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Run Validator: Lodestar

caution

The Validator requires a Consensus Client (also known as Beacon Node) in order to operate. See Step 3: Run Beacon Node - Lodestar for more information.

Option 1: Run as System Process​

Refer to Guide

Option 2: Run using Docker​

1. Folder Structure​

Create new folders:

mkdir /home/$USER/gnosis/consensus/keystores
/home/$USER/gnosis/
├── jwtsecret/
├── execution/
└── consensus/
    ├── data/
    └── keystores/

2. Docker Compose​

Modify your docker-compose file with your favorite text editor and add the validator container. You will also need to add the command --suggestedFeeRecipient=$FEE_RECIPIENT to your consensus container. The file should now look like:

/home/$USER/gnosis/docker-compose.yml
version: "3"
services:

  execution:
    # From Step 2
    # ...

  consensus:
    # From Step 3
    # ...

  validator:
    container_name: validator
    image: chainsafe/lodestar:latest
    restart: always
    networks:
      - gnosis_net
    ports:
      - 5064:5064/tcp
    volumes:
      - /home/$USER/gnosis/consensus/validators:/data/validators
      - /home/$USER/gnosis/consensus/keystores:/keystores
      - /etc/timezone:/etc/timezone:ro
      - /etc/localtime:/etc/localtime:ro
    environment:
      - NODE_OPTIONS=--max-old-space-size=4096
    command: |
      validator
      --network=gnosis
      --dataDir=/data/validators
      --logFile=/data/validators/logs/validator.log
      --logFileLevel=info
      --beaconNodes=http://consensus:4000
      --metrics=true
      --metrics.address=0.0.0.0
      --metrics.port=5064
      --suggestedFeeRecipient=$FEE_RECIPIENT
      --graffiti=$GRAFFITI
      --importKeystores=/keystores
      --importKeystoresPassword=/keystores/password.txt
    logging:
      driver: "local"

networks:
  gnosis_net:
    name: gnosis_net

3. Environment Variables​

Add an .env file with your fee recipient (your Gnosis address) and graffiti in /home/$USER/gnosis/.env.

/home/$USER/gnosis/.env
FEE_RECIPIENT=0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000
GRAFFITI=gnosischain/lodestar

Replace suggestedFeeRecipient with your Gnosis address. This fee recipient address will receive tips from user transactions from the block the validator proposed. If not set, the tips will be sent to zero address, that is burnt completely. It is strongly recommended that you configure this value in your setup. Learn more about suggestedFeeRecipient flag in Lodestar docs.

Replace graffiti with your own graffiti. It is an optional field that can be used to add a message to the block by the proposer.

4. Keystore Location​

Add your keystores in /home/$USER/gnosis/consensus/keystores/ and their password in a file /home/$USER/gnosis/consensus/keystores/password.txt to get this file structure:

/home/$USER/gnosis/
├── docker-compose.yml
├── .env
├── jwtsecret/
├── execution/
└── consensus/
    ├── data/
    └── keystores/
        ├── keystore-001.json
        ├── keystore-002.json
        └── password.txt

5. Import Keystores​

Import your validators:

When the Lodestar validator container starts, it will search the directories for the keystores and password, and import them automatically.

6. Start Containers​

Start the validator service listed in the compose file:

cd /home/$USER/gnosis
docker-compose up -d

7. Monitor Logs​

Check your logs for each service (execution, consensus, or validator) with:

docker logs -f --tail 500 execution

8. Make a Deposit​

Make deposit once your node is fully synced (this can take a few hours depending on setup).

caution

At this stage you should have your EL and CL fully synced and validators must be imported to your CL.

See the Validator Deposits section.

9. Updating your Node​

To update, just pull the new images, then stop and restart your docker-compose file:

cd /home/$USER/gnosis
docker-compose pull
docker-compose stop
docker-compose up -d