NodeBridgeAfrica
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  • Understanding Blockchain
  • Consensus Mechanism in Blockchain
  • Understanding Staking and Node
  • Node Operator vs. Validator: Understanding the Differences
    • Node Operator and Validator
    • Roles & Responsibilities of an Ethereum node operator
    • Skillset Required
    • Understanding the Ethereum Validator Process
  • Rewards and Penalties for Ethereum Validators
  • Client Diversity
  • Bonded Validators
  • Node Setup and Configuration Guide
  • Hardware & System Requirements
    • Initial Setup
      • Hardware Requirements
      • Internet Requirement
      • Configure time sync
    • Practicing on Cloud VMs
    • Install and prepare the OS
    • Node Security: Root, Networking & Network Security
    • Advanced networking
  • Introduction to ETH Validators
  • NodeBridge Africa Community
    • Setting Up an Ethereum Validator Node In Africa
  • Staking Guide
    • Ethereum Staking Guide
      • Ethereum Guide
        • Guide: How to Setup a validator on Holesky Testnet
          • Overview - Manual Installation
          • Step 1: Prerequisites
          • Step 2: Configuring Node
          • Step 3: Installing execution client
            • Besu
            • Erigon
            • Geth
            • Nethermind
            • Reth
          • Step 4: Installing consensus client
            • Lighthouse
            • Lodestar
            • Nimbus
            • Prysm
            • Teku
          • Step 5: Installing Validator
            • Installing Validator
              • Lighthouse
              • Lodestar
              • Nimbus
              • Prysm
              • Teku
            • Setting up Validator Keys
            • Next Steps
          • Maintenance
            • Updating Execution Client
            • Updating Consensus Client
            • Uninstalling Staking Node
            • Backups Checklist: Critical Staking Node Data
        • Guide | How to setup a validator for Ethereum staking on mainnet
          • Overview - Manual Installation
          • PART I - INSTALLATION
          • PART I - INSTALLATION
            • Step 1: Prerequisites
            • Step 2: Configuring Node
            • Step 3: Installing execution client
              • Besu
              • Erigon
              • Geth
              • Nethermind
              • Reth
            • Step 4: Installing consensus client
              • Lighthouse
              • Lodestar
              • Nimbus
              • Prysm
              • Teku
            • Step 5: Installing Validator
              • Installing Validator
                • Lighthouse
                • Lodestar
                • Nimbus
                • Prysm
                • Teku
              • Setting up Validator Keys
              • Next Steps
            • Synchronizing time with Chrony
            • Monitoring with Uptime Check by Google Cloud
            • Mobile App Node Monitoring by beaconcha.in
            • Monitoring your validator with Grafana and Prometheus
            • Security Best Practices for your ETH staking validator node
          • PART II - MAINTENANCE
          • PART II - MAINTENANCE
            • Updating Consensus Client
            • Updating Execution Client
            • Finding the longest attestation slot gap
            • Backups Checklist: Critical Staking Node Data
            • Checking my eth validator's sync committee duties
            • Checklist | Confirming a healthy functional ETH staking node
            • Uninstalling Staking Node
          • PART III - TIPS
          • PART III - TIPS
            • Voluntary Exiting a Validator
            • Verifying Your Mnemonic Phrase
            • Adding a New Validator to an Existing Setup with Existing Seed Words
            • How to re-sync using checkpoint sync
            • Dealing with Storage Issues on the Execution Client
            • Disk Usage by Execution / Consensus Client
            • EIP2333 Key Generator by iancoleman.io
            • Geth - Enabling path-based state storage
            • Important Directory Locations
            • Improving Validator Attestation Effectiveness
            • Reducing Network Bandwidth Usage
            • Running a slasher
            • Setting up dynamic DNS (DDNS)
            • Switching / Migrating Execution Client
            • Switching / Migrating Consensus Client
            • Using All Available LVM Disk Space
            • Using Node as RPC URL endpoint
        • Guide: How to stake on ETH 2.0 Altona Testnet with Lighthouse on Ubuntu
        • Guide | How to setup a validator on ETH2 mainnet
        • Guide | MEV-boost for Ethereum Staking
          • MEV Relay List
        • Security Best Practices for your ETH staking validator node
        • Guide | Recover Ethereum Validator Mnemonic Seed
        • Update Withdrawal Keys for Ethereum Validator (BLS to Execution Change or 0x00 to 0x01) with ETHDO
        • Downloading files from your node
      • TIPS
    • Gnosis Staking Guide
      • Guide: How to Setup a validator on Chiado Testnet
        • Overview - Manual Installation
        • Step 1: Prerequisites
        • Step 2: Configuring Node
        • Step 3: Installing execution client
          • Besu
          • Erigon
          • Geth
          • Nethermind
          • Reth
        • Step 4: Installing consensus client
          • Lighthouse
          • Lodestar
          • Nimbus
          • Teku
        • Step 5: Installing Validator
          • Installing Validator
            • Lighthouse
            • Lodestar
            • Nimbus
            • Prysm
            • Teku
          • Setting up Validator Keys
          • Next Steps
        • Maintenance
          • Updating Execution Client
          • Updating Consensus Client
          • Uninstalling Staking Node
          • Backups Checklist: Critical Staking Node Data
      • Guide | How to setup a validator for Gnosis staking on mainnet
