> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://www.coincashew.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://www.coincashew.com/coins/overview-eth/archived-guides/guide-or-how-to-setup-a-validator-on-eth2-mainnet/part-ii-maintenance/checklist-confirming-healthy-functional-eth-staking-node.md). # Checklist | Confirming a healthy functional ETH staking node {% hint style="info" %} :confetti\_ball: **Support us on Gitcoin Grants:** [We improve this guide with your support!](https://gitcoin.co/grants/1653/eth2-staking-guides-by-coincashew)🙏 {% endhint %} ## :fast\_forward: Quick steps guide {% hint style="info" %} The following steps align with our [mainnet guide](/coins/overview-eth/guide-or-how-to-setup-a-validator-on-eth2-mainnet.md). You may need to adjust file names and directory locations where appropriate. The core concepts remain the same. {% endhint %} ### :rocket: Execution client Checklist | Concern | Solution | | --------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Execution client in sync |

Ensure your node's block number matches the tip block of a public block explorer. Find your eth1's block # with command journalctl -fu eth1

Example log output:INFO \[12-06

| | Ports open |

Confirm ports are reachable with an external port checker such as

Find Port # information here.

| | Check execution client logs for errors | Use the command `journalctl -fu eth1` | | Understand how to stop/start Execution client |

sudo systemctl stop eth1

sudo systemctl start eth1

| | Understand how to update my Execution client | Refer to this [quick guide.](broken://pages/SdmF7ynVCJUmp79QZ8RF) | | Reduce bandwidth usage | Refer to [the mainnet guide.](/coins/overview-eth/guide-or-how-to-setup-a-validator-on-eth2-mainnet/part-iii-tips/reducing-network-bandwidth-usage.md) | | Execution client node redundancy | Refer to [the mainnet guide.](/coins/overview-eth/guide-or-how-to-setup-a-validator-on-eth2-mainnet/part-iii-tips/improving-validator-attestation-effectiveness.md#strategy-2-eth1-redundancy) | ### :dna: Consensus client Checklist | Concern | Solution | | --------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Installed latest stable release | Refer to [how to update consensus client.](broken://pages/tFUblbPEXCBTovedPHmD) | | Beacon chain client can connect to Execution client |

Check for a response with the command:curl -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST --data '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","method":"web3\_clientVersion","params":\[],"id":67}'

You should receive a response similar to:

{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":67,"result":"Geth/v1.9.24-stable-cc05b050/linux-amd64/go1.15.5"}

| | Beacon chain is sync'd to mainnet | Ensure your block number matches the slot# of a [public block explorer](https://beaconcha.in). Find your consensus client's beacon chain slot # with in logs with command `journalctl -fu beacon-chain` | | Check beacon chain logs for errors | Use the command `journalctl -fu beacon-chain` | | Ports open |

Confirm ports are reachable with an external port checker such as

or .

Click here for Port # information.

| | Understand how to stop/start beacon-chain |

sudo systemctl stop beacon-chain

sudo systemctl start beacon-chain

| | Understand how to update my beacon chain | Refer to this [quick guide.](broken://pages/tFUblbPEXCBTovedPHmD) | | Join Discord | Refer to [the mainnet guide](/coins/overview-eth/guide-or-how-to-setup-a-validator-on-eth2-mainnet/joining-the-community-on-discord-and-reddit.md) | ### :key2: Consensus Validator Client Checklist | Concern | Solution | | ------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Verify keystores are properly imported | Refer to the mainnet guide's section on [importing keys.](broken://pages/RQOlbyXkE2Wd5vYz4hJE#4-configure-a-eth2-beacon-chain-node-and-validator) | | Check validator logs for errors | Use the command `journalctl -fu validator` | | Verify attestations are working | Check your validators pubkey against a [public block explorer.](https://beaconscan.com) | | Setup a graffiti flag / [POAP](https://poap.fun) | Refer to [the mainnet guide.](broken://pages/oL7Tsah2M8aqWW2JyJ9b) | | Verified my mnemonic phrase can be restored. | Refer to [the mainnet guide.](/coins/overview-eth/guide-or-how-to-setup-a-validator-on-eth2-mainnet/part-iii-tips/verifying-your-mnemonic-phrase.md) | | Understand how to add more validators | Refer to this [quick guide.](/coins/overview-eth/guide-or-how-to-setup-a-validator-on-eth2-mainnet/part-iii-tips/adding-a-new-validator-to-an-existing-setup.md) | | Understand how to update my consensus client | Refer to this [quick guide.](broken://pages/tFUblbPEXCBTovedPHmD) | | Know how to stop/start validator |

