# Testnet Validator Node ## Prepare a fully synced normal node To run a validator node, a fully synced normal node is required. Please follow the link to [run a normal node](https://docs.u2u.xyz/network/run-normal-node). You should use `--syncmode=full`, or use `--syncmode=snap` but wait til it is switched to full sync mode. {% hint style="warning" %} Note that https and ws must **NOT** be enabled on a server that stores wallet account because hackers can exploit via them. {% endhint %} ## Register validator After installing everything we need, you can continue by registering your validator node on-chain. To do this, you need to create a validator wallet. The wallet is the validator’s identity in the network which it uses to authenticate, sign messages, etc… ### Create a validator wallet The node running and syncing the network in your current console, so you need to open up a new console window, connect via SSH to the server and enter the following commands to create a wallet: ``` $ ./u2u account new ``` After entering the command, you will get prompted to enter a password for the account (or wallet) — use a strong one! You can e.g. use a password manager to generate a 20+ digit password to secure your wallet.\ It will look something like this: ``` INFO [10-02|17:40:23.913] Maximum peer count total=50 INFO [10-02|17:40:23.913] Smartcard socket not found, disabling err="stat /run/pcscd/pcscd.comm: no such file or directory" INFO [10-02|17:40:23.913] Maximum peer count total=50 INFO [10-02|17:40:23.913] Smartcard socket not found, disabling err="stat /run/pcscd/pcscd.comm: no such file or directory" Your new account is locked with a password. Please give a password. Do not forget this password. Passphrase: Repeat passphrase: Your new key was generated Public address of the key: 0x1BB3BDF5BA61E9003706732F48e8734399473C16 Path of the secret key file: /home/steven/.u2u/keystore/UTC--2023-10-02T10-40-31.162498643Z--1bb3bdf5ba61e9003706732f48e8734399473c16 - You can share your public address with anyone. Others need it to interact with you. - You must NEVER share the secret key with anyone! The key controls access to your funds! - You must BACKUP your key file! Without the key, it's impossible to access account funds! - You must REMEMBER your password! Without the password, it's impossible to decrypt the key! ``` {% hint style="danger" %} NEVER share your private key or keystore with anyone! {% endhint %} ***By the way:** The wallet above is not a real wallet we use, it’s just for demonstration purposes only.* ### **Fund your validator wallet** The next step is to fund your validator wallet with enough U2U to become a validator. That means you need to have at least 1,000,000 U2U in the wallet you just created (send a little more to cover transaction fees). Make sure you wait for your node to be fully synced, otherwise your U2U will not show up in your wallet! ### Create a new validator key We have to create validator private key to sign consensus messages with. It can be done only using go-u2u: ``` $ ./u2u validator new ``` Follow the prompts and supply the password, the output is as follows: ``` Your new key was generated Public key: 0xc004bcc53189fdeb42752bb2a40318e649aa03d3ff7ac65badc66f8768c5be4a04e1d03bea85fab33a94d6f6a576754fd6435183110482205336eb380dcf6094d5c9 Path of the secret key file: /home/steven/.u2u/keystore/validator/c004bcc53189fdeb42752bb2a40318e649aa03d3ff7ac65badc66f8768c5be4a04e1d03bea85fab33a94d6f6a576754fd6435183110482205336eb380dcf6094d5c9 - You can share your public key with anyone. Others need it to validate messages from you. - You must NEVER share the secret key with anyone! The key controls access to your validator! - You must BACKUP your key file! Without the key, it's impossible to operate the validator! - You must REMEMBER your password! Without the password, it's impossible to decrypt the key! ``` ### Create your validator via the SFC You should wait for your node to sync to the latest block of the network before proceeding. Go to to register your validator: * Connect your wallet and make sure you have enough stake amount to become a validator. * Fill in your validator public key * Hit "Register" button * Metamask pops up a confirmation, hit on "Confirm" * Then wait for network confirms the transaction
You could use explorer to check your transaction status:
To proceed, open up the console where you entered the commands to create the validator wallet previously and attach to the node console: ``` $ ./u2u attach ``` By doing so, you will get a JavaScript console where you can directly interact with the node and e.g. send transactions (which you will do in a moment): ``` Welcome to the Hashgraph JavaScript console! instance: go-u2u/v1.0.0-rc.1-a2b8d980-1695987090/linux-amd64/go1.21.1 coinbase: 0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 at block: 1 (Sat Aug 26 2023 07:00:00 GMT+0700 (+07)) datadir: /home/steven/.u2u modules: abft:1.0 admin:1.0 dag:1.0 debug:1.0 net:1.0 personal:1.0 rpc:1.0 trace:1.0 txpool:1.0 web3:1.0 ``` From now on, when you see “>” prompt. That means you should type the command in Javascript console. Now initialize the SFC contract ABI variable: ``` abi = JSON.parse('[{"anonymous":false,"inputs":[{"indexed":true,"internalType":"uint256","name":"validatorID","type":"uint256"},{"indexed":false,"internalType":"uint256","name":"status","type":"uint256"}],"name":"ChangedValidatorStatus","type":"event"},{"anonymous":false,"inputs":[{"indexed":true,"internalType":"uint256","name":"validatorID","type":"uint256"},{"indexed":false,"internalType":"uint256","name":"deactivatedEpoch","type":"uint256"},{"indexed":false,"internalType":"uint256","name":"deactivatedTime","type":"uint256"}],"name":"DeactivatedValidator","type":"event"},{"anonymous":false,"inputs":[{"indexed":true,"internalType":"address","name":"previousOwner","type":"address"},{"indexed":true,"internalType":"address","name":"newOwner","type":"address"}],"name":"OwnershipTransferred","type":"event"},{"anonymous":false,"inputs":[{"indexed":false,"internalType":"uint256","name":"value","type":"uint256"}],"name":"UpdatedBaseRewardPerSec","type":"event"},{"anonymous":false,"inputs":[{"indexed":false,"internalType":"uint256","name":"blocksNum","type":"uint256"},{"indexed":false,"internalType":"uint256","name":"period","type":"uint256"}],"name":"UpdatedOfflinePenaltyThreshold","type":"event"},{"payable":true,"stateMutability":"payable","type":"fallback"},{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"validatorID","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"bool","name":"syncPubkey","type":"bool"}],"name":"_syncValidator","outputs":[],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"nonpayable","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"currentEpoch","outputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"currentSealedEpoch","outputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"name":"getEpochSnapshot","outputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"endTime","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"epochFee","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"totalBaseRewardWeight","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"totalTxRewardWeight","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"baseRewardPerSecond","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"totalStake","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"totalSupply","type":"uint256"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[{"internalType":"address","name":"delegator","type":"address"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"toValidatorID","type":"uint256"}],"name":"getLockedStake","outputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[{"internalType":"address","name":"","type":"address"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"name":"getLockupInfo","outputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"lockedStake","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"fromEpoch","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"endTime","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"duration","type":"uint256"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[{"internalType":"address","name":"","type":"address"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"name":"getStake","outputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[{"internalType":"address","name":"","type":"address"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"name":"getStashedLockupRewards","outputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"lockupExtraReward","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"lockupBaseReward","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"unlockedReward","type":"uint256"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"name":"getValidator","outputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"status","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"deactivatedTime","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"deactivatedEpoch","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"receivedStake","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"createdEpoch","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"createdTime","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"address","name":"auth","type":"address"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[{"internalType":"address","name":"","type":"address"}],"name":"getValidatorID","outputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"name":"getValidatorPubkey","outputs":[{"internalType":"bytes","name":"","type":"bytes"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[{"internalType":"address","name":"","type":"address"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"name":"getWithdrawalRequest","outputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"epoch","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"time","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"amount","type":"uint256"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[{"internalType":"address","name":"delegator","type":"address"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"toValidatorID","type":"uint256"}],"name":"isLockedUp","outputs":[{"internalType":"bool","name":"","type":"bool"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"isOwner","outputs":[{"internalType":"bool","name":"","type":"bool"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"lastValidatorID","outputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"minGasPrice","outputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"owner","outputs":[{"internalType":"address","name":"","type":"address"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":false,"inputs":[],"name":"renounceOwnership","outputs":[],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"nonpayable","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"