        • Overview - Manual Installation
        • PART I - INSTALLATION
        • PART I - INSTALLATION
          • Step 1: Prerequisites
          • Step 2: Configuring Node
          • Step 3: Installing execution client
            • Besu
            • Erigon
            • Geth
            • Nethermind
            • Reth
          • Step 4: Installing consensus client
            • Lighthouse
            • Lodestar
            • Nimbus
            • Prysm
            • Teku
          • Step 5: Installing Validator
            • Installing Validator
              • Lighthouse
              • Lodestar
              • Nimbus
              • Prysm
              • Teku
            • Setting up Validator Keys
            • Next Steps
          • Synchronizing time with Chrony
          • Monitoring with Uptime Check by Google Cloud
          • Mobile App Node Monitoring by beaconcha.in
          • Monitoring your validator with Grafana and Prometheus
          • Security Best Practices for your ETH staking validator node
        • PART II - MAINTENANCE
        • PART II - MAINTENANCE
          • Updating Consensus Client
          • Updating Execution Client
          • Finding the longest attestation slot gap
          • Backups Checklist: Critical Staking Node Data
          • Checking my eth validator's sync committee duties
          • Checklist | Confirming a healthy functional ETH staking node
          • Uninstalling Staking Node
        • PART III - TIPS
        • PART III - TIPS
          • Voluntary Exiting a Validator
          • Verifying Your Mnemonic Phrase
          • Adding a New Validator to an Existing Setup with Existing Seed Words
          • How to re-sync using checkpoint sync
          • Dealing with Storage Issues on the Execution Client
          • Disk Usage by Execution / Consensus Client
          • EIP2333 Key Generator by iancoleman.io
          • Geth - Enabling path-based state storage
          • Important Directory Locations
          • Improving Validator Attestation Effectiveness
          • Reducing Network Bandwidth Usage
          • Running a slasher
          • Setting up dynamic DNS (DDNS)
          • Switching / Migrating Execution Client
          • Switching / Migrating Consensus Client
          • Using All Available LVM Disk Space
          • Using Node as RPC URL endpoint
      • Security Best Practices for your ETH staking validator node
    • Lido Community Staking Module(CSM) and Obol DVT Guide
      • Guide: How to Setup a validator on Chiado Testnet
        • Overview - Manual Installation
        • Step 1: Prerequisites
        • Step 2: Configuring Node
        • Step 3: Installing execution client
          • Besu
          • Erigon
          • Geth
          • Nethermind
          • Reth
        • Step 4: Installing consensus client
          • Lighthouse
          • Lodestar
          • Nimbus
          • Teku
        • Step 5: Installing Validator
          • Installing Validator
            • Lighthouse
            • Lodestar
            • Nimbus
            • Prysm
            • Teku
          • Setting up Validator Keys
          • Next Steps
        • Maintenance
          • Updating Execution Client
          • Updating Consensus Client
          • Uninstalling Staking Node
          • Backups Checklist: Critical Staking Node Data
      • Guide | How to setup a validator for Gnosis staking on mainnet
        • Overview - Manual Installation
        • PART I - INSTALLATION
        • PART I - INSTALLATION
          • Step 1: Prerequisites
          • Step 2: Configuring Node
          • Step 3: Installing execution client
            • Besu
            • Erigon
            • Geth
            • Nethermind
            • Reth
          • Step 4: Installing consensus client
            • Lighthouse
            • Lodestar
            • Nimbus
            • Prysm
            • Teku
          • Step 5: Installing Validator
            • Installing Validator
              • Lighthouse
              • Lodestar
              • Nimbus
              • Prysm
              • Teku
            • Setting up Validator Keys
            • Next Steps
          • Synchronizing time with Chrony
          • Monitoring with Uptime Check by Google Cloud
          • Mobile App Node Monitoring by beaconcha.in
          • Monitoring your validator with Grafana and Prometheus
          • Security Best Practices for your ETH staking validator node
        • PART II - MAINTENANCE
        • PART II - MAINTENANCE
          • Updating Consensus Client
          • Updating Execution Client
          • Finding the longest attestation slot gap
          • Backups Checklist: Critical Staking Node Data
          • Checking my eth validator's sync committee duties
          • Checklist | Confirming a healthy functional ETH staking node
          • Uninstalling Staking Node
        • PART III - TIPS
        • PART III - TIPS
          • Voluntary Exiting a Validator
          • Verifying Your Mnemonic Phrase
          • Adding a New Validator to an Existing Setup with Existing Seed Words
          • How to re-sync using checkpoint sync
          • Dealing with Storage Issues on the Execution Client
          • Disk Usage by Execution / Consensus Client
          • EIP2333 Key Generator by iancoleman.io
          • Geth - Enabling path-based state storage
          • Important Directory Locations
          • Improving Validator Attestation Effectiveness
          • Reducing Network Bandwidth Usage
          • Running a slasher
          • Setting up dynamic DNS (DDNS)
          • Switching / Migrating Execution Client
          • Switching / Migrating Consensus Client
          • Using All Available LVM Disk Space
          • Using Node as RPC URL endpoint
      • Security Best Practices for your ETH staking validator node
  • Introduction to SSV.Network
  • Awesome Resources
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Node Setup and Configuration Guide