sudo systemctl stop validator

sudo systemctl start validator

| | Beacon-node redundancy | Refer to [the mainnet guide.](/coins/overview-eth/guide-or-how-to-setup-a-validator-on-eth2-mainnet/part-iii-tips/improving-validator-attestation-effectiveness.md#strategy-4-beacon-node-redundancy) | ### :bricks: Validator Node Security Checklist | Concern | Solution | | ------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Secure the root account | Refer to the [best security practices document.](broken://pages/Tb57gqyH5WWgWgjhdeME#create-a-non-root-user-with-sudo-privileges) | | Connect with SSH Keys Only | Refer to the [best security practices document.](broken://pages/Tb57gqyH5WWgWgjhdeME#disable-ssh-password-authentication-and-use-ssh-keys-only) | | Harden SSH on a random port | Refer to the [best security practices document.](broken://pages/Tb57gqyH5WWgWgjhdeME#disable-ssh-password-authentication-and-use-ssh-keys-only) | | Setup 2-FA for SSH (Optional) | Refer to the [best security practices document.](broken://pages/Tb57gqyH5WWgWgjhdeME#setup-two-factor-authentication-for-ssh-optional) | | Secure the Shared Memory | Refer to the [best security practices document.](broken://pages/Tb57gqyH5WWgWgjhdeME#secure-shared-memory) | | Setup a firewall | Refer to the [best security practices document.](broken://pages/Tb57gqyH5WWgWgjhdeME#configure-your-firewall) | | Setup port forwarding on my router | Refer to the [best security practices document.](broken://pages/Tb57gqyH5WWgWgjhdeME#configure-your-firewall) | | Setup intrusion-prevention monitoring | Refer to the [best security practices document.](broken://pages/Tb57gqyH5WWgWgjhdeME#install-fail-2-ban) | | Whitelisted my local machine in the ufw firewall | Refer to the [best security practices document.](broken://pages/Tb57gqyH5WWgWgjhdeME#configure-your-firewall) | | Whitelisted my local machine in Fail2ban | Refer to the [best security practices document.](broken://pages/Tb57gqyH5WWgWgjhdeME#install-fail-2-ban) | | Verify the listening ports | Refer to the [best security practices document.](broken://pages/Tb57gqyH5WWgWgjhdeME#verify-listening-ports) | ### :vertical\_traffic\_light: Validator Node Maintenance and Best Practices Checklist | Concern | Solution | | -------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Enabled automatic OS patching | Refer to the [best security practices document.](broken://pages/Tb57gqyH5WWgWgjhdeME#update-your-system) | | Setup chrony or other NTP time sync service | Refer to [the mainnet guide.](broken://pages/PZZU4JYd2O7V7qzandVI) | | Setup Prometheus and Grafana Monitoring/Alerts/Dashboard | Refer to [the mainnet guide.](/coins/overview-eth/guide-or-how-to-setup-a-validator-on-eth2-mainnet/part-i-installation/monitoring-your-validator-with-grafana-and-prometheus.md) | | Understand how to handle a power outage | In case of power outage, you want your validator machine to restart as soon as power is available. In the BIOS settings, change the **Restore on AC / Power Loss** or **After Power Loss** setting to always on. Better yet, install an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS). | | Understand how to migrate consensus clients | Refer to the [mainnet guide.](/coins/overview-eth/guide-or-how-to-setup-a-validator-on-eth2-mainnet/part-iii-tips/switching-migrating-consensus-client.md) | | Understand how to voluntary exit | Refer to the [mainnet guide.](/coins/overview-eth/guide-or-how-to-setup-a-validator-on-eth2-mainnet/part-iii-tips/voluntary-exiting-a-validator.md) | | Used all available LVM disk space | Refer to the [mainnet guide.](/coins/overview-eth/archived-guides/guide-or-how-to-setup-a-validator-on-eth2-mainnet/part-iii-tips/using-all-available-lvm-disk-space.md) | | Understand important directory locations | Refer to the [mainnet guide.](/coins/overview-eth/guide-or-how-to-setup-a-validator-on-eth2-mainnet/part-iii-tips/important-directory-locations.md) | ## :robot: Start staking by building a validator ### Visit here for our [Mainnet guide](https://www.coincashew.com/coins/overview-eth/guide-or-how-to-setup-a-validator-on-eth2-mainnet) {% hint style="success" %} Congrats on completing the guide. ✨ Did you find our guide useful? Send us a signal with a tip and we'll keep updating it. It really energizes us to keep creating the best crypto guides. Use [cointr.ee to find our donation](https://cointr.ee/coincashew) addresses. 🙏 Any feedback and all pull requests much appreciated. 🌛 {% endhint %}