== Installation

FreeRADIUS is available from multiple sources:

* Official xref:packages.adoc[Network RADIUS packages]
* xref:source.adoc[Source code]
* Many Operating System distributions

We highly recommend using the official packages from Network
RADIUS, where available.

The documents in this section cover details of the above
installation methods, as well as instructions on building
packages locally.

== Warning!

*These instructions cover installing FreeRADIUS 4.x, which is still
in heavy development. Other than exceptional circumstances, you
should use https://freeradius.org/releases/[version 3].*

FreeRADIUS 4 is actively used in multiple high profile client
deployments (whom have
https://networkradius.com/freeradius-support/[purchased a support
contract] from Network RADIUS). It, however, otherwise demands a
user that seeks danger and enjoys deploying a highly volatile
evolving codebase in environments where traditionally stability is
sought. If this describes you, then version 4 is for you! (But
don't come complaining if it breaks.)

Hopefully it is clear, *we recommend 99.9%+ of users use
https://freeradius.org/releases/[FreeRADIUS 3.2.x]* and the
https://packages.networkradius.com/[pre-built packages]
available from https://networkradius.com/[Network RADIUS].