Node Setup and Configuration Guide

1. Choose Your OS and Hardware

  • OS: Decide on the operating system for your computer. This system will generate your keys and does not need to be the OS used for your node.

  • Hardware: Acquire hardware (laptop, desktop, server) or rent a VPS. As of May 2022, you need ~1TB for the Mainnet execution chain data (growing at >1GB/day). CPU and RAM requirements vary; research different clients if you have resource constraints.

2. Internet Connection

  • Ensure a reliable, high-bandwidth connection (ideally 24/7) with no throttling or caps. As of May 2022, expect ~1.2-1.3 GB download and ~0.9-1 GB upload per hour. Being offline for brief periods incurs minor penalties but can be recovered. Complicated power backups can be costly, and redundant backups might lead to slashing penalties.

3. Node Security

  • Secure your root account, set up a firewall, and configure port forwarding.

4. Configure Time Sync

  • Sync server time with the wall clock. Use NTP or Chrony if necessary, especially in VMs which may disable NTP by default.

5. Execution Client Layer

  • Choose and install an execution client (e.g., Nethermind, Reth, Besu, Erigon, Geth). Syncing may take a few days. Ensure you operate both an execution client and a consensus client.

6. Consensus Client Layer

  • Choose and install a consensus client (e.g., Nimbus, Teku, Prysm, Lighthouse). Avoid running your validator in multiple locations to prevent slashing.

7. Generate a Validator Key

  • Generate a validator key using a CLI app, GUI app, or build from source.

8. JWT Authentication

  • Set up a JWT shared key for secure communication between the execution client and consensus client. Refer to the documentation for specific clients: Lighthouse | Nimbus | Prysm | Teku and Besu | Erigon | Geth | Nethermind | Reth.

9. Set Withdrawal Address

  • Provide a withdrawal address with your deposit to enable reward payments and full fund withdrawal. This address is permanent and must be a regular Ethereum address. Funds will be locked until this address is set.

10. Set Fee Recipient

  • Provide a fee recipient address to receive transaction fee rewards. This address must be configured in your consensus client. See specific documentation for setting this up: Lighthouse | Nimbus | Prysm | Teku.

11. Consensus Layer Beacon Node (BN)

  • Connect your consensus client to the execution client via HTTP API and sync your beacon node. Ensure it has more than 20 peers. Verify with:

    curl -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST --data '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","method":"web3_clientVersion","params":[],"id":67}' http://<YourServerLocation>:8545

12. Consensus Layer Validator Client (VC)

  • Import your keystore(s) into the validator client and ensure it’s stored on only one machine. Start your validator client.

13. Wallet Setup and Deposit ETH

  • Set up a wallet, deposit ETH, and use monitoring software to protect your funds. Upload the deposit data file (deposit_data-[timestamp].json) to the Staking Launchpad website.

14. Optional Recommendations

  • Monitoring: Use Prometheus and Grafana to visualize real-time metrics. Set up Prometheus, Grafana, and import dashboard configs. Monitoring docs: Lighthouse | Nimbus | Prysm | Teku

  • Testnet Simulations: Practice scenarios like stopping/restarting the Beacon Node and Validator Client, handling power loss, and client migrations.

  • Advanced System Architecture: Use a VPN to protect your IP address. Consider separating your Validator Client and Beacon Node on different machines and IPs.

  • Graffiti: Add a personal touch to your blocks using the graffiti flag in your validator client. Check it using Beaconcha.in or BeaconScan.

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Last updated 9 months ago