Installing a Validator

1. Install Tachyon and Solana tools

Following the installation guide to install Tachyon and the solana tools.

2. Optimize Your System (Linux)

Your system needs proper tuning to ensure smooth operation. Without these settings, your validator might not start.

Run the following command to configure system settings:

sudo bash -c "cat >/etc/sysctl.d/21-tachyon-validator.conf <<EOF
# Increase UDP buffer sizes
net.core.rmem_default = 134217728
net.core.rmem_max = 134217728
net.core.wmem_default = 134217728
net.core.wmem_max = 134217728

# Increase memory-mapped files limit
vm.max_map_count = 1000000

# Increase the number of allowed open file descriptors
fs.nr_open = 1000000
EOF"

sudo sysctl -p /etc/sysctl.d/21-tachyon-validator.conf
sudo systemctl daemon-reload

sudo bash -c "cat >/etc/security/limits.d/90-tachyon-nofiles.conf <<EOF
# Increase process file descriptor limit
* - nofile 1000000
EOF"

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3. Generate Key Pairs

Use solana-keygen to create your keys. Save your 12-word recovery phrase securely.

Run the following command to create key pairs:

solana-keygen new --no-passphrase -o ~/.config/solana/identity.json
solana-keygen new --no-passphrase -o ~/.config/solana/vote.json
solana-keygen new --no-passphrase -o ~/.config/solana/stake.json

---

4. Create a Validator Startup Script

Choose the type of node you want to run: Validator or RPC.

Run the following command to create a startup script:

:::tabs key:node == Validator Node

mkdir -p ~/bin
cat > ~/bin/validator.sh <<EOF
#!/bin/bash
exec tachyon-validator \
    --identity ~/.config/solana/identity.json \
    --vote-account ~/.config/solana/vote.json \
    --known-validator Abt4r6uhFs7yPwR3jT5qbnLjBtasgHkRVAd1W6H5yonT \
    --known-validator 5NfpgFCwrYzcgJkda9bRJvccycLUo3dvVQsVAK2W43Um \
    --known-validator FcrZRBfVk2h634L9yvkysJdmvdAprq1NM4u263NuR6LC \
    --only-known-rpc \
    --log ./validator.log \
    --ledger ./ledger \
    --rpc-port 8899 \
    --full-rpc-api \
    --dynamic-port-range 8000-8030 \
    --entrypoint entrypoint1.testnet.x1.xyz:8001 \
    --entrypoint entrypoint2.testnet.x1.xyz:8000 \
    --entrypoint entrypoint3.testnet.x1.xyz:8000 \
    --wal-recovery-mode skip_any_corrupted_record \
    --limit-ledger-size 50000000 \
    --enable-rpc-transaction-history \
    --enable-extended-tx-metadata-storage \
    --rpc-pubsub-enable-block-subscription \
    --full-snapshot-interval-slots 5000 \
    --maximum-incremental-snapshots-to-retain 10 \
    --maximum-full-snapshots-to-retain 50
EOF
chmod +x ~/bin/validator.sh

== RPC Node

mkdir -p ~/bin
cat > ~/bin/validator.sh <<EOF
#!/bin/bash
exec tachyon-validator \
    --identity ~/.config/solana/identity.json \
    --no-voting \
    --known-validator Abt4r6uhFs7yPwR3jT5qbnLjBtasgHkRVAd1W6H5yonT \
    --known-validator 5NfpgFCwrYzcgJkda9bRJvccycLUo3dvVQsVAK2W43Um \
    --known-validator FcrZRBfVk2h634L9yvkysJdmvdAprq1NM4u263NuR6LC \
    --only-known-rpc \
    --log ./validator.log \
    --ledger ./ledger \
    --rpc-port 8899 \
    --full-rpc-api \
    --dynamic-port-range 8000-8030 \
    --entrypoint entrypoint1.testnet.x1.xyz:8001 \
    --entrypoint entrypoint2.testnet.x1.xyz:8000 \
    --entrypoint entrypoint3.testnet.x1.xyz:8000 \
    --wal-recovery-mode skip_any_corrupted_record \
    --limit-ledger-size 50000000 \
    --enable-rpc-transaction-history \
    --enable-extended-tx-metadata-storage \
    --rpc-pubsub-enable-block-subscription \
    --full-snapshot-interval-slots 5000 \
    --maximum-incremental-snapshots-to-retain 10 \
    --maximum-full-snapshots-to-retain 50
EOF
chmod +x ~/bin/validator.sh

:::

---

5. Create a Systemd Service

Run the following command to create a system service:

cat > /etc/systemd/system/tachyon-validator.server <<EOF
[Unit]
Description=x1-testnet Validator
After=syslog.target network.target

[Service]
User=ubuntu
Group=ubuntu
Environment=RUST_LOG=solana_metrics=warn,info
Type=simple
LimitNOFILE=1000000

KillMode=process
KillSignal=SIGINT
TimeoutStopSec=600
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=10s
SyslogIdentifier=tachyon-validator
ExecStart=/home/ubuntu/bin/validator.sh

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
EOF

6. Configure log rotation

Run the following command to configure log rotation:

cat > /etc/logrotate.d/tachyon-validator <<EOF
/home/ubuntu/validator.log {
    rotate 3
    daily
    compress
    maxsize 1G
    missingok
    postrotate
      systemctl kill -s USR1 tachyon-validator.service
    endscript
    create 0644 ubuntu ubuntu
}
EOF

7. Start the Validator

Run the following command to start the validator and enable it on boot:

sudo systemctl enable --now tachyon-validator

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Your validator is now operational.

::: tip You must now stake your tokens to participate as a validator. :::