You can choose to build from source. If you opt to do this, please ensure that the correct software version (tag) is used. You will also need to obtain the 4 system wasm contracts which are distributed with the debian package. Wasm compilation is non-deterministic, so for those building from source, the wasm system contracts will need to use pre-built wasm files. Otherwise the genesis hash will be different for the system and it will experience protocol level faults.
The recommended way is to obtain released packages using debian installers. Installing the debian package will automatically configure the system into a working state if a config.toml does not exist yet. If keys are generated in ‘/etc/casper/validator_keys/’, the system can be started with no manual configuration.
If you have installed a version of the node before, plese uninstall the older version. Please also clear out any old state. There is a script delete_local_db.sh in /casper-node which removes local state in /var/lib/casper/casper-node.
delete_local_db.sh
/casper-node
/var/lib/casper/casper-node
If you have run prior versions, you may have local state in /root/.local/share/casper-node which should be deleted.
/root/.local/share/casper-node
Depending on your system, you may need to use either dpkg or apt
dpkg
apt
Client installation:
wget --content-disposition https://bintray.com/casperlabs/debian/download_file?file_path=casper-client_1.6.0-2465_amd64.deb sudo apt install ./casper-client_1.6.0-2465_amd64.deb
and Node Installation
wget --content-disposition https://bintray.com/casperlabs/debian/download_file?file_path=casper-node_1.6.0-2465_amd64.deb sudo apt install ./casper-node_1.6.0-2465_amd64.deb
This package will install the casper-node executable in /usr/bin.
casper-node
/usr/bin
Configuration files and other needed files are installed in /etc/casper/. An example config file is given as /etc/casper/config-example.toml. This is automatically modified for your system in config.toml. If config.toml exists from a previous install, the file we be created as config.toml.new and you need to manually create an appropriate config.toml from this if changes are needed.
/etc/casper/
/etc/casper/config-example.toml
config.toml
config.toml.new
The accounts.csv and chainspec.toml files will be downloaded into /etc/casper with the deb package install. If genesis files need to be pulled down again, run sudo -u casper /etc/casper/pull_genesis.sh.
accounts.csv
chainspec.toml
/etc/casper
sudo -u casper /etc/casper/pull_genesis.sh
A casper user and casper group is created during install and used to run the software.
casper
To install the casper-client, use sudo apt install casper-client_1.6.0-2465_amd64.deb
sudo apt install casper-client_1.6.0-2465_amd64.deb
The Rust client generates keys via the keygen command. The process generates 2 pem files and 1 text file. To learn about options for generating keys, include --help when running the keygen command.
keygen
--help
casper-client keygen <PATH_FOR_NEW_KEYS>
Once you have the node system installed, you have to create the configuration for the node software to run. Each node should be configured separately. The software provides an example configuration file that can be used as a template. Create /etc/casper/config.toml from /etc/casper/config-example.toml If you installed the node system from the provided debian package, a valid /etc/casper/config.toml is automatically generated during the installation. If /etc/casper/config.toml already exists, the file is saved as /etc/casper/config.toml.new. The following sections describe portions of the node config.toml and how to complete these sections.
/etc/casper/config.toml
/etc/casper/config.toml.new
The Casper node creates the genesis block locally on the system by consuming 2 files. chainspec.toml and accounts.csv. The chainspec.toml file sets up a series of configuration options for the blockchain, and the accounts.csv lists the starting balances for the network. Depending on which network the node is joining, a different set of source files will be needed. The files have to match exactly (have the same checksums) in order for the nodes to connect (have the same Genesis block)
This is done automatically during installation of the debian package. However, if you need to update these files, they are run using the casper user with a script in /etc/casper.
This script will pull the latest files for the chainspec from the release branch and verify their md5 checksums.
The Casper network is a permissionless, proof of stake network - which implies that validators can come and go from the network. The implication is that, after a point in time, historical data could have less security if it is retrieved from ‘any node’ on the network. Therefore, the process for joining the network has to be from a trusted source, a bonded validator. The system will start from the hash from a recent block and then work backwards from that block to obtain the deploys and finalized blocks from the linear block store. Here is the process to get the trusted hash:
Find a list of trusted validators.
Query the status endpoint of a trusted validator
Obtain the hash of a block from the status endpoint.
Update the config.toml for the node to include the trusted hash. There is a field dedicated to this in the file.
Ensure that your storage directory is clear. For the time being, the system requires an empty starting state in order to synchronize.
Configure whether you want text or JSON
Provide the path to the secret keys for the node.
The node requires a publicly accessible IP address. We do not recommend NAT at this time. Specify the public IP address of the node. Default values are specified in the file, if you want to change them:
Specify the port that will be used for status & deploys
Specify the port used for networking
Known_addresses - these are the bootstrap nodes. No need to change these.
Save your changes to the file.