---
sidebar_position: 1
title: Quickstart Guide
---
Step-by-step video guide on YouTube:
This guide describes how to quickly get started with NetBird and create a secure private network with 2 connected machines.
One machine is a Linux laptop, and the other one a EC2 node running on AWS.
Both machines are running Linux but NetBird also works on Windows and MacOS.
1. Sign-up at [https://app.netbird.io/](https://app.netbird.io/)
You can use your Google, GitHub or Microsoft account.
2. After a successful login you will be redirected to the ```Peers``` screen which is empty because you don't have any peers yet.
Click ```Add peer``` to add a new machine.
3. Choose your machine operating system (in our case it is ```Linux```) and proceed with the installation steps.
4. If you installed NetBird Desktop UI you can use it to connect to the network instead of running `netbird up` command. Look for `NetBird` in your application list, run it, and click `Connect`.
>
5. At this point a browser window pops up starting a device registration process. Click confirm and follow the steps if required.
6. On the EC2 node repeat the installation steps and run `netbird up` command.
```bash
sudo netbird up
```
7. Copy the verification URL from the terminal output and paste it in your browser. Repeat step #5
8. Return to ```Peers``` and you should notice 2 new machines with status ```online```
9. To test the connection you could try pinging devices:
On your laptop:
```bash
ping 100.64.0.2
```
On the EC2 node:
```bash
ping 100.64.0.1
```
10. Done! You now have a secure peer-to-peer private network configured.
- Make sure to [star us on GitHub](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird)
- Follow us [on Twitter](https://twitter.com/netbird)
- Join our [Slack Channel](https://join.slack.com/t/wiretrustee/shared_invite/zt-vrahf41g-ik1v7fV8du6t0RwxSrJ96A)
- NetBird release page on GitHub: [releases](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/releases/latest)