# Lodestar ## Overview {% hint style="info" %} [Lodestar ](https://lodestar.chainsafe.io)is a Typescript implementation of the official Ethereum specification by the [ChainSafe.io](https://lodestar.chainsafe.io) team. In addition to the beacon chain client, the team is also working on 22 packages and libraries. A complete list can be found [here](https://hackmd.io/CcsWTnvRS_eiLUajr3gi9g). Finally, the Lodestar team is leading in light client research and development and has received funding from the EF and Moloch DAO for this purpose. {% endhint %} #### Official Links | Subject | Links | | ------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Releases | | | Documentation | [https://chainsafe.github.io/lodestar](https://chainsafe.github.io/lodestar/) | | Website | [https://lodestar.chainsafe.io](https://lodestar.chainsafe.io/) | ### 1. Initial configuration Create a service user for the consensus service, create data directory and assign ownership. ```bash sudo adduser --system --no-create-home --group consensus sudo mkdir -p /var/lib/lodestar sudo chown -R consensus:consensus /var/lib/lodestar ``` Install dependencies. ```bash sudo apt-get install gcc g++ make git curl ccze -y ``` ### 2. Install Binaries * Downloading binaries is often faster and more convenient. * Building from source code can offer better compatibility and is more aligned with the spirit of FOSS (free open source software).
Option 1 - Download binaries Run the following to automatically download the latest linux release, un-tar and cleanup. ```bash RELEASE_URL="https://api.github.com/repos/ChainSafe/lodestar/releases/latest" LATEST_TAG="$(curl -s $RELEASE_URL | jq -r ".tag_name")" BINARIES_URL="https://github.com/ChainSafe/lodestar/releases/download/${LATEST_TAG}/lodestar-${LATEST_TAG}-linux-amd64.tar.gz" echo Downloading URL: $BINARIES_URL cd $HOME # Download wget -O lodestar.tar.gz $BINARIES_URL # Untar tar -xzvf lodestar.tar.gz -C $HOME # Cleanup rm lodestar.tar.gz ``` Install the binaries. ```bash sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/bin/lodestar sudo mv $HOME/lodestar /usr/local/bin/lodestar ```
Option 2 - Build from source code Install yarn. ```bash curl -sS https://dl.yarnpkg.com/debian/pubkey.gpg | sudo apt-key add - echo "deb https://dl.yarnpkg.com/debian/ stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/yarn.list sudo apt update sudo apt install yarn -y ``` Confirm yarn is installed properly. ```bash yarn --version # Should output version >= 1.22.19 ``` Install nodejs. ```bash #Download and import the Nodesource GPG key sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install -y ca-certificates curl gnupg sudo mkdir -p /etc/apt/keyrings curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/gpgkey/nodesource-repo.gpg.key | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/nodesource.gpg #Create deb repository NODE_MAJOR=20 echo "deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/nodesource.gpg] https://deb.nodesource.com/node_$NODE_MAJOR.x nodistro main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nodesource.list #Run Update and Install sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install nodejs -y ``` Install and build Lodestar. ```bash mkdir -p ~/git cd ~/git git clone -b stable https://github.com/chainsafe/lodestar.git cd lodestar yarn install yarn run build ``` Verify Lodestar was installed properly by displaying the version. ```bash ./lodestar --version ``` Sample output of a compatible version. ``` 🌟 Lodestar: TypeScript Implementation of the Ethereum Consensus Beacon Chain. * Version: v1.8.0/stable/a4b29cf * by ChainSafe Systems, 2018-2022 ``` Install the binaries. ```bash sudo cp -a $HOME/git/lodestar /usr/local/bin/lodestar ```
### **3. Setup and configure systemd** Create a **systemd unit file** to define your `consensus.service` configuration. ```bash sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/consensus.service ``` Paste the following configuration into the file. ```shell [Unit] Description=Lodestar Consensus Layer Client service for Mainnet Wants=network-online.target After=network-online.target Documentation=https://www.coincashew.com [Service] Type=simple User=consensus Group=consensus Restart=on-failure RestartSec=3 KillSignal=SIGINT TimeoutStopSec=900 WorkingDirectory=/usr/local/bin/lodestar ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/lodestar/lodestar beacon \ --dataDir /var/lib/lodestar \ --network mainnet \ --rest.port 5052 \ --port 9000 \ --targetPeers 100 \ --metrics.port 8008 \ --metrics true \ --checkpointSyncUrl https://beaconstate.info \ --jwt-secret /secrets/jwtsecret \ --execution.urls http://127.0.0.1:8551 \ --suggestedFeeRecipient <0x_CHANGE_THIS_TO_MY_ETH_FEE_RECIPIENT_ADDRESS> [Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target ``` * Replace**`<0x_CHANGE_THIS_TO_MY_ETH_FEE_RECIPIENT_ADDRESS>`** with your own Ethereum address that you control. Tips are sent to this address and are immediately spendable. * **Not staking?** If you only want a full node, delete the whole line beginning with ``` --suggestedFeeRecipient ``` To exit and save, press `Ctrl` + `X`, then `Y`, then `Enter`. Run the following to enable auto-start at boot time. ```bash sudo systemctl daemon-reload sudo systemctl enable consensus ``` Finally, start your consensus layer client and check it's status. ```bash sudo systemctl start consensus sudo systemctl status consensus ``` Press `Ctrl` + `C` to exit the status. ### 4. Helpful consensus client commands {% tabs %} {% tab title="View Logs" %} ```bash sudo journalctl -fu consensus | ccze ``` **Example of Synced Lodestar Consensus Client Logs** ```bash Mar-19 04:09:49.000 info: Synced - slot: 3338 - head: 3355 0x5abb_ac30 - execution: valid(0x1a3c_2ca5) - finalized: 0xfa22_1142:3421 - peers: 25 Mar-19 04:09:52.000 info: Synced - slot: 3339 - head: 3356 0xcd2a_8b32 - execution: valid(0xab34_fa32) - finalized: 0xfa22_1142:3421 - peers: 25 Mar-19 04:09:04.000 info: Synced - slot: 3340 - head: 3357 0xff1a_f12a - execution: valid(0xfaf1_b35f) - finalized: 0xfa22_1142:3421 - peers: 25 ``` {% endtab %} {% tab title="Stop" %} ```bash sudo systemctl stop consensus ``` {% endtab %} {% tab title="Start" %} ```bash sudo systemctl start consensus ``` {% endtab %} {% tab title="View Status" %} ```bash sudo systemctl status consensus ``` {% endtab %} {% tab title="Reset Database" %} Common reasons to reset the database can include: * To reduce disk space usage * To recover from a corrupted database due to power outage or hardware failure * To upgrade to a new storage format ```bash sudo systemctl stop consensus sudo rm -rf /var/lib/lodestar/chain-db sudo systemctl restart consensus ``` With checkpoint sync enabled, time to re-sync the consensus client should take only a minute or two. {% endtab %} {% endtabs %} Now that your consensus client is configured and started, you have a full node. Proceed to the next step on setting up your validator client, which turns a full node into a staking node. {% hint style="info" %} If you wanted to setup a full node, not a staking node, stop here! Congrats on running your own full node! :tada: {% endhint %} --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://www.coincashew.com/coins/overview-eth/guide-or-how-to-setup-a-validator-on-eth2-mainnet/part-i-installation/step-4-installing-consensus-client/lodestar.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.