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Run a standalone validator

This guide demonstrates how to run a validator node on the mainnet using Docker. As a validator, you're required to run a bridge operator node as well as the validator node. Therefore, after you install the validator following the steps in this guide, proceed to set up your bridge operator node.

Prerequisites​

Docker​

Private key​

Generate a private key for your validator node as described in Generate keys.

System requirements​

Recommended system requirements for running a validator node on the mainnet:

  • 8-core CPU
  • 32 GB RAM
  • 700 GB high-speed SSD
  • x86-64 architecture

These requirements are rough guidelines, and each node operator should monitor their node to ensure good performance for the intended task. The size of your node will also grow over time.

Install the node​

  1. Set up directories:

    Create a node directory:

    mkdir ~/ronin

    Go to the newly created directory:

    cd ~/ronin

    Create a chain data directory:

    mkdir -p chaindata/data/ronin

  2. Create a file called docker-compose.yml:

    vim docker-compose.yml

  3. Paste the following into docker-compose.yml:

    version: "3"
    services:
      node:
        image: ${NODE_IMAGE}
        stop_grace_period: 5m
        stop_signal: SIGINT
        hostname: node
        container_name: node
        ports:
          - 127.0.0.1:8545:8545
          - 127.0.0.1:8546:8546
          - 30303:30303
          - 30303:30303/udp
          - 6060:6060
        volumes:
          - ~/ronin/chaindata:/ronin
        environment:
          - SYNC_MODE=full
          - PASSWORD=${PASSWORD}
          - PRIVATE_KEY=${VALIDATOR_PRIVATE_KEY}
          - BOOTNODES=${BOOTNODES}
          - NETWORK_ID=${NETWORK_ID}
          - RONIN_PARAMS=${RONIN_PARAMS}
          - VERBOSITY=${VERBOSITY}
          - MINE=${MINE}
          - GASPRICE=${GASPRICE}
          - ETHSTATS_ENDPOINT=${INSTANCE_NAME}:${CHAIN_STATS_WS_SECRET}@${CHAIN_STATS_WS_SERVER}:443

    This compose file defines the node service, which pulls the Ronin node image from the GitHub Container Registry.

  4. Create an .env file to store configuration parameters for the service:

    vim .env

  5. Paste the following into .env and replace placeholder values (like INSTANCE_NAME) with your node's information:

    # The name of your node that you want displayed on https://stats.roninchain.com/
    INSTANCE_NAME=INSTANCE_NAME

    # The latest version of the node's image as listed in https://docs.roninchain.com/docs/node-operators/setup/latest
    NODE_IMAGE=NODE_IMAGE

    # Your validator private key without the 0x prefix
    VALIDATOR_PRIVATE_KEY=VALIDATOR_PRIVATE_KEY

    # The password to encrypt the node's keyfile
    PASSWORD=PASSWORD

    MINE=true

    BOOTNODES=enode://cfa5f00c55eba79f359c9d95f5c0b2bb8e173867ffbb6e212c6799a52918502519e56650970e34caf1cd17418d4da46c3243588578886c3b4f8c42d1934bf108@104.198.242.88:30303,enode://f500391c41906a1dae249df084a3d1659fe602db671730b2778316114a5f7df44a0c6864a8dfffdc380fc81c6965dd911338e0e2591eb78a506857015d166250@34.135.18.26:30303,enode://fc7b8ceafe16e6f79ab2da3e73d0a3163d0c28efe0778863102f8f27758986fe28c1540a9a0bbdff29ab93ad1c5803462efe6c98165bbb404d9d099a55f1d2c9@130.211.208.201:30303
    NETWORK_ID=2020
    GASPRICE=20000000000
    VERBOSITY=3

    CHAIN_STATS_WS_SECRET=xQj2MZPaN6
    CHAIN_STATS_WS_SERVER=stats.roninchain.com

    RONIN_PARAMS=--http.api eth,net,web3,consortium --miner.gaslimit 100000000 --miner.gasreserve 10000000

    An alternative to setting the boot node is to use node discovery via DNS (see REP-0005). In the .env file, make the following changes:

    1. Delete the BOOTNODES=... line.
    2. Append --discovery.dns enrtree://... at the end of the RONIN_PARAMS line.

    We provide a DNS node list for node operators:

    • Saigon testnet: enrtree://AJCNIAXQIPO55NW3QE2NUBBDMPYZDOQUCAEUS65NHQFMUUFES5KOW@saigon.nodes.roninchain.com
    • Mainnet: enrtree://AIGOFYDZH6BGVVALVJLRPHSOYJ434MPFVVQFXJDXHW5ZYORPTGKUI@nodes.roninchain.com

  6. (Optional) Download the snapshot:

    cd ~/ronin/chaindata/data/ronin/
    curl <chaindata latest check here https://github.com/axieinfinity/ronin-snapshot> -o chaindata.tar && tar -xvf chaindata.tar
    mv <uncompressed data> chaindata

  7. Start the node:

    cd ~/ronin && docker-compose up -d

    This command pulls a Ronin node image and starts the service you defined.

  8. Review the log:

    docker logs node -f --tail 100

  9. After a few minutes, check the status of your node on the Ronin Network Status page. If it's green, the node is connected and up to date with the network.

Next step​

Install and run a bridge operator as described in Run a bridge operator node.