Add Validators

Reset All

Preconditions

• validator setup has been completed
• you have at least 32 ETH available to stake in your MetaMask wallet per new validator
• EL and CL are fully synced to the Ethereum network
• client PC is powered on and able to SSH into the node server
• air-gapped PC is powered on and running live Linux from the Mint USB flash drive created during initial setup
• the Data USB flash drive formatted to EXT4 during validator setup is on-hand

Postconditions

• the new validator(s) will be running on your validator node service

Configurable Values

As in the initial setup guide, this guide is written using the following configurable values:

• node server SSH port: 55522
• node server hostname: eth-node-mainnet

Steps

1. Generate New Validator Keys

On the Client PC:

• plug-in the Data USB drive
• generate a validator status report:

cd ethereum-node
./tools/deploy.sh --usb
./tools/export.sh

• safely eject the USB drive

On the Air-Gapped PC:

• plug-in the flash drive
• open a terminal and generate the next validator keys:

cd /media/mint/DATA/
source ./unseal.sh
./generate-next-keys.sh
source ./seal.sh

• safely eject the flash drive and unplug it

2. Import New Validator Keys

On the Client PC:

• plug-in the flash drive
• open a terminal and import the validator keys:

cd ethereum-node
./tools/deploy.sh
./tools/import-keys.sh
# ignore the following warnings:
#   "error creating directory"
#   "accept-terms-of-use"
#   "You are using an insecure gRPC connection"
# when prompted for a wallet password, enter the one created during `set-wallet-password.sh` during initial validator setup
# when prompted for the account password, enter the passphrase just created during `generate-next-keys.sh`

3. Deposit 32 ETH Per New Validator

• unseal the USB files:

cd /media/$USER/DATA/
source ./unseal.sh
(nemo ./validator_keys/ &>/dev/null &)

• browse to the Ethereum Staking Launchpad page:
  • mainnet or hoodi
• keep clicking Continue and I Accept until you reach the Upload deposit data page (no need to fill out the forms along the way)
• drag-and-drop the deposit_data-XYZ.json file from the validator_keys directory onto the webpage when prompted
• follow the website instructions to connect your MetaMask wallet and complete the deposits: one for each validator
  • if any of the deposit transactions fail, make a copy of deposit_data-XYZ.json and edit it, deleting the validators from the top-level array whose deposits were successful. Submit this edited copy to the launchpad website. Repeat as necessary until all deposits are complete. Any copies of deposit_data-XYZ.json made in this way should be deleted afterwards, retaining only the original. Seek support on the “ethstaker” Discord server if needed.
• close the file explorer
• reseal the USB files:

source ./seal.sh

Next Steps

• Add validators
• Withdraw validators
• Exit validators
• Compound or Consolidate validators