# Validator Guide This is an updated guide on setting up a mainnet validator. Note that this is a minimal guide and does not cover more advanced topics like [sentry node architecture](https://github.com/stakefish/cosmos-validator-design) and [double signing protection](https://github.com/tendermint/tmkms). It is strongly recommended that any parties considering validating do additional research. If you have questions, please join the active conversation in the #validators thread of our [__Discord Channel__](https://discord.com/invite/kQzh3Uv). ## Installing Kava ### Prerequisites You should select an all-purpose server with at least 8GB of RAM, good connectivity, and a solid state drive with sufficient disk space. Storage requirements are discussed further in the section below. In addition, you’ll need to open **port 26656** to connect to the Kava peer-to-peer network. As the usage of the blockchain grows, the server requirements may increase as well, so you should have a plan for updating your server as well. ### Storage The monthly storage requirements for a node are as follows. These are estimated values based on experience, but should serve as a good guide. - An archival node (`pruning = "nothing"`) grows at a rate of ~100 GB per month - A fully pruning node (`pruning = "everything"`) grows at a rate of ~5 GB per month - A default pruning node (`pruning = “default”`) grows at a rate of ~25 GB per month ## Install Go Kava is built using Go and requires Go version 1.13+. In this example, you will be installing Go on a fresh install of ubuntu 18.04. ```bash # Update ubuntu sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade -y # Install packages necessary to run go and jq for pretty formatting command line outputs sudo apt install build-essential jq -y # Install go wget https://dl.google.com/go/go1.17.1.linux-amd64.tar.gz (or latest version at https://golang.org/dl/) sudo tar -xvf go1.17.1.linux-amd64.tar.gz sudo mv go /usr/local # Updates environmental variables to include go cat <> ~/.profile export GOROOT=/usr/local/go export GOPATH=$HOME/go export GO111MODULE=on export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/go/bin:$HOME/go/bin EOF source ~/.profile ``` To verify that Go is installed: ```bash go version # Should return go version go1.17.1 linux/amd64 ``` ## Install Kava Install Kava using `git clone`. Note that version 0.15.1 is the correct version for mainnet. ```bash git clone https://github.com/kava-labs/kava cd kava git checkout v0.15.1 make install ``` To verify that kava is installed: ```bash kvd version --long # name: kava # server_name: kvd # client_name: kvcli # version: 0.15.1 # commit: f0c90f0cbf96d230a83cd2309b8fd032e52d7fb933881541472df1bf2703a939 # build_tags: netgo,ledger # go: go version go1.15.14 linux/amd64 ``` ## Configuring Your Node Next, download the correct genesis file and sync your node with the Kava mainnet. To download the genesis file: ```bash # First, initialize kvd. Replace with the public name of your node kvd init --chain-id kava-8 # Download the genesis file wget https://kava-genesis-files.s3.amazonaws.com/kava-8-genesis-migrated-from-block-1878508.json -O ~/.kvd/config/genesis.json # Verify genesis hash jq -S -c -M '' $HOME/.kvd/config/genesis.json | shasum -a 256 # f0c90f0cbf96d230a83cd2309b8fd032e52d7fb933881541472df1bf2703a939 ``` Next, adjust some configurations. To open the config file: ```bash vim $HOME/.kvd/config/config.toml ``` At line 160, add [seeds](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TWsD2lMi1idkPI6W9xFCn5W64x75yn9PDjvQaJVkIRk/edit?usp=sharing). These are used to connect to the peer-to-peer network: At line 163, add some [persistent peers](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TWsD2lMi1idkPI6W9xFCn5W64x75yn9PDjvQaJVkIRk/edit?usp=sharing), which help maintain a connection to the peer-to-peer network Next, chose how much historical state you want to store. To open the application config file: ```bash vim $HOME/.kvd/config/app.toml ``` In this file, choose between `default`, `nothing`, and `everything`. To reduce hard drive storage, choose `everything` or `default`. To run an archival node, chose `nothing`. ```bash pruning = "default" ``` In the same file, you will want to set minimum gas prices — setting a minimum prevents spam transactions: ```bash minimum-gas-prices = "0.001ukava" ``` ### Syncing Your Node To sync your node, you will use systemd, which manages the Kava daemon and automatically restarts it in case of failure. To use systemd, you will create a service file. Be sure to replace `` with the user on your server: ```bash sudo tee /etc/systemd/system/kvd.service > /dev/null <<'EOF' [Unit] Description=Kava daemon After=network-online.target [Service] User= ExecStart=/home//go/bin/kvd start Restart=on-failure RestartSec=3 LimitNOFILE=4096 [Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target EOF ``` To start syncing: ```bash # Start the node sudo systemctl enable kvd sudo systemctl start kvd ``` To check on the status of syncing: ```bash kvcli status --output json | jq '.sync_info' ``` This will give output like: ```bash { "latest_block_hash": "21D7E37A0A5992E1992DD43E42C05E4475A6E212694F746ABEE132267067847D", "latest_app_hash": "FBE0E799BCCA57F12F781252787BD6340782E5D45E591294D01269F481B128AC", "latest_block_height": "183566", "latest_block_time": "2021-03-22T17:21:41.848445277Z", "earliest_block_hash": "09E688467E5016159D74CEDE2EE870D671CAA772F76E6697AEEB685A398ACB08", "earliest_app_hash": "", "earliest_block_height": "1", "earliest_block_time": "2021-03-05T06:00:00Z", "catching_up": false } ``` The main thing to watch is that the block height is increasing. Once you are caught up with the chain, `catching_up` will become false. At that point, you can start using your node to create a validator. If you need to sync using a snapshot, please use https://kava.quicksync.io/ To check the logs of the node: ```bash sudo journalctl -u kvd -f ``` ## Creating a Validator First, create a wallet, which will give you a private key / public key pair for your node. ```bash # Replace with a name for your key that you will remember kvcli keys add # To see a list of wallets on your node kvcli keys list ``` **Be sure to write down the mnemonic for your wallet and store it securely. Losing your mnemonic could result in the irrecoverable loss of KAVA tokens.** To see the options when creating a validator: ```bash kvcli tx staking create-validator -h ``` An example of creating a validator with 50KAVA self-delegation and 10% commission: ```bash # Replace with the key you created previously kvcli tx staking create-validator \ --amount=50000000ukava \ --pubkey=$(kvd tendermint show-validator) \ --moniker="choose moniker" \ --website="optional website for your validator" --details="optional details for your validator" --commission-rate="0.10" \ --commission-max-rate="0.20" \ --commission-max-change-rate="0.01" \ --min-self-delegation="1" \ --from= \ --chain-id=kava-8 \ --gas=auto --gas-adjustment=1.4 ``` To check on the status of your validator: ```bash kvcli status --output json | jq '.validator_info' ``` After you have completed this guide, your validator should be up and ready to receive delegations. Note that only the top 100 validators by weighted stake (self-delegations + other delegations) are eligible for block rewards. To view the current validator list, checkout one of the Kava block explorers: - https://www.mintscan.io/kava - https://kava.bigdipper.live/ - https://kavascan.com/ If you have questions, please join the active conversation in the #validators thread of the [__Kava Discord Channel__](https://discord.com/invite/kQzh3Uv).