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SKALE Docs

Run Sync Node

The Full-Sync Node is an available software implementation of a read-only SKALE Node that can help decrease the load on the core nodes of your chain.

Applications are commonly read-heavy compared to writes, meaning they pull data from the chain more often than push them. For applications that contain many reads, a full-sync node can help increase chain stability and speed by reducing the number of actions the core nodes on the chain must do, leaving them with a more extraordinary ability to handle transactions.

General Steps

Section titled “General Steps”
  • Provision a machine
  • Notify core team of IP/IPs range (x.x.x.x:x.x.x.x) and SKALE Chain for full-sync.
  • Complete Full Sync setup

Node Machine Requirements

Section titled “Node Machine Requirements”
  • A Linux x86_64 machine
  • Ubuntu 22.04
  • 8 vCPUs
  • 16GB RAM
  • 100GB root storage
  • 256GB attached storage for MEDIUM chain
  • 2TB attached storage for LARGE chain

Node Network Requirements

Section titled “Node Network Requirements”
  • Ports 80, 443, 3009, and 10000–18192, and ICMP IPv4 shouldn’t be closed by external firewall

Node Software Prerequisites

Section titled “Node Software Prerequisites”
  • 16GB Swap
  • docker
  • docker-compose → 1.27.4
  • iptables-persistent, btrfs-progs, lsof, lvm2, psmisc, and apt packages

From Fresh Machine

Section titled “From Fresh Machine”
Terminal window
sudo apt-get update


# Install Docker and Docker-compose
sudo apt-get install docker.io
sudo curl -L "https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/download/1.27.4/docker-compose-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m)" -o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose


# Install other dependencies
sudo apt install iptables-persistent btrfs-progs lsof lvm2 psmisc


# Setup Swapfile
sudo fallocate -l 16G /swapfile
sudo chmod 600 /swapfile
sudo mkswap /swapfile
sudo swapon /swapfile
sudo cp /etc/fstab /etc/fstab.bak
echo '/swapfile none swap sw 0 0' | sudo tee -a /etc/fstab

Installation

Section titled “Installation”
  1. Download sync-node-cli tool
    Section titled “Download sync-node-cli tool”
    Terminal window
    VERSION_NUM=2.6.2 && sudo -E bash -c "curl -L https://github.com/skalenetwork/node-cli/releases/download/$VERSION_NUM/skale-$VERSION_NUM-`uname -s`-`uname -m`-sync >  /usr/local/bin/skale"
  2. Apply executable permissions to the downloaded binary:
    Section titled “Apply executable permissions to the downloaded binary:”
    Terminal window
    chmod +x /usr/local/bin/skale
  3. Test the installation
    Section titled “Test the installation”
    Terminal window
    skale --help
  4. Prepare .env file:
    Section titled “Prepare .env file:”
    CONTAINER_CONFIGS_STREAM="4.0.1"
    ENFORCE_BTRFS=True/False
    ENDPOINT=[[By Validator], YOUR GETH/INFURA ENDPOINT]
    MANAGER_CONTRACTS_ABI_URL="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/skalenetwork/skale-network/refs/heads/master/releases/mainnet/skale-manager/1.12.0/skale-manager-1.12.0-mainnet-abi.json"
    IMA_CONTRACTS_ABI_URL="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/skalenetwork/skale-network/refs/heads/master/releases/mainnet/IMA/2.2.0/mainnet/abi.json"
    DISK_MOUNTPOINT=[[By Validator], your attached storage /dev/sda or /dev/xvdd (this is an example. You just need to use your 2TB block device)]
    DOCKER_LVMPY_STREAM="1.0.2-stable.0"
    ENV_TYPE="mainnet"
    

    SCHAIN_NAME=[[By Validator], SCHAIN NAME FOR YOUR SYNC NODE]
  5. Init sync node:
    Section titled “Init sync node:”
    Terminal window
    skale sync-node init [ENV_FILE_PATH]
  6. Wait until your sync node will be inited
    Section titled “Wait until your sync node will be inited”
  7. After the node is successfully inited, wait until skaled will download the snapshot and starts catchup blocks (usually 15–30 minutes)
    Section titled “After the node is successfully inited, wait until skaled will download the snapshot and starts catchup blocks (usually 15–30 minutes)”

Setup SSL certs

Section titled “Setup SSL certs”

Node SSL certificates support secure communication with sChain endpoints. By default, each node of a SKALE Chain listens on HTTP and WS ports. If SSL certs exist on the node, then HTTPS and WSS ports are also turned on.

To upload SSL certs to the node run:

Terminal window
skale ssl upload -c $PATH_TO_CERT_FILE -k $PATH_TO_KEY_FILE

To check the status of your certs run:

Terminal window
skale ssl status

Once certs are uploaded, HTTPS/WSS endpoints should become available for your chain.

Full sync node update

Section titled “Full sync node update”

Update full sync SKALE node on current machine

Terminal window
skale sync-node update [ENV_FILEPATH]

Options:

  • --yes - update without additional confirmation

Arguments:

  • ENV_FILEPATH - path to env file where parameters are defined

[NOTE] You can just update a file with environment variables used during skale sync-node init.

Maintenance

Section titled “Maintenance”

Maintenance commands are not available for a sync node.