[Node] Run your BERACHAIN node
Berachain is a high-performance EVM-compatible blockchain built on Proof-of-Liquidity consensus. Proof-of-Liquidity is a novel consensus mechanism that aims to align network incentives, creating a strong synergy between Berachain validators and the ecosystem of projects. Berachain’s technology is built on Polaris, a high-performance blockchain framework for building EVM-compatible chains on top of the CometBFT consensus engine. You can find additional info here.
Berachain is currently in the testnet phase. Bera Node is a fork of Polaris with added upgrades. This guide allows you to set up a node locally until the proper genesis file becomes publicly available. Feel free to join our Discord for future updates.
I) VPS configuration
To run a node you’ll need a VPS (Virtual Private Server) and one of the most reliable and cheapest solutions is Contabo. It’s a cost-effective German VPS solution built in 2003, known for its robust performance and reliability, catering to a wide range of computing needs and budgets.
A Berachain node requires the following minimum prerequisites :
OS: linux
CPU Architecture: amd64 or arm64
CPU: 4 cores
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 500GBYou can thus choose the CLOUD VPS 2 by clicking here. Note that you can opt for a more powerful server (VPS 3 or 4) to run multiple different nodes on it more economically.
Once payment is complete, you’ll receive an e-mail with your IP address entitled “Your login data!”. To connect to your VPS and securely run your node, you must download and install the Putty software, which enables a secure connection.
II) Node deployment
Ensure you copy each command line using (Ctrl+C), and then paste it into your terminal by right-clicking your mouse. Execute them sequentially, pressing Enter after each, if required.
Start by refreshing the local package index with the latest changes made in the repositories.
apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade -yInstall the Git, Make, Screen, and JQ packages.
apt-get install git make screen jq -yDownload the Go programming language version 1.21.4 binary for Linux on AMD64 architectures.
wget https://golang.org/dl/go1.21.4.linux-amd64.tar.gzUnpacks the Go 1.21.4 binary archive into the /usr/local directory.
tar -C /usr/local -xzf go1.21.4.linux-amd64.tar.gzAdds the Go binary directory to your system’s PATH environment variable, making Go commands globally accessible.
export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/go/binDisplays the current version of Go installed on your system, to make sure it’s properly installed.
go versionDownload and execute a script from Foundry Paradigm.
curl -L https://foundry.paradigm.xyz | bashReloads the .bashrc configuration file for the root user's shell session, applying any changes made to the file.
source /root/.bashrcInstall Foundry to the latest version.
foundryupChange the current directory to your home directory.
cd $HOMECreates a local copy of the Polaris repository from BeraChain’s GitHub.
git clone https://github.com/berachain/polarisChanges the current directory to the ‘polaris’ directory.
cd polarisSwitch the current directory to the ‘main’ branch in Git repository.
git checkout mainExecutes the start target defined in Makefile of the current directory, to launch the node.
make startAfter starting, your terminal will display newly generated wallets associated with your node, and your node ID. Don’t forget to save them !!! You can then stop your node by typing CTRL+C and launching a screen session with:
screen -S beraThen relaunch your node and do not forget to answer nwhen they ask if you want to generate a new wallet.
make start
Congratulations, you’ve just deployed your first node on the Berachain! Simply press CTRL+A+D to detach from the screen session; your node will keep running.
You can now monitor your node by typing:
screen -r beraFeel free to follow us on Twitter to stay updated on everything related to nodes and join our Discord for further discussion or any questions with our community!
