Run an ethereum validator node

Introduction

Proof-of-stake (PoS) underlies Ethereum's consensus mechanism. Since the merge, Ethereum transitioned from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake.

In a proof of stake system, staking serves a similar function to proof of work's mining, in that it's the process by which a network participant gets selected to add the latest batch of transactions to the blockchain and earn some crypto in exchange. In general proof of stake blockchains employ a network of "validators" who contribute - or "stake" - their own crypto in exchange for a chance of getting to validate new transaction, update the blockchain, and earn a reward. The validator takes on the duty of verifying that the new blocks spread across the network are legitimate, and at times, they also produce and disseminate new blocks. Should they attempt to deceive the network (like suggesting several blocks when they should only propose one, or by sending contradicting attestations), a portion or all of their staked ETH may be forfeited.

To become a validator in mainnet, you need to deposit 32 ETH. However we don't have any amount of that, instead we will try to launch a validator on testnet.

Ethereum Mainnet

Mainnet is the primary public Ethereum production blockchain, where actual-value transactions occur on the distributed ledger.

When people and exchanges discuss ETH prices, they're talking about Mainnet ETH.

Ethereum Testnets

Beyond Mainnet, public testnets exist. These networks are utilized by both protocol and smart contract developers to trial protocol changes and potential smart contracts in an environment similar to Mainnet prior to actual deployment. This can be likened to the distinction between production and staging servers. Historically, many testnets employed a permissioned proof-of-authority consensus method. In this setup, a select group of nodes are tasked with validating transactions and producing new blocks, effectively pledging their identity. On the other hand, some testnets use an open proof-of-stake consensus system, allowing anyone to experiment with validator operations, mirroring the Ethereum Mainnet approach.

Currently, there are two public testnets that client developers are currently maintaining.

Sepolia

Sepolia is the advised primary testnet for app development. This network operates with a permissioned set of validators. Being relatively recent, it has a concise state and history.

Goerli

Goerli is testnet for testing validating and staking. The Goerli network is open for users wanting to run a testnet validator. Stakers wanting to test protocol upgrades before they are deployed to mainnet should therefore use Goerli. However, the Goerli testnet is deprecated and will be replaced by Holesovice soon.

Recently, Holesovice should be attempted to launch at Sep 15th but unfortunately it failed. You can check it this blog for more detail.

So in this blog, I will introduce how to run a validator on Goerli testnet step by step. Let's get started!

Pre-requisites

To run an ETH 2.0 node one needs:

Validator client
Responsible for producing new blocks and attestations in the beacon chain and shard chains
In this time, I will use Lighthouse.
Beacon chain client
Responsible for managing the state of the beacon chain, validator shuffling, and more.
ETH 1 node (execution client)
Reth supplies incoming validator deposits from the eth1 chain to the beacon chain client.
In this time, I will use Reth.
ETH balance
Goerli ETH for deposit and transaction fees.
Wallet
Metamask or other wallet if you have more prefer one.

Machine Requirements

Operating System: 64-bit Linux, Mac OS X, Windows
Processor: Intel Core i7-4770 or AMD FX-8310
Memory: 8GB
Storage: 100 GB
Internet: Broadband internet connection (10 Mbps)
Power: Uninterruptible power supply

Digital Ocean Equivalent (cloud provider)

DigitalOcean Droplets are Linux-based virtual machines (VMs) that run on top of virtualized hardware. Each Droplet you create is a new server you can use, either standalone or as part of a larger, cloud-based infrastructure.

Operating System: 64-bit Linux, Mac OS X, Windows
Processor: Intel Core i7-4770 or AMD FX-8310
Memory: 8GB
Storage: 160 GB
Internet: Broadband internet connection (10 Mbps)
Power: Uninterruptible power supply

Run a node

1. Connect to Droplet

You'll need to open a terminal.

Once the terminal is open, enter the following SSH command. Substitute in your Droplet's IP address after the @.


ssh root@ip address

2. Install Dependencies

First, install Rust using rustup:

curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh

After Rust installation completes, try running to check whether rust installed successfully

cargo --verison

# return cargo 1.68.2

With Rust installed, install following dependencies relevant to your operating system:

For Reth:

apt-get install libclang-dev pkg-config build-essential

For Lighthouse

apt install -y git gcc g++ make cmake pkg-config llvm-dev libclang-dev clang

3. Build Reth

Visit reth github, then clone it.

git clone https://github.com/paradigmxyz/reth

cd reth

Build Reth!!

cargo build --release

Compilation may take around 10 ~ 15 min. Installation was successful if reth --help displays the command-line documentation.

4. Build Lighthouse

Visit lighthouse github, then clone it.

git clone https://github.com/sigp/lighthouse.git

cd lighthouse

Build lighthouse!!

git checkout stable

make

5. Create a JWT secret file

A JWT secret file is used to secure the communication between the execution client and the consensus client. In this step, we will create a JWT secret file which will be used in later steps.

sudo mkdir -p /secrets
openssl rand -hex 32 | tr -d "\n" | sudo tee /secrets/jwt.hex

6. Running the Reth Node

Run this following command to run Reth node.

RUST_LOG=info reth node \
    --authrpc.jwtsecret /secrets/jwt.hex \
    --authrpc.addr 127.0.0.1 \
    --authrpc.port 8551 \
    --chain goerli

7. Set up a beacon node using Lighthouse

In this step, we will set up a beacon node. Use the following command to start a beacon node that connects to the execution node.

lighthouse bn \
  --network goerli \
  --execution-endpoint http://localhost:8551 \
  --execution-jwt /secrets/jwt.hex \
  --checkpoint-sync-url https://sync-goerli.beaconcha.in/ \
  --http

8. Download staking-deposit-cli to create validator keys

The Etereum Foundation procides the staking-deposit-cli for creating validator keys. Download and run the staking-deposit-cli with the command:

wget -c https://github.com/ethereum/staking-deposit-cli/releases/download/v2.6.0/staking_deposit-cli-33cdafe-linux-amd64.tar.gz -O - | tar -xz

cd taking_deposit-cli-33cdafe-linux-amd64

./deposit new-mnemonic

9. Import validator keys to Lighthouse

Run the following command to import validator keys.

lighthouse --network goerli account validator import --directory $HOME/staking_deposit-cli-33cdafe-linux-amd64/validator_keys

10. Start Lighthouse validator client

After the keys are imported, the user can start performing their validator duties by starting the Lighthouse validator client.

lighthouse vc --network goerli --suggested-fee-recipient YourFeeRecipientAddress

11. Get some GöETH to submit deposit

If you have not installed metamask, or other wallet, you need to install it first.

After installing the wallet, you have to aquire some GOETH. so visit one of these faucet website.

QuickNode Goerli Faucet

If you receive some GOETH, visit this website, then deposit GOETH to become a validator.

When you finish submitting transaction to deposit contract successfully, you are one of validator. Congratulations!!

Conclusion

In the ever-evolving landscape of Ethereum, understanding and participating in the consensus mechanisms is crucial. We've taken a deep dive into how one can set up an Ethereum validator node, particularly on the Goerli testnet. Not only does this equip you with hands-on experience in the Ethereum ecosystem, but it also provides invaluable insights into the workings of Proof-of-Stake.

Whether you're a developer, an Ethereum enthusiast, or just curious about blockchain technology, taking these steps towards running a validator node is a significant leap. While the Goerli testnet provides a safe environment for experimentation, the skills and knowledge acquired are directly transferable to the Mainnet.

After launching new testnet Holesky, I want to try to launch a validator there as well. Anyway, thank you for reading. See you in next blog.

References

Guide: Becoming a Validator on the Eth2 Testnet