# Getting Started with Rabata.io

This guide creates a new Rabata setup and verifies it with the AWS CLI. If an application already uses S3 storage, start with the [application migration guide](/docs/migrate-to-rabata/) instead.

## Product configuration

Rabata currently uses one S3 endpoint and signing region:

| Setting | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Endpoint | `https://s3.us-east-1.rabata.io` |
| Signing region | `us-east-1` |

## 1. Create an account

Create a Rabata account, verify your email address, and open the dashboard.

## 2. Create an access key

In the dashboard:

1. Select **Create Access Key**.
2. Enter a name that identifies the application or environment.
3. Copy the access key and secret key when they are displayed.
4. Store both values in your secret manager.

The secret is shown when the key is created. See [Access Keys](/docs/access-keys/) for rotation and deletion guidance.

## 3. Create a bucket

In the dashboard:

1. Select **Create Bucket**.
2. Enter a valid bucket name between 3 and 63 characters.
3. Keep the region set to `us-east-1`.
4. Choose **private** unless the stored objects are intentionally public.
5. Create the bucket.

See [Bucket Management](/docs/buckets/) before changing a bucket to public-read.

## 4. Store a test object

Configure a dedicated AWS CLI profile so existing AWS credentials remain untouched:

```bash
aws configure --profile rabata
```

Enter the Rabata access key, secret key, `us-east-1`, and your preferred output format. Then upload and read a small test file:

```bash
printf 'hello from Rabata\n' > rabata-test.txt

aws s3 cp rabata-test.txt s3://your-bucket/rabata-test.txt \
  --profile rabata \
  --endpoint-url https://s3.us-east-1.rabata.io

aws s3 cp s3://your-bucket/rabata-test.txt - \
  --profile rabata \
  --endpoint-url https://s3.us-east-1.rabata.io
```

When the downloaded text matches the local file, remove the test object:

```bash
aws s3 rm s3://your-bucket/rabata-test.txt \
  --profile rabata \
  --endpoint-url https://s3.us-east-1.rabata.io
```

## Connect an application

Open the [integration quickstarts](/docs/quickstart/) for language- and framework-specific configuration. Keep credentials outside source control and test your application's required operations before using a production bucket.

For help, contact [Rabata support](mailto:support@rabata.io).