Switching / Migrating Consensus Client

The key takeaway in this process is to avoid running two consensus clients simultaneously. You want to avoid being punished by a slashing penalty, which causes a loss of ether.

🛑 1 Stop old beacon chain and old validator.

In order to export the slashing database, the validator needs to be stopped.

Lighthouse | Prysm | Lodestar

sudo systemctl stop beacon-chain validator

Nimbus | Teku

sudo systemctl stop beacon-chain

💽 2 Export slashing database (Optional)

EIP-3076 implements a standard to safety migrate validator keys between consensus clients. This is the exported contents of the slashing database.

Update the export .json file location and name.

Lighthouse

lighthouse account validator slashing-protection export <lighthouse_interchange.json>

Nimbus

To be implemented

Teku

teku slashing-protection export --to=<FILE>

Prysm

prysm.sh validator slashing-protection export --datadir=/path/to/your/wallet --slashing-protection-export-dir=/path/to/desired/outputdir

Lodestar

./lodestar account validator slashing-protection export --network mainnet --file interchange.json

🚧 3 Setup and install new validator / beacon chain

Now you need to setup/install your new validator but do not start running the systemd processes. Be sure to thoroughly follow your new validator's Section 4. Configure a ETH2 beacon chain and validator. You will need to build/install the client, configure port forwarding/firewalls, and new systemd unit files.

✨ Pro Tip: During the process of re-importing validator keys, wait at least 13 minutes or two epochs to prevent slashing penalties. You must avoid running two consensus clients with same validator keys at the same time.

🛑 Critical Step: Do not start any systemd processes until either you have imported the slashing database or you have waited at least 13 minutes or two epochs.

📂 4 Import slashing database (Optional)

Using your new consensus client, run the following command and update the relevant path to import your slashing database from 2 steps ago.

Lighthouse

lighthouse account validator slashing-protection import <my_interchange.json>

Nimbus

To be implemented

Teku

teku slashing-protection import --from=<FILE>

Prysm

prysm.sh validator slashing-protection import --datadir=/path/to/your/wallet --slashing-protection-json-file=/path/to/desiredimportfile

Lodestar

./lodestar account validator slashing-protection import --network mainnet --file interchange.json

🌠 5 Start new validator and new beacon chain

Lighthouse | Prysm | Lodestar

sudo systemctl start beacon-chain validator

Nimbus | Teku

sudo systemctl start beacon-chain

🔥 6 Verify functionality

Check the logs to verify the services are working properly and ensure there are no errors.

Lighthouse | Prysm | Lodestar

sudo systemctl status beacon-chain validator

Nimbus | Teku

sudo systemctl status beacon-chain

Finally, verify your validator's attestations are working with public block explorer such as

https://beaconcha.in/

Enter your validator's pubkey to view its status.

🧯 7 Update Monitoring with Prometheus and Grafana

Review section 6 and change your prometheus.yml. Ensure prometheus is connected to your new consensus client's metrics port. You will also want to import your new consensus client's dashboard.