Subnet Node Bootstrap Script

You can bootstrap a subnet node either using the DO Snapshot (which includes the synced blockchain state), or from scratch on a fresh Ubuntu VPS using the installer script.

Connection details

Connect to the subnet using Metamask:

Network name: B Devnet
RPC Url: https://rpc.connectednft.art:9650/ext/bc/2NXVLcGbemMjwyexwigxCoqn7UJ6DdeJdWNPxcWX4Y2eDem1aW/rpc
Chain ID: 133
Currency symbol: XP

Quickstart: Bootstrap node with DO Snapshot

Syncing a node fully can take some time, so we can use a partly bootstrapped node:

• Go to DigitalOcean -> Images -> Snapshot
• Click the three-dot-menu on the most recent synced-node snapshot
• Verify that the snapshot is available for the region you want to deploy your VPS to
• Select "Create droplet" and spin up a VPS using the snapshot
• Update the public-ip property in /home/node/.avalanchego/configs/node.json, or remove it to auto detect it (not advised)
• Restart node: sudo systemctl restart avalanchego

If this node is supposed to become a validator, proceed with the steps for Add node as subnet validator below

• To "import" an existing validator (e.g. when moving instances), you'll have to copy over the contents in ~/.avalanchego/staking/* and restart the the node:

sudo systemctl stop avalanchego
# this will delete the current node's existing "identity" - thread carefully!
rm /home/node/.avalanchego/staking/*
# this copies the files over from another node:
scp -r root@IP_OF_VPS_TO_COPY_FROM:/home/node/.avalanchego/staking/ /home/node/.avalanchego/
sudo systemctl start avalanchego

If you want it to be a RPC node instead, open /home/node/.avalanchego/configs/node.json and add "http-host": "" to the config file, or run ./enable_rpc.sh (not both!)

From scratch: Bootstrap node with script

This downloads the AvalancheGo node client, Avalanche CLI, and adds all necessary config for our Dev Subnet for Ubuntu/Debian based VPS.

Add new user

The client shouldn't run as a root user. Add a new user like this, and remove it from the sudo'ers list when you're finished:

sudo adduser node
sudo adduser node sudo
su -l node

Run installer script

Have your VPS' static IP handy. If you're bootstrapping a validator, keep RPC disabled. Run without root privileges.

git clone https://github.com/xtools-at/subnet-bootstrap.git
cd subnet-bootstrap
sh install.sh

It will take approximately 3-4 hours (!) for the node to be fully synced, if you're in a hurry use the Snapshot based install described above instead.

Starting/Stopping the node

(run as root)

sudo systemctl start avalanchego
sudo systemctl stop avalanchego
sudo systemctl restart avalanchego
sudo systemctl status avalanchego

Add node as subnet validator

Your node is already configured to join the subnet, we just need to allow it to do so as a validator. For this, the node first have to become a Avalanche validator, and it needs explicit approval to become a subnet validator after that.

Avalanche validator

• Have Avalanche-CLI ready and installed on your local machine
• Wait for your node to be fully bootstrapped and in sync with the network
• Add the node as an Avalanche validator like described here. You'll need to stake 1 AVAX on testnet, and supply your node's NodeID, which you can e.g. get by running ./node_id.sh, extract from head -n 5 ~/.avalanchego/logs/main.log, or copy from the setup output.
  • This may take up to 30min to apply, if the steps below fail you'll have to wait a bit longer.

Subnet validator

On your local machine

• Have the private key handy you've used to create your subnet with Avalanche CLI. You should not run this on a VPS. Some useful commands:

# create new random key - for reference
avalanche key create myKeyName

# import key from file
avalanche key create myKeyName --file /tmp/test.pk

# show private key, e.g. to use with Avalanche wallet
avalanche key export myKeyName

• Give the node permission to become validator on your subnet ("XP" in our example). You'll need your node's NodeID:

avalanche subnet addValidator XP

Node updates

Prep

Switch to the node user

sudo adduser node sudo
su -l node

Update avalanchego

To update to latest stable version:

./avalanchego-installer.sh

To update to a specific version, use the release's tag (see repo), e.g.:

./avalanchego-installer.sh --version v1.10.0-fuji

This automatically stops and restarts the node, stop it again afterwards using

sudo systemctl stop avalanchego

Upgrade Subnet EVM

Using Avalanche CLI:

avalanche subnet upgrade vm XP --fuji

1. Select "Update to latest version"

• (or "...specific version" and specify the release's tag, e.g. "v0.5.0-fuji" - see repo)

2. Select "Automatic"

You can also specify the version like this:

avalanche subnet upgrade vm XP --fuji --version v0.5.0-fuji-1

Finishing touches

Switch back to root and restart the node when you're done

exit
sudo deluser node sudo
sudo systemctl start avalanchego

Misc

• Don't forget to remove your user from the sudo'ers list when you're done: sudo deluser node sudo
• You can find all log files here: ls -la ~/.avalanchego/logs/
• To back up your validator/nodeID, copy the contents of ~/.avalanchego/staking/
• To update your node to the latest version, simply run ~/avalanchego-installer.sh again

VPS Node IDs:

• validator1: NodeID-Ffr1YgeWw3h2Ct9dY7V3u79ScrAbhSUUz (20)
• validator2: NodeID-7NenT29nACMVLj8K685mBLodfp6GehVy7 (20)
• validator3: NodeID-PA9LANCKQbk9Un8Wv4SbBXoDCW4bP9yLk (50)
• validator4: NodeID-PqZJgjNLDbeqmSg7hMWU8R1a5HCEjbBP9 (50)
• validator5: NodeID-APhFyzYExri3n5GtDz7ytXCgbt8x5NAud (100)
• rpc1: NodeID-F2M4P5DrPt8SA2WEV49zeH9PFTmLuqdnX