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Run a Protocol node

With the Archway node in place and the KYVE node also installed you can finally start the protocol node.

Start Node

Finally the protocol validator can be started. In order to start it, execute the following command. Since we named our valaccount archway we select the this valaccount to start the KYSOR.

./kysor start --valaccount 'archway'

You can also start the process in debug mode by adding the --debug flag like this:

./kysor start --valaccount 'archway' --debug
tip

If you're running the Archway node on a separate machine you have to tell the protocol validator with an env variable the new rpc endpoint.

Create .env file:

KYVEJS_TENDERMINT_RPC="https://my-custom-rpc-endpoint:26657"

pass it to KYSOR:

./kysor start --valaccount 'archway' --env-file="path/to/.env"

After the node successfully started you should see the following logs:

2023-02-13 08:46:00.618  INFO  Starting node ...

2023-02-13 08:46:00.624 INFO Starting metric server on: http://localhost:8080/metrics
2023-02-13 08:46:00.828 INFO Checking account balance on StorageProvider:Bundlr
2023-02-13 08:46:00.872 INFO Account has available funds on StorageProvider:Bundlr

2023-02-13 08:46:00.873 INFO Chain ID = kyve-kaon
2023-02-13 08:46:00.873 INFO Pool ID = 2
2023-02-13 08:46:00.873 INFO Runtime = @kyvejs/tendermint
2023-02-13 08:46:00.873 INFO Valaddress = kyve1887l27uwn5r6u9gxw7dg9wt0kqh7uk23suumzc

2023-02-13 08:46:00.873 INFO @kyvejs/tendermint = v1.0.0-beta.1
2023-02-13 08:46:00.873 INFO @kyvejs/protocol = v1.0.0-beta.14

2023-02-13 08:46:00.876 INFO Valaccount has not joined the pool with id 1 yet
2023-02-13 08:46:00.876 INFO Visit https://app.kyve.network and join the pool from your validator account:

2023-02-13 08:46:00.876 INFO Valaddress: kyve1887l27uwn5r6u9gxw7dg9wt0kqh7uk23suumzc
2023-02-13 08:46:00.876 INFO Valname: causal-chocolate-sparrow

2023-02-13 08:46:00.876 INFO The node will not continue until the account is authorized

With this information (Valaddress and Valname) you can head over the KYVE app and join the pool.

Now that the node is already running it just needs the authorization from it's main validator account in order to run for this validator and generate rewards. For that visit your validator page and click on Join existing pool.

A dialog should open where you should select the pool you want to join (here Archway). After that enter the valaddress that needs to be authorized and the valname, which just serves as a security that the node has actually been started. (If you join a pool without having the node running you are in danger of receiving a timeout slash because once you join a pool you are expected to validate and upload data).

For the last option you can do a one time transfer so that the valaccount has some $KYVE to pay for transaction fees. We would recommend sending 100 $KYVE for the start which typically lasts for about 1 month.

caution

IMPORTANT: Make sure that the valaccount always has enough $KYVE to pay for transaction fees, otherwise you are again in danger of receiving a timeout slash.

Once you have joined the pool the node should continue in about ~10 seconds. After that you are successfully participating in a pool.

Start node with systemd

If you want to start the nodes as a background process you can use systemd.

For the daemon service root-privileges are required during the setup. Create a service file. $USER is the Linux user which runs the process. Replace it before you copy the command.

Since the KYSOR can run on multiple pools on one machine we would recommend naming the daemon service after the valaccount name and with a d appending to it. With that you can create multiple service files and control each of them. This example shows the service file for our valaccount archway

info

You might have to execute this command with sudo

tee <<EOF > /dev/null /etc/systemd/system/archwayd.service
[Unit]
Description=KYVE Protocol-Node archway daemon
After=network-online.target

[Service]
User=$USER
ExecStart=/home/$USER/kysor start --valaccount archway
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=3
LimitNOFILE=infinity
EOF
info

Don't forget to change the filename and the valaccount in the service file if you join a different pool

Start the daemon

sudo systemctl enable archway
sudo systemctl start archway

It can be stopped using

sudo systemctl stop archway

You can see its logs with

sudo journalctl -u archway -f -o cat

Start node on multiple pools

This step is optional, but the more pools you participate in the higher the rewards. If you want to join another pool just repeat the previous steps (Install pool binaries). For that you have to create a new valaccount, because a valaccount can only run on one data pool. Once you have setup the second valaccount you can start it. You can see all the pools you are participating in your validator page.

caution

WARNING: Joining for example a second pool might double your rewards, but it also doubles the danger of getting slashed.