# Build with the Fleets API

The Fleets API is the operational API for MK.IO Beam devices. Use it to register devices into a project, protect their configuration with backups, manage software versions, and collect support packages when you need diagnostics.

## API overview

| Detail    | Value                                             |
| --------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| Base path | `/api/v1/projects/{project_name}/fleet/`          |
| Scope     | Project                                           |
| Reference | [Fleets API reference](/api-reference/fleets-api) |

## How the main resources connect

The Fleets API revolves around a few resource types:

1. A **device** represents the Beam device record in MK.IO.
2. A **backup** is a configuration snapshot you can restore later.
3. **Software** settings on the device control desired and preloaded versions.
4. A **support package** is a diagnostic bundle generated on the device and uploaded to storage.

That means a typical operational flow is: register the device, take backups before risky changes, control software state through device patch operations, and collect support packages when something goes wrong.

## Common workflow patterns

### Operate a Beam device

1. [Register and manage devices](/api-guides/how-to/fleets/device-management)
2. [Back up configuration before changes](/api-guides/how-to/fleets/backups-and-restores)
3. [Control software versions](/api-guides/how-to/fleets/software-and-updates)
4. [Collect a support package for diagnostics](/api-guides/how-to/fleets/software-and-updates)

## Guides

- [Manage devices](/api-guides/how-to/fleets/device-management): Register devices, inspect state, and work through the core day-to-day operations.
- [Backups and restores](/api-guides/how-to/fleets/backups-and-restores): Create backups before changes, inspect stored backup metadata, and restore safely.
- [Software and updates](/api-guides/how-to/fleets/software-and-updates): Control desired and preloaded software versions and collect support packages for diagnostics.