free for students, faculty and researchers, academic institutions and non-profit organisations — to learn at your own pace and prototype against your own data. There's no download on the Academy: you apply through the form on pentaho.com, and the download instructions arrive by email once you're approved. No licence key is needed. Evaluating for a commercial organisation and need the full server platform? That's the Enterprise trial tab.

<table data-header-hidden data-search="false"><thead><tr><th width="230"></th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Who it's for</strong></td><td>Students, faculty and researchers, academic institutions, non-profit organisations</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Form to fill in?</strong></td><td>Yes — the application on <a href="https://pentaho.com/academic-access/">pentaho.com</a>. Download instructions come by email once approved</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Time to install</strong></td><td>~15 minutes, once your approval email arrives</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Licence key</strong></td><td>None needed</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Runs on</strong></td><td>Windows 11, or macOS 15 (Sequoia) / 14 (Sonoma) — Intel and Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Java</strong></td><td>Java 21 (certified) or Java 17 (supported) — Oracle JDK, OpenJDK, Temurin or Azul Zulu builds</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Hardware</strong></td><td>16 GB RAM dedicated to PDI, 50 GB free disk after install</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Your own data?</strong></td><td>Yes — with optional downloadable workshops.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Enterprise features?</strong></td><td>No — the server platform, scheduling and Pipeline Designer need the Enterprise trial</td></tr></tbody></table>

{% hint style="info" icon="building" %}
**Not a student, academic institution or non-profit?** Developer Edition isn't available to commercial organisations. Request an Enterprise trial instead — a Pentaho Account Executive sets it up with you — or use the hosted lab for a look at the product.
{% endhint %}

**Before you install:**

* Run `java -version` and check it against the requirement — this is where most installs go wrong.
* On Windows, pick an install path with **no spaces in it**: `C:\Pentaho\design-tools` works, `C:\Program Files\Pentaho` causes problems later.
* On macOS, the app comes from outside the App Store, so the first launch may be blocked — right-click **Data Integration.app** and choose **Open** the first time.

**What happens:**

1. Apply on [pentaho.com](https://pentaho.com/academic-access/) — use your institutional or organisational email address, and bookmark the install guide first.
2. Your approval email arrives with download instructions. Download the archive — a single file.
3. Extract it and run `spoon.bat` (Windows) or open **Data Integration.app** (macOS). First launch is the slow one.
4. Verify the Spoon welcome screen opens — if it does, you're set up.

<p align="center"><a href="/getting-started/start-here/developer-edition.md" class="button primary" data-icon="laptop-code">Open the full install guide</a></p>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="🏢 Enterprise trial" %}
**Run an Enterprise trial with the Pentaho team.** The full product — design tools plus the Pentaho Server — with a named Pentaho Account Executive alongside you. Take this option if you're building a real proof of concept rather than learning the tool.

<table data-header-hidden data-search="false"><thead><tr><th width="230"></th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Who it's for</strong></td><td>Organisations evaluating Pentaho for commercial use</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Response time</strong></td><td>2–3 business days, from a named person (not a no-reply address)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>What you get</strong></td><td>Full Enterprise Edition: design tools, Pentaho Server, enterprise security, scheduling</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Trial length</strong></td><td>Agreed with your Account Executive (AE), sized to your evaluation deadline</td></tr><tr><td><strong>The form</strong></td><td>Lives on pentaho.com — choose the <strong>trial</strong> option, not demo or sales</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Best for</strong></td><td>Evaluating with your own data at real volume</td></tr></tbody></table>

**Have these ready before you fill in the form** — they determine how well your trial goes:

* **What you're trying to prove** — the specific thing, not "we're looking at ETL tools". Your AE uses this to size the trial and bring in the right technical help.
* **Roughly when you need to decide** — this sets your trial length.
* **Your work email address** — requests from personal addresses take longer to validate.

**What happens:**

1. Submit the form on pentaho.com — and **bookmark the trial guide first**, because your licence email contains a download link but not the install instructions.
2. While you wait, use the hosted lab — request a voucher and you can be exploring PDI the same day.
3. Your AE sends a download URL and licence together. Install, apply the licence, verify the server and design tools both start.
4. Start your evaluation — and bring specifics to your AE check-in: what you connected to, what you proved, where you got stuck.

<p align="center"><a href="/getting-started/start-here/enterprise-trial.md" class="button primary" data-icon="building">Open the Enterprise trial guide</a></p>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

***

### Compare the options

<table data-search="false"><thead><tr><th width="230"></th><th>Try it — hosted session</th><th>Developer Edition</th><th>Enterprise trial</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Who it's for</strong></td><td>Everyone</td><td>Students, academic institutions, non-profits</td><td>Commercial organisations</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Time to first pipeline</strong></td><td>~10 minutes</td><td>~15 minutes, once approved</td><td>2–3 business days</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Install anything?</strong></td><td>No</td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Runs on</strong></td><td>Any modern browser</td><td>Windows 11 or macOS 14/15</td><td>Windows or Linux servers</td></tr><tr><td><strong>How long you keep it</strong></td><td>5-hour session, voucher valid 5 days</td><td>No licence key — nothing to expire</td><td>Set with your Pentaho AE</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Form to fill in?</strong></td><td>Yes — a short request for your voucher code</td><td>Yes — the application on <a href="https://pentaho.com/academic-access/">pentaho.com</a></td><td>Yes — the trial request on <a href="https://pentaho.com/get-started/">pentaho.com</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Someone contacts you?</strong></td><td>No — just an email with your voucher code</td><td>Yes — an approval email with the download instructions</td><td>Yes — a named AE</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Your own data?</strong></td><td>Limited — bring a file of your own</td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Enterprise features</strong></td><td>No</td><td>No</td><td>Yes</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Best for</strong></td><td>A first look</td><td>Learning, teaching and research</td><td>A real proof of concept</td></tr></tbody></table>

{% hint style="info" icon="graduation-cap" %}
**Academic institution or non-profit?** Developer Edition is the route for you — apply through [Pentaho Academic Access](https://pentaho.com/academic-access/). The same page covers the discounted Academic licence for universities, colleges and charities that go on to purchase Enterprise Edition.
{% endhint %}


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