# Manage the machine

_Peios / Using Peios / Start here_

> Choose the desktop app or command-line guide for accounts, software, services, networking, storage and machine configuration.

Choose the task below. The linked guides explain the controls, required
permissions and how to check the result. Use the machine-wide settings
only when you intend to affect everyone who uses the machine.

## Accounts and desktop settings

[Manage local accounts and groups](/peios/using-peios/managing-local-principals/overview.md)
collects the account tasks and access precautions in one place.

- **Create an account or change local membership:**
  [Principals Manager](/peios/using-peios/managing-local-principals/principals-manager.md)
  on the desktop, or [Creating accounts](/peios/using-peios/managing-local-principals/creating-accounts.md)
  and the [`lps` reference](/peios/using-peios/managing-local-principals/lps-command.md)
  in a terminal.
- **Sign in remotely from a terminal or manage SSH keys:**
  [Signing in over SSH](/peios/using-peios/signing-in/signing-in-over-ssh.md).
- **Change your own password:**
  [The `passwd` command](/peios/using-peios/signing-in/the-passwd-command.md).
- **Change your own desktop:**
  [Desktop Settings](/peios/using-peios/desktop-settings/overview.md).
- **Set defaults for everyone or change how the desktop is served:**
  [Settings for all users](/peios/using-peios/desktop-settings/for-all-users.md).
  Changing the listen address can disconnect open desktops; an overlay
  prevents normal sign-in while it is set.

## Software

- **Find, install or remove a package:**
  [Package Manager](/peios/using-peios/package-management/package-manager.md) on the
  desktop, or [Installing and removing packages](/peios/using-peios/package-management/installing-and-removing.md)
  in a terminal. Review the plan, including dependencies, before applying it.
- **Update or undo a package change:**
  [Keeping a system current](/peios/using-peios/package-management/keeping-a-system-current.md).
- **Set up or enable a feature delivered by a package:**
  [Feature Manager](/peios/using-peios/features/feature-manager.md). Installing a package
  puts files in place; feature setup is a separate action.
  [Remove a feature before its package](/peios/using-peios/features/overview.md#when-its-package-is-removed),
  while the scripts needed to undo its setup are still available.
- **Handle an interrupted package operation:**
  [Transactions and recovery](/peios/using-peios/package-management/transactions-and-recovery.md).
  Feature operations have their own [interrupted-state guidance](/peios/using-peios/features/overview.md#interrupted).

## Services and running programs

- **Inspect, start, stop or restart a service:**
  [Controlling services](/peios/using-peios/services-and-jobs/controlling-services.md).
- **See running programs, resource use and jobs:**
  [Task Manager](/peios/using-peios/threads-and-processes/task-manager.md).
- **Read a service's output:**
  [Event Viewer](/peios/using-peios/logs-and-events/event-viewer.md) or
  [Service output and logging](/peios/using-peios/services-and-jobs/output-and-logging.md).
- **Shut down or reboot:**
  [Shutdown](/peios/using-peios/services-and-jobs/shutdown.md).

## Network, time and storage

- **Inspect connections or change network settings:**
  [Network Manager](/peios/using-peios/networking/network-manager.md), or
  [The `net` command](/peios/using-peios/networking/the-net-command.md) to inspect state
  and [Configuring profiles](/peios/using-peios/networking/configuring-profiles.md) to
  change configuration. Read the confirmation and rollback behavior before
  changing the network through a remote desktop.
- **Allow or block a network service:**
  [Check and change network policy safely](/peios/using-peios/networking/network-policy.md#check-and-change-policy-safely).
- **Set the time zone or clock:**
  [Time zone and setting the clock](/peios/using-peios/time/time-zone-and-setting-the-clock.md).
- **Find software, configuration or service data on disk:**
  [Where files live](/peios/using-peios/disks-and-filesystems/filesystem-layout.md).
- **Inspect disks and filesystems:**
  [Disk Manager](/peios/using-peios/disks-and-filesystems/disk-manager.md) is read-only.
  For changes, follow [Managing mounts](/peios/using-peios/mount-policies/managing-mounts.md),
  [Partitioning](/peios/using-peios/disks-and-filesystems/partitioning.md) or
  [Formatting with security descriptors](/peios/using-peios/disks-and-filesystems/formatting-with-security-descriptors.md).
  Partitioning and formatting can destroy data; follow the warnings in
  those guides before making changes.

## Configuration beyond the settings apps

Start with [Find where a setting lives](/peios/using-peios/registry-concepts/find-a-setting.md)
to locate its documentation and the component that reads it.

Use [Registry Editor](/peios/using-peios/registry-administration/registry-editor.md) or
[`reg`](/peios/using-peios/registry-administration/reg.md) for settings that require a
registry change. Consult [`regman`](/peios/using-peios/registry-administration/regman.md)
first: it explains what a key means, accepted values and when changes
apply. A value being stored does not by itself prove the service accepted it.
Follow [Change a setting and verify it](/peios/using-peios/registry-concepts/configuration-and-meaning.md)
for the complete workflow.

For configuration backup and recovery, read
[Backup and restore](/peios/using-peios/registry-administration/backup-and-restore.md)
before changing the registry's stores or layers.

Related content:

- [Operate a Peios machine](/peios/using-peios/operating-peios/overview.md)
- [Troubleshoot a problem](/peios/using-peios/operating-peios/troubleshoot-a-problem.md)
- [Event Viewer](/peios/using-peios/logs-and-events/event-viewer.md)
- [The registry manual (regman)](/peios/using-peios/registry-administration/regman.md)