# What is a Tenant on SaaS?

## What is a Tenant on SaaS?

This guide explains what a tenant is, why it's important, and how it relates to your NetMaker experience.

A Netmaker tenant is a dedicated instance of the Netmaker software, including its associated data, configurations, and users. It's your private space within the Netmaker ecosystem, whether you're using SaaS or On-Prem deployment.

### Key Characteristics

* **Isolation**: Each tenant's data and networks are separate from others.
* **Customization**: Tailor your tenant to your specific networking needs.
* **Scalability**: Grow or shrink based on your requirements.

### SaaS vs On-Prem Tenants

Netmaker offers both SaaS and On-Prem deployment options to cater to different needs.

### Netmaker SaaS

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### What it is

A fully managed instance of Netmaker hosted by Netmaker.
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### Recommended for

Most use cases, especially for quick setup and easy management.
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### Key Feature

Netmaker manages the server and infrastructure for you.
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### Provisioning Time

1–3 minutes
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### What you get

Access to a ready-to-use Netmaker instance
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### Netmaker On-Prem

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{% step %}

### What it is

A license key that allows you to run Netmaker Pro version on your own infrastructure.
{% endstep %}

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### Recommended for

IT Administrators requiring enhanced data privacy, server customizations, custom OAuth integration, or metrics exporting.
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### Key Feature

You have full control over the server and its environment.
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### What you get

A license key to activate Netmaker on your own server
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### Customer Responsibility

You must provide and manage your own server infrastructure.
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## Creating and Managing Tenants

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Sign up at <https://account.netmaker.io/>
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Provide valid billing details
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Choose between creating a SaaS tenant or obtaining an On-Prem license
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### Multiple Tenants

You can create multiple tenants for various purposes:

* Managing multiple customers (one tenant per customer)
* Separating test/staging environments
* Accommodating global operations

## Deployment Considerations

### SaaS Deployment

Create a new SaaS tenant through the account portal.

### On-Prem Deployment

More flexible but requires more effort:

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Obtain an On-Prem license through the account portal
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Provide your own server infrastructure
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Deploy Netmaker on your server using the provided license key
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{% endstepper %}

Options for On-Prem deployment:

* [Single Instance Deployment](https://docs.v2.netmaker.io/guide/getting-started/install#quick-install)
* [High Availability Deployment on Kubernetes](https://docs.v2.netmaker.io/guide/getting-started/advanced-server-installation#highly-available-installation-kubernetes)

### Additional On-Prem Customizations

* [OAuth Integration](https://docs.netmaker.io/oauth.html)
* [White Labeling](https://docs.netmaker.io/pro/pro-branding.html)
* [IP Whitelisting](https://docs.netmaker.io/server-installation.html#security-settings)
* [Nginx Instead of Caddy](https://docs.netmaker.io/server-installation.html#nginx-proxy-manager-setup)
* [Prometheus and Grafana for Metrics](https://docs.netmaker.io/pro/pro-setup.html#optional-setup-your-server-for-prometheus-and-grafana)

## Common Questions About Tenants

<details>

<summary>Can I have multiple tenants?</summary>

Yes, useful for managing multiple customers or environments.

</details>

<details>

<summary>How do I switch between tenants?</summary>

Log in and select from your tenant list or visit <https://account.netmaker.io/tenants>

</details>

<details>

<summary>Does each tenant incur separate costs?</summary>

Yes, each tenant is billed separately.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Can I have both SaaS and On-Prem tenants?</summary>

Yes, Netmaker supports both types under one account.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Is there a trial period?</summary>

Yes, your first instance includes a 2-week free trial.

</details>

***

Remember, choosing between SaaS and On-Prem depends on your specific needs. SaaS offers ease of use, while On-Prem provides more control and customization options.


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