Add Nimbus validator

One-page interactive guide to install Nimbus client and configurate it for running on supported chain.

Disclaimer

This guide is for informational purposes only. The author nor website owner does not guarantee accuracy of the information in this guide and is not responsible for any damages or losses incurred by following the guide.

Nimbus client can be used for staking on various supported chains. Client installation is always only one, used by services with an individual configuration (different service name, data path and ports in use).

Launch validator instance / validator(s)

  1. Do you want to create a new validation instance or extend exisiting instance for more validators?

    • Create a directory for validator instance data

      sudo mkdir -p /var/lib/nimbus/vi1

    • Load keystores to /var/lib/nimbus/vi1

      : 
      sudo /usr/local/bin/nimbus-validator import data-dir=/var/lib/nimbus/vi1 $HOME/keystores/ddk_i1

      NOTE: If you have used different passwords for each of your validators you will get an error. Run the process multiple times, providing each of the different passwords until they are all imported. Use the accounts list command to verify.

    • Create a service user for the validator instance

      sudo useradd --system --no-create-home --shell /bin/false nimbus-vi1

    • Set ownership of /var/lib/nimbus/vi1 to validators-i1 user

      sudo chown -R nimbus-vi1:nimbus-vi1 /var/lib/nimbus/vi1

    • Create configuration service file for nimbus-vi1 service

      1. Open the configuration file

        sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/nimbus-vi1.service

      2. Copy the configuration below into the file.

        [Unit]
Description=Nimbus Validator Instance (Ethereum Mainnet)
Wants=network-online.target
After=network-online.target
[Service]
User=teku-vi1
Group=teku-vi1
Type=simple
Restart=always
RestartSec=5
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/nimbus/nimbus_validator_client \
  --network=mainnet \
  --data-dir=/var/lib/nimbus/vi1 \
  --beacon-node=http://127.0.0.1:5052 \
  --suggested-fee-recipient=0xXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX \
  --graffiti="Nethermind+Nimbus"
  # --payload-builder=true --payload-builder-url=https://${HOST}:${PORT}/
 
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

        See more flags at https://nimbus.guide/options.html

        [Unit]
Description=Nimbus Validator Instance (Gnosis Network)
Wants=network-online.target
After=network-online.target
[Service]
User=nimbus-vi1
Group=nimbus-vi1
Type=simple
Restart=always
RestartSec=5
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/nimbus/nimbus_validator_client \
  --network=gnosis \
  --data-dir=/var/lib/nimbus/vi1 \
  --beacon-node=http://127.0.0.1:5052 \
  --suggested-fee-recipient=0xXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX \
  --graffiti="Nethermind+Nimbus"
  
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

        See more flags at https://nimbus.guide/options.html

      3. Press CTRL + X then Y then ENTER to save and exit the config file.

    • Other configurations

      Nothing to do. You are ok.

      • Extend Staking manager clients.conf

        Insert nimbus-vi1 into clients.conf file that is used by Staking Manager. 
        sudo nano /usr/local/etc/staking/config/clients.conf

    • Stop running validator instance nimbus-vi1

      sudo systemctl stop nimbus-vi1

    • Extend /var/lib/nimbus/vi1 for new keystores

      sudo /usr/local/bin/nimbus-validator import data-dir=/var/lib/nimbus/vi1 $HOME/keystores/ddk_i1

      NOTE: If you have used different passwords for each of your validators you will get an error. Run the process multiple times, providing each of the different passwords until they are all imported. Use the accounts list command to verify.

  2. Load processed changes to the system

    sudo systemctl daemon-reload

  3. Start the validator instance

    sudo systemctl start nimbus-vi1

  4. Check the running validator instance

    systemctl status nimbus-vi1
    journalctl -fu nimbus-vi1

  5. Activate service to start automatically on OS startup

    $ sudo systemctl enable nimbus-vi1