--- title: Validator Installation slug: validator-installation description: Set up your Xandeum DevNet validator with ease using this comprehensive document. From user installation to downloading the Xandeum release, this guide covers it all. Discover the steps for creating a user, adding to the sudo group, and switching to the X docTags: createdAt: 2023-08-19T03:02:55.649Z --- # How To Setup a Xandeum DevNet Validator :::hint{type="info"} **NOTE:** This guide shows commands for text editors `nano` and `vim`. A quick search can find a guide or video to operate these text editors more efficiently and make your life easier. ::: ## ## 1) Update and setup our user Start with a fresh instance of Linux as the `root` user. These instructions use [Ubuntu Server 22.04.2LTS](https://ubuntu.com/download/server) :::hint{type="danger"} BEFORE YOU CONTINUE! Make sure you see your entire drive space as available! Use `df -h` to see your free space. You want to see that you have all your space in a free partition. Ubuntu will want to default to 100g LVM. The preferance is to eliminate LVM and Raid and use all available space for your `/` mount point. If you don't show all your disk space, run the Ubuntu installer again and pay attention to the storage section. ::: Get `root` user :::hint{type="warning"} Run as `sudo` or `root` user. If you don't have access to the root user, then you will need to prepend all your requests in this section with sudo. Notice in the screenshot below I start as user `sol`change to `root` user then back to `sol`. Root user has ALL the privledges and won't require sudo. But some items NEED to be ran as the `sol` user (ie rust install, validator build, etc) Use `sudo -i` to change to root user and `exit` to end root user ::: ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/ePevXmvzgG-7aqJ72Gpg_/0naV05D9KRSBrRYLcDmc6_image.png) Update your installation :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux sudo apt-get update -y && sudo apt-get upgrade -y ``` ::: Install a few apps :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux sudo apt install -y bzip2 vnstat ``` ::: :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux sudo systemctl enable --now vnstat ``` ::: Create Xandeum Validator User Account :::hint{type="info"} Skip creating a user if you already have it ::: :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux sudo adduser sol ``` ::: :::hint{type="info"} Enter a password and accept defaults to the following questions: `New password:` ` Retype new password:` ` passwd: password updated successfully` ` Changing the user information for xand` ` Enter the new value, or press ENTER for the default` ` Full Name []:` ` Room Number []:` ` Work Phone []:` ` Home Phone []:` ` Other []:` `Is the information correct? [Y/n] y` ::: Add new user to sudo group :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux sudo usermod -aG sudo sol ``` ::: Change to the New User account :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux su sol ``` ::: Switch the Xand home directory. :::hint{type="warning"} NOTE: If you log in as `root` and switch to `sol` it will bring you into the `/root` dir! So use `cd ~` to get to home dir each time you log in! ::: :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux cd ~ ``` ::: Test switching between `root` user and `xand` user :::hint{type="info"} Note: When you are root user, your line starts with `root` and when you are `sol` user the line starts with `sol` ::: :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux sudo -i ``` ::: :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux exit ``` ::: ::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/ePevXmvzgG-7aqJ72Gpg_/L8iW3GIWRsQUv5WWq8h7q_image.png" size="54" width="319" height="257" position="center" showCaption="false"} *** ## 2) Choose which release you want to install Go to the Xandeum Binaries repo and download the `tar.bz2` file to your server. This guide is using version `v2.2.0-xandeum_c9b4b31d` but check for newer releases. You can right-click on the file name to copy the download link. [https://github.com/Xandeum/binaries/releases](https://github.com/Xandeum/binaries/releases) ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/ePevXmvzgG-7aqJ72Gpg_/tCNY--uFnEvrP5T_oDnoJ_image.png) Set the version and filename variables ```none ver="v2.2.0-xandeum_b5f66263" file="v2.2.0-xandeum_b5f66263.tar.gz" echo -e "\n" echo version=$ver; echo filename=$file echo -e "\n" ``` :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux cd ~ wget https://github.com/Xandeum/binaries/releases/download/$ver/$file ``` ::: Create the needed `bin` folder :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux mkdir ~/.local/share/xandeum/install/releases/$ver -p ``` ::: Extract the file into the new `bin` dir Add a directory for connection info :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux sudo mkdir -p /var/run/xandeum && chown sol:sol /var/run/xandeum && chmod 755 /var/run/xandeum ``` ::: Test a binary by running it in the local folder :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux cd ~/.local/share/xandeum/install/releases/$ver/bin ``` ::: :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux ./agave-validator -V ``` ::: ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/ePevXmvzgG-7aqJ72Gpg_/Zg1G_q1M41LRxKRSzVYUj_image.png) Remove downloaded file if binaries are working :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux rm ~/$file ``` ::: ### Set our symlink, PATH, and some convenient aliases Set a symlink from our new release to the active\_release folder we will use in our `$PATH` later. (This command removes an old symlink to `active_release` if it exists) :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux rm /home/sol/.local/share/xandeum/install/releases/active_release ln -sf /home/sol/.local/share/xandeum/install/releases/$ver/bin /home/sol/.local/share/xandeum/install/releases/active_release ``` ::: Backup the old $PATH for reference. :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux echo $PATH >> ~/PATH.bak ``` ::: Using your favorite editor to open the bashrc config: :::CodeblockTabs nano ```linux nano ~/.bashrc ``` vim ```linux vim ~/.bashrc ``` ::: Add the following lines at the very bottom and save your changes and exit. :::CodeblockTabs text ```linux export PATH="/home/sol/.local/share/xandeum/install/releases/active_release:$PATH" alias l="ls -a --color=auto" alias ll="ls -alh --color=auto" alias sv="solana validators --sort skip-rate --reverse" alias sg="solana gossip" alias se="solana epoch-info" alias sb="solana balance" ``` ::: :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux source ~/.bashrc ``` ::: ### Check your Install of the software As `sol` user, time to test if everything worked. :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux cd ~ agave-validator -V ``` ::: - Check Xandeum Software Version: - Results should appear simlar to the following (check for correct version and src) :::hint{type="success"} ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/ePevXmvzgG-7aqJ72Gpg_/1gHanX3GhgGWC68Wc98dM_image.png) ::: *** ## ## 3) Configure your validator instance. :::hint{type="danger"} Please observe proper security of your private keys! MainNet Keys should be created on a secure machine, not an unknown remote machine. Record your 12 words (and bip39 passphrase) in a safe spot. For DevNet it's not critical if you lose them...but if on MainNet, losing the keys equals LOST FUNDS. There is no recovering from lost keys. - For MainNet, your withdraw authority key should never be on your machine! ::: ### Generate your 3 DevNet keys. :::hint{type="success"} NOTE: If you already have created keys on this machine from the previous install, **DON'T CREATE NEW ONES!** Skip to [Switch to Xandeum Cluster](https://docs.xandeum.com/xand-dev-v01/validator-v01-installation#jYB2c) instead. ::: :::hint{type="info"} - You can leave the bip39 passphrase empty (only applies to DevNet/TesNet since it is not real money). - Your 12 words and pubkey are shown immediatly after the prompt for bip39 passphrase. - Take note of the public key it provides you (copy it down). It will help us help you should there be an issue. ::: :::hint{type="warning"} Run as `sol` user! ::: :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux cd ~ ``` ::: Create your3 keys...note down all 3 keyphrases before you continue