Validator Deployment

Validator nodes are the backbone of the OpenGPU blockchain network. This guide walks through running a validator node on the OpenGPU mainnet.

Hardware Requirements

Spec
Minimum

CPU

4 vCPUs

RAM

32 GB

Storage

1 TB NVMe SSD (preferably local)

Internet

1 Gbps symmetric connection

OS

Ubuntu 22.04 or newer LTS (64-bit)

Network Port

Default TCP/UDP 5050 (customizable via --port flag)

Setup Steps

1. Launch Server Instance

Deploy on a cloud provider or bare metal server.

2. Install Development Tools

Install essential packages and Go (v1.22+):

sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y build-essential
wget https://go.dev/dl/go1.23.4.linux-amd64.tar.gz
sudo tar -xzf go1.23.4.linux-amd64.tar.gz -C /usr/local/
echo "export GOROOT=/usr/local/go" >> ~/.profile
echo "export GOPATH=$HOME/go" >> ~/.profile
echo "export PATH=$PATH:$GOROOT/bin:$GOPATH/bin" >> ~/.profile
source ~/.profile

3. Download OpenGPU Node Software

4. Initialize Validator Database

5. Synchronize With Network

Block "age" should reach only seconds once fully synced.

6. Create Validator Wallet

Keep your keys secure and backed up!

7. Generate Signing Key

Save the public key (starts with 0x...). You'll need it to register your validator.

8. Register Your Validator

Use a Web3-enabled wallet (MetaMask) to interact with the staking contract at 0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000018. Submit the createValidator transaction with your staking amount and public key.

9. Start Validator Node

Monitoring & Maintenance

  • Node downtime stops rewards immediately

  • Extended downtime exceeding 3 days may result in validator removal

  • Regular monitoring, backups, and log reviews are essential

Community Resources

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