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PulseChain is a fork of Ethereum and works in a very similar way, with slight changes to make it faster and much cheaper. Running a validator on PulseChain is something anyone can do; however, setting up a node may be challenging for someone who has never run one. Here we provide all available resources and go through the process and the requirements.
Intro to PulseChain
If you want to run a validator on PulseChain, it’s good to first know how PulseChain works and how validator rewards are earned and distributed. You can read about it here:
Tech specs
To run a PulseChain validator, you will need to set up and configure both the hardware and software components. Here are the necessary technical specifics to consider:
Hardware Requirements:
- Processor: A multi-core processor with high clock speed (preferably above 3.0 GHz) and good single-threaded performance, such as Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7.
- Memory: A minimum of 16 GB RAM is recommended. More RAM can be beneficial for handling larger datasets.
- Storage: A Solid State Drive (SSD) with at least 250 GB of storage capacity. SSDs offer faster read/write speeds, which can improve the validator’s performance.
- Network: A stable and high-speed internet connection is crucial to maintain synchronization with the PulseChain network.
Software Requirements:
- Operating System: Linux is the most commonly used operating system for running PulseChain validators. Ubuntu or Debian are popular choices. Make sure your chosen distribution is up to date.
- Ethereum Client Software: You will need to install and configure an Ethereum client software that supports proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus, such as the Ethereum 2.0 Beacon Chain or Prysm. These clients help you connect to the PulseChain network and validate transactions.
- Firewall and Security: Configure the firewall settings to allow incoming and outgoing connections on the necessary ports for your Pulsechain client. Ensure that your system is protected with up-to-date security measures, including regular updates and patches.
- Monitoring Tools: It’s beneficial to set up monitoring tools to keep an eye on your validator’s performance, such as https://beacon.pulsechain.com/, which can provide metrics and visualizations for monitoring.
Additional Considerations:
- Power and Uptime: Validators need to be online and connected to the PulseChain network as much as possible. Ensure your hardware setup includes a reliable power supply and consider using a backup power source, such as an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS).
- Redundancy: Running multiple validators can provide redundancy and protect against downtime. Consider setting up multiple validators on different machines or cloud instances for added reliability.
- Network Configuration: Configure your router or network settings to allow incoming connections on the required ports for your validator software.
- Regular Maintenance: Keep your system and software up to date with the latest patches and updates. Regularly check for software upgrades and follow security best practices.
Docker container or script
In this guide Validator Setup – Gamma’s DevOps Tutorials (gammadevops.com), you will find the validator setup with a Docker container, and the guide https://github.com/rhmaxdotorg/pulsechain-validator will show you how to set up the validator using the script method. There are different advantages and disadvantages to both methods so choose the one you prefer. Docker provides containerization, which encapsulates the validator software and its dependencies within a separate environment. This isolation ensures that the validator runs independently and does not interfere with the host operating system or other applications. Running without Docker means the validator software is installed directly on the host operating system, potentially sharing resources with other processes. Docker allows you to package the validator and its dependencies into a single container. This container can be easily moved across different systems, making it portable. Without Docker, setting up the validator involves manual installation of software and dependencies, which may require additional steps and configurations when moving to a different system. With Docker you can scale easily because it allows you to deploy multiple instances of the validator containers across different machines or cloud instances. This provides flexibility in expanding the validator network. Without Docker, scaling the validators may require manual installation and configuration on each machine. Docker facilitates easy upgrades and rollbacks by allowing you to switch between different container versions or roll back to a previous version. This can be particularly useful when testing new validator software releases. Without Docker, upgrading or rolling back the validator software may involve manual installation and configuration changes. Having control over resource allocation for the validator container is important and it’s something Docker provides. You can control CPU and memory limits. This ensures that the validator does not consume excessive resources and affects other applications on the host system. Without Docker, resource allocation and isolation need to be managed manually at the host OS level. There are some advantages to Docker because it adds an additional layer of complexity to the setup process. Configuring and managing Docker containers requires knowledge of Docker commands, container networking, and container orchestration. This complexity can be a challenge for users who are not familiar with Docker or who prefer a simpler setup process. Also when running the validator node within a Docker container, debugging and troubleshooting issues may be more challenging. The isolation provided by Docker can make it harder to observe and diagnose potential issues with the validator’s execution environment. Scripts, on the other hand, automate the process, reducing the manual effort and potential for human error. The script handles repetitive tasks, installs necessary dependencies, and configures the validator node components consistently and efficiently to ensure that all necessary components, configurations, and dependencies are correctly installed and properly configured, reducing the risk of missing critical steps or misconfigurations. Scripts can facilitate scaling up the number of validator nodes. By automating the setup process, it becomes easier to spin up additional nodes as needed, making it more efficient to expand your validator network. You will need to install Ethereum consensus client like Lighthouse-Pulse or Prysm-Pulse which are an open-source Ethereum 2.0 client specifically designed for running validator nodes or Erigon-Pulse or Go-Pulse which are execution clients. On this official website you will find specific information on how everything works and what steps to take https://launchpad.pulsechain.com/en/ On this website https://github.com/rhmaxdotorg/pulsechain-validator#faq you will find all possible information, tutorials, and scripts necessary to deploy and operate a validator node on PulseChain. Here https://gitlab.com/pulsechaincom/ you will find the open source code of PulseChain with the latest releases Watch the below video to see the script method to setting up a validator on the PulseChain testnet.
Watch the below youtube channel to see the installation of geth (go-Pulse) and Prysm and other dependencies and validator set up.
Validator monitoring
Once you run the validator, you need to install monitoring packages like Grafana or Prometheus. Head also to https://beacon.pulsechain.com/ to view everything you need with regards to your validator node. You can see your earnings and withdrawals, performance and slashings, and more. It’s also your go to website when it comes to general blockchain metrics, complete with charts and other useful data.
