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

# Getting Started

> Administer Link protocols and backends over the REST API.

The Link admin API manages the [protocols](/products/link/concepts/protocols) and
[backends](/products/link/concepts/backends) on your instance. It is a REST API, and every request carries a
bearer JWT.

## Base URL

Reach your instance at:

```
https://{instance}.eu1.on-hellgate.cloud
```

`{instance}` is your unique instance slug and `eu1` is the current environment — see
[Plans & Access](/products/link/plans-and-access).

## Authentication

Every request requires a bearer token holding the scope for that operation:

```http theme={null}
Authorization: Bearer <access_token>
```

See [Authentication](/products/link/authentication) for the token flow and the full scope list.

## Editions

What you can administer depends on your [edition](/products/link/plans-and-access#editions):

* **Bundled** — manage the backends that serve your connected Specter instance.
* **Standalone** — additionally run any Hellgate-curated protocol and import **your own** protocols. These
  operations are marked <Badge color="green">Standalone</Badge>.

If you've opted for Hellgate to operate backends on your behalf, those managed backends are changed with the
`admin:managed-backends:write` scope.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Protocols" icon="file-contract" href="/products/link/concepts/protocols">
    Import, inspect, and manage protocols.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Backends" icon="plug" href="/products/link/concepts/backends">
    Configure and operate the providers behind a protocol.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>