Validator Setup

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Preconditions

• you have at least 32 ETH available to stake per validator in your MetaMask wallet
• node setup has been completed
• node server is powered on and running geth (EL) and prysm-beacon (CL) as services
• 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 created during initial setup is on-hand

Postconditions

• node server will be running the EL, the CL, and prysm-validator (validator(s)) as a service
• validator(s) will be attesting, aggregating, and proposing blocks, thus earning ETH income over time
• ETH income will be added to its respective validator’s balance as it is earned
• for any validator, you will be ready to set a withdrawal address at a future time of your choosing, thus beginning automatic, periodic withdrawals of its balance in excess of the staked 32 ETH

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. Install Validator Software

On the Client PC:

• login to the node server via SSH and install prysm-validator:

ssh -p 55522 eth-node-mainnet
cd ethereum-node

# install prysm-validator, and configure it to run as a service
./setup-validator.sh

# logout and continue to next step (type `exit` or press `ctrl+d`)
exit

2. Format the Data flash drive to EXT4 and Deploy to it

On the Client PC:

• plug-in the USB flash drive labeled DATA which was formatted to FAT32 during initial setup
• wipe the drive and create an EXT4 partition:

# get the device path of the USB 'DATA' drive
flashdrive="/dev/$(lsblk -I 8 --json | jq --arg USER "$USER" -r '.blockdevices |
  map(select(.children[].mountpoints[] | contains("/media/\($USER)/DATA" ))) |
  first | .name')" && echo $flashdrive

# unmount any mounted partitions of the USB flash drive
sudo umount ${flashdrive}?*

# wipe the existing partitions & create a new EXT4 partition
sudo fdisk $flashdrive
# Command (m for help): g
# Command (m for help): n
# Select (default p): <Enter>
# Partition number (1-4, default 1): <Enter>
# First sector (2048-120164351, default 2048): <Enter>
# Last sector, +/-sectors or +/-size{K,M,G,T,P} (2048-120164351, default 120164351): <Enter>
# Do you want to remove the signature? [Y]es/[N]o: y
# Command (m for help): w

# format the new partition and label it "DATA"
sudo mkfs.ext4 -L DATA -E lazy_itable_init=0 ${flashdrive}1

# safely eject the drive
sudo eject $flashdrive

• unplug the flash drive and plug it back in. It should be auto-mounted by the operating system
• change into the project directory and deploy to the flash drive:

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

• safely eject the flash drive and unplug it

3. Generate Mnemonic and Validator Keys

On the Air-Gapped PC:

• plug-in the flash drive
• open a terminal and generate a mnemonic seed & validator keys:

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

• save the passphrase in your client PC’s password manager
• save the seedphrase/mnemonic offline, e.g. engraved on metal plates in a fireproof safe, with encrypted off-site backups
• safely eject the flash drive and unplug it

4. Import Validator Keys and Create Wallet

On the Client PC:

• login to the node server via SSH and set the wallet password:

ssh -p 55522 eth-node-mainnet
cd ethereum-node

./set-wallet-password.sh
# when prompted, choose a wallet password and save it in your client PC's password manager

# logout and continue to next step (type `exit` or press `ctrl+d`)
exit

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

./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`
# when prompted for the account password, enter the passphrase created during `generate-keys.sh`

5. Deposit 32 ETH Per Validator

• unseal the USB files and explore the validator_keys directory:

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

6. Enable Validator Service

It can take over a week for the deposit(s) to arrive in the balance of your validator(s), signaling your official entry as a validating Ethereum node. At the moment of entry, your validator(s) will be expected to be up-and-running, along with your EL & CL, so start the validator service now and leave it running.

On the Client PC

• login to the node server via SSH and start the validator:

ssh -p 55522 eth-node-mainnet
cd ethereum-node

# start the service and follow its log
./enable-validator.sh
# press `ctrl + c` to exit the log

Next Steps

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