> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://second.tech/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect a wallet

An Ark server is not that interesting until it has some wallets transacting on it! Here we'll set up an Ark wallet, fund it, then get it to board the Ark.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a Bark wallet and connect to your server">
    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="Manual (signet)">
        ```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
        bark create --signet \
        	--ark http://localhost:3535 \
        	--bitcoind http://localhost:38332 \
        	--bitcoind-cookie ~/.bitcoin/signet/.cookie
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Docker Compose (regtest)">
        ```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
        docker compose -f contrib/docker/docker-compose.yml run --rm bark \
          bark create
        ```
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fund the wallet">
    Request an on-chain address from Bark:

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="Manual (signet)">
        ```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
        bark onchain address
        ```

        Send signet coins to this address using the [Second faucet](https://signet.2nd.dev).
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Docker Compose (regtest)">
        ```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
        export BARK_ADDRESS=$(docker compose -f contrib/docker/docker-compose.yml run --rm bark \
          bark onchain address)

        docker compose -f contrib/docker/docker-compose.yml run --rm bitcoind \
          bitcoin-cli -regtest -rpcuser=second -rpcpassword=ark \
          -rpcconnect=bitcoind sendtoaddress $BARK_ADDRESS 0.1
        ```
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Board the Ark">
    Board the funds into the Ark server:

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="Manual (signet)">
        ```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
        bark board --all
        ```

        Wait for the transaction to confirm. Signet produces blocks roughly every 5 minutes.
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Docker Compose (regtest)">
        ```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
        docker compose -f contrib/docker/docker-compose.yml run --rm bark \
          bark board --all
        ```

        Generate some blocks to confirm the board:

        ```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
        docker compose -f contrib/docker/docker-compose.yml run --rm bitcoind \
          bitcoin-cli -regtest -rpcuser=second -rpcpassword=ark \
          -rpcconnect=bitcoind -generate 6
        ```
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify">
    Check your wallet balance:

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="Manual (signet)">
        ```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
        bark balance
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Docker Compose (regtest)">
        ```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
        docker compose -f contrib/docker/docker-compose.yml run --rm bark \
          bark balance
        ```
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## The Ark's your oyster

You now have a fully operational Ark server running with a wallet connected and holding some VTXOs. This should be a perfect environment to explore the Ark ecosystem from an Ark server perspective. Some things you might want to try:

* Out-of-round payments
* In-round refreshes
* Off-boards
* Exits

If you run into any issues or have questions, don't hesitate to post to our [git repo](https://gitlab.com/ark-bitcoin/bark) or [community](https://community.second.tech).