# 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

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Detail</th>
      <th>Value</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Base path</td>
      <td><code>/api/v1/projects/{project_name}/fleet/</code></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Scope</td>
      <td>Project</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Reference</td>
      <td><a href="/api-reference/fleets-api">Fleets API reference</a></td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

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

## Guides

[Manage devices](/beam/api-guides/how-to/fleets/device-management)

Register devices, inspect state, and work through the core day-to-day operations.

[Backups and restores](/beam/api-guides/how-to/fleets/backups-and-restores)

Create backups before changes, inspect stored backup metadata, and restore safely.

[Software and updates](/beam/api-guides/how-to/fleets/software-and-updates)

Control desired and preloaded software versions and collect support packages for diagnostics.