name":"slashingRefundRatio","outputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"stakeTokenizerAddress","outputs":[{"internalType":"address","name":"","type":"address"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[{"internalType":"address","name":"","type":"address"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"name":"stashedRewardsUntilEpoch","outputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"totalActiveStake","outputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"totalSlashedStake","outputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"totalStake","outputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"totalSupply","outputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"","type":"uint256"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"internalType":"address","name":"newOwner","type":"address"}],"name":"transferOwnership","outputs":[],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"nonpayable","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"treasuryAddress","outputs":[{"internalType":"address","name":"","type":"address"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"version","outputs":[{"internalType":"bytes3","name":"","type":"bytes3"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"pure","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"voteBookAddress","outputs":[{"internalType":"address","name":"","type":"address"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"internalType":"uint256","name":"sealedEpoch","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"_totalSupply","type":"uint256"},{"internalType":"address","name":"nodeDriver","type":"address"},{"internalType":"address","name":"lib","type":"address"},{"internalType":"address","name":"_c","type":"address"},{"internalType":"address","name":"owner","type":"address"}],"name":"initialize","outputs":[],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"nonpayable","type":"function"},{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"internalType":"address","name":"addr","type":"address"}],"name":"updateStakeTokenizerAddress","outputs":[],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"nonpayable","type":"function"},{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"internalType":"address","name":"v","type":"address"}],"name":"updateLibAddress","outputs":[],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"nonpayable","type":"function"},{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"internalType":"address","name":"v","type":"address"}],"name":"updateTreasuryAddress","outputs":[],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"nonpayable","type":"function"},{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"internalType":"address","name":"v","type":"address"}],"name":"updateConstsAddress","outputs":[],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"nonpayable","type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"constsAddress","outputs":[{"internalType":"address","name":"","type":"address"}],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"view","type":"function"},{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"internalType":"address","name":"v","type":"address"}],"name":"updateVoteBookAddress","outputs":[],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"nonpayable","type":"function"},{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"internalType":"uint256[]","name":"offlineTime","type":"uint256[]"},{"internalType":"uint256[]","name":"offlineBlocks","type":"uint256[]"},{"internalType":"uint256[]","name":"uptimes","type":"uint256[]"},{"internalType":"uint256[]","name":"originatedTxsFee","type":"uint256[]"},{"internalType":"uint256","name":"epochGas","type":"uint256"}],"name":"sealEpoch","outputs":[],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"nonpayable","type":"function"},{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"internalType":"uint256[]","name":"nextValidatorIDs","type":"uint256[]"}],"name":"sealEpochValidators","outputs":[],"payable":false,"stateMutability":"nonpayable","type":"function"}]') ``` … as well as the SFC contract object itself: ``` sfc = web3.ftm.contract(abi).at("0xFC00FACE00000000000000000000000000000000") ``` After initializing both variables, you can now interact with the network’s SFC. Enter the following command to check that everything works as expected: ``` sfc.lastValidatorID() ``` Finally, execute the following command again to check your **validatorID**: ``` sfc.getValidatorID("{VALIDATOR_WALLET_ADDRESS}") ``` It should now return something other than “**0**”: ``` > sfc.getValidatorID("{VALIDATOR_WALLET_ADDRESS}") 3 ``` Congrats, you are now a U2U validator! Close the console window by typing “exit”. ## Run your validator node Before you run off celebrating, you need to restart your node in validator mode!\ \ Make sure your node is already synced to the latest block in read mode, and it's synced in `--syncmode full`. To stop the u2u process (read mode): ``` $ pkill u2u ``` Then wait a few seconds. Then head back to the console window where you started your node with the following command along with flags and options applied in synced normal node: {% code overflow="wrap" %} ``` $ ./u2u --genesis testnet.g --validator.id ID --validator.pubkey 0xPubkey --validator.password /path/to/password ``` {% endcode %} ## Troubleshooting Please visit [Troubleshooting validator node](https://docs.u2u.xyz/troubleshooting#3.-validator-node).