Validating Overview
This document will guide you through the core concepts and the procedure of becoming a validator on the Aleph Zero network.
To expedite your journey of becoming a Testnet validator, we've created a series of tutorial videos to get your node up and running in no time.
Node roles
In the Aleph network, a node can have one of the two roles:
an archivist, who only stores the blocks and can respond to queries about the network state
a validator, who actively participates in the consensus and is tasked with producing new blocks. Validators can be staked upon and receive rewards for their efforts.
Networks
There are two networks, each with a different purpose:
Aleph Zero Mainnet: as the name suggests, this is the main network where the actual AZERO token is involved.
Aleph Zero Testnet: the protocol and mechanisms are the same as on the Mainnet but the token is TZERO, which is available from the faucet, so users can freely experiment and test their setups.
Steps you need to take
We recommend setting up a Testnet node before you start running on Mainnet to make sure you're familiar with the process and your hardware and setup are ok.
To become a validator on the Testnet, you'll need to follow these guides:
Getting and running Aleph Node on your machine
Making the node validate
Setting your on-chain identity
Securing your validator
Once you're ready to become a validator on the Mainnet, you will need to:
Run another instance of Aleph Node (with slight configuration changes for Mainnet)
Bond the minimum required amount and repeat step 1.2 for your Mainnet validator.
If you want to keep track of your validator, you can set up a Telegram bot. This bot will help you stay updated in case block production is hindered and more. See the page for more details.
The next chapter contains the hardware requirements for running a node on your own machine or in the cloud.
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