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Quick Start Guide

This guide will help you set up a BBAChain validator and get connected to a cluster for the first time.

Prerequisites​

Before you begin, ensure you have:

  • Reviewed the System Requirements
  • A server with the required hardware
  • Sufficient BBA tokens for staking and fees
  • Basic knowledge of Linux command line

Step 1: Configure Your Server​

Follow the Configuration Guide to:

  • Set up SSH access
  • Create a dedicated user account
  • Configure disk storage
  • Set up system services

Step 2: Build from Source​

Build and install the BBAChain validator software:

  1. Follow the Build from Source guide
  2. Verify the installation:
bbachain-validator --version
bbachain --version
bbachain-keygen --version

Step 3: Generate Keypairs​

Generate the required keypairs for your validator:

  1. Follow the Keypairs Guide
  2. Generate:
    • Identity keypair
    • Vote account keypair
    • Withdrawer keypair

Step 4: Configure Your Validator​

Create a validator configuration file:

mkdir -p ~/bbachain/validator-config
cd ~/bbachain/validator-config

Create validator-config.toml:

[identity]
keypair = "/path/to/identity-keypair.json"

[vote_account]
keypair = "/path/to/vote-keypair.json"

[withdrawer]
keypair = "/path/to/withdrawer-keypair.json"

[entrypoint]
url = "https://api-mainnet.bbachain.com:8899"

[ledger]
dir = "/path/to/ledger"

[rpc]
bind_address = "0.0.0.0:8899"

Step 5: Start Your Validator​

Start the validator:

bbachain-validator \
  --identity /path/to/identity-keypair.json \
  --vote-account /path/to/vote-keypair.json \
  --entrypoint https://api-mainnet.bbachain.com:8899 \
  --ledger /path/to/ledger \
  --rpc-bind-address 0.0.0.0:8899

Step 6: Verify Connection​

Check that your validator is connected:

bbachain cluster-version
bbachain get-slot

Step 7: Monitor Your Validator​

Monitor your validator's status:

bbachain validator-info get <your-validator-pubkey>

Next Steps​

  • Set up monitoring and alerts
  • Configure automatic restarts
  • Join a validator pool
  • Delegate stake to your validator

Troubleshooting​

Validator Not Starting​

  • Check logs for errors
  • Verify keypairs are correct
  • Ensure sufficient disk space
  • Check network connectivity

Not Connected to Cluster​

  • Verify entrypoint URL is correct
  • Check firewall settings
  • Ensure network connectivity
  • Review validator logs

Low Stake​

  • Delegate more BBA to your validator
  • Join a validator pool
  • Improve validator performance

Additional Resources​