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

# Quickstart

## Get started in 5 min

Goal: a running GPU pod you can SSH into. All steps are in the dashboard at [lium.io](https://lium.io).

### 1. Create an account

Sign up at [lium.io/register](https://lium.io/register). Click **Billing** in the sidebar and add a payment method — your account balance shows in the top-left of the dashboard.

### 2. Add an SSH key

Click **Access** in the sidebar (key icon, bottom group) → **SSH Keys** tab → **ADD NEW +**. Paste your public key (e.g. `~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub`) and give it a name.

```bash
# Generate a key if you don't have one
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "you@example.com"
cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub
```

![SSH Keys tab in Access page](./assets/access-ssh-keys.png)

### 3. Pick a machine

Click **Browse Pods** in the sidebar. Use the right-hand filter rail to narrow by GPU type (RTX 4090, A100, H100, L40, …), GPU count, location, or **Confidential Computing** for CVM-isolated nodes.

![Browse Pods list with filters](./assets/browse-pods.png)

:::tip Sensitive workload?
Toggle the **Confidential Computing** filter on the right. CVM nodes prevent the GPU provider from reading your pod's memory or filesystem. See [Pod security](./security).
:::

### 4. Configure and deploy

Click **RENT NOW** on the row you want. On the **Create Pod** page:

1. Tweak the auto-generated **Pod Name** if you want.
2. Confirm the **Template** — `Pytorch (Cuda) - daturaai/pytorch` is selected by default.
3. Confirm your **SSH Key** is in the chip list.
4. (Optional) attach a **Volume** for persistent storage at `/mnt`.
5. (Optional) set **Auto-Termination** so the pod stops billing after N hours.
6. Review the **Total cost** in the right-hand summary.
7. Click **Deploy**.

![Create Pod page with summary panel on the right](./assets/create-pod.png)

### 5. Connect via SSH

Open **Your Pods**. Once the card flips to **RUNNING**, click **SEE DETAILS**. Copy the SSH command from the **SSH CONNECTION** field at the top:

```bash
ssh root@<pod-ip> -p <pod-port>
```

![Pod detail page with SSH connection string](./assets/pod-detail.png)

You're in. Your home directory is `/root` and is mapped to the pod's local volume. Anything outside `/root` (and `/mnt` if you attached a volume) is **not** persisted across pod restarts.

## Next steps

- Save your work between sessions → [Volumes](./volumes)
- Avoid losing checkpoints if a pod dies → [Backups](./backups)
- Spin up the same environment from one image → [Templates](./templates)
- Cap costs with auto-termination → [Scheduled termination](./scheduled-termination)
- Drive everything from the CLI / an agent → [API Keys](./api-keys)