on. :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux solana-keygen new -o ~/validator-keypair.json solana-keygen new -o ~/vote-keypair.json solana-keygen new -o ~/withdraw-keypair.json ``` ::: To view your public key later :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux solana-keygen pubkey ~/validator-keypair.json ``` ::: View your current configuration information :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux solana config get ``` ::: ### Switch to Xandeum cluster :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux solana config set --url https://api.devnet.xandeum.com:8899 ``` ::: ### Set your new keypair to be used by default. :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```text solana config set --keypair ~/validator-keypair.json ``` ::: ### Testing our work so far. - Check your connecrtion to the cluster ```linux solana gossip ``` - Request an airdrop from the Xand Faucet :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux solana airdrop 1 ~/validator-keypair.json ``` ::: Do this again 4 more times. (We are also giving you fake SOL tokens to get started.) - There is a daily limit per wallet...These tokens on TestNet/DevNet are not real. ### Check your wallet balance. :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux solana balance ``` ::: You should have \~5 tokens present if you do it 5x's. ### Create your vote account. - Submit a transaction on the blockchain setting up your vote account :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux solana create-vote-account --commission 0 ~/vote-keypair.json ~/validator-keypair.json ~/withdraw-keypair.json ``` ::: To find your Vote Account Pubkey later, use: :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux solana-keygen pubkey ~/vote-keypair.json ``` ::: *** ## ## 4) Configure your Start Script Configuration ### Create your validator configuration file using your editor :::CodeblockTabs nano ```linux nano ~/validator-start.sh ``` vim ```linux vim ~/validator-start.sh ``` ::: - There will be nothing in here, so copy and paste in the following configurations. Save and Exit. :::CodeblockTabs text ```none #!/bin/bash exec agave-validator \ --known-validator G6x4w89TJA9oDBSRNcpeanaThqBUJbEv5DJRBZGrQHYV \ --known-validator 5PW1SsXftQqKLF9FU88898BMG1vv3tqYRrVkGkFRwobs \ --known-validator 96wn2RrHFxXNMNJCN64qZCpBPCkHVTuKfWoeRTGrCdDy \ --known-validator DiEyTNni4uPwXaj9AX4pvFWvYFY5FKLEo3RRgN6Q22Lc \ --known-validator 9HKXdh8Veb278efwgPjsRkQtyJEGhyGP8vkbCSmp4HgR \ --entrypoint xand-5.devnet.xandeum.com:8000 \ --entrypoint xand-4.devnet.xandeum.com:8000 \ --entrypoint xand-3.devnet.xandeum.com:8000 \ --entrypoint xand-2.devnet.xandeum.com:8000 \ --entrypoint xand-1.devnet.xandeum.com:8000 \ --expected-shred-version 48698 \ --expected-genesis-hash 7BNTf1Z8KDUb3yCsNiVS5XH1CxfYG3HQP2VeHMVqP7AW \ --snapshot-interval-slots 500 \ --full-snapshot-interval-slots 10000 \ --identity ~/validator-keypair.json \ --vote-account ~/vote-keypair.json \ --ledger ~/ledger/ \ --dynamic-port-range 8000-10000 \ --rpc-port 8899 \ --log ~/validator.log \ --no-poh-speed-test \ --limit-ledger-size 30000000 ``` ::: :::hint{type="warning"} **Note**: Every trailing `\` is important! Any commented lines `#` must be at the bottom of the script. This is to save a command that may be needed later but not used now. ::: :::hint{type="info"} **Note**: Change the location of `ledger` in the script to your second drive if you aren't using raid0 ::: :::hint{type="success"} Here are the known-validators: xand-1 9HKXdh8Veb278efwgPjsRkQtyJEGhyGP8vkbCSmp4HgR xand-2 DiEyTNni4uPwXaj9AX4pvFWvYFY5FKLEo3RRgN6Q22Lc xand-3 96wn2RrHFxXNMNJCN64qZCpBPCkHVTuKfWoeRTGrCdDy xand-4 5PW1SsXftQqKLF9FU88898BMG1vv3tqYRrVkGkFRwobs xand-5 G6x4w89TJA9oDBSRNcpeanaThqBUJbEv5DJRBZGrQHYV ::: ### Make the script you just made executable. :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux chmod a+x ~/validator-start.sh ``` ::: *** ## ## 5) System Tuning :::hint{type="warning"} Run as `root` user, use `sudo -i` ::: Optimize sysctl knobs (copy block and paste into teminal, press return) :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux sudo bash -c "cat >/etc/sysctl.d/21-agave-validator.conf </etc/security/limits.d/90-agave-nofiles.conf <