Set up Validator Nodes

Learn how to deploy validator nodes for your L1 using managed infrastructure or self-hosted Docker deployments.

Now that the P-Chain records are set up, you can start syncing the node with your Subnet.

Run Your L1 Node

Use our free managed testnet infrastructure to instantly deploy a node for your L1, no need for Docker or Cloud Provider account set up with credits. Enjoy the benefits of:

Instant deployment with one click
Automatic configuration for your Subnet
Free for testnet development
Monitor and manage through the Builder Console

Builder Console

Hosted L1 Testnet Nodes

We recommend using cloud-hosted Avalanche nodes with open ports for testing, as running a node locally can be challenging and may introduce security risks when configuring the required ports. To simplify the process, the Avalanche Builder Hub provides free access to hosted testnet nodes, allowing developers to quickly experiment without managing their own infrastructure. This service is completely free to use, but you'll need to create an Avalanche Builder Account to get started.

Testnet Only Feature

Builder Hub Nodes are only available on testnet. Switch to Fuji testnet to create and manage nodes for your L1s.

Managed nodes automatically shut down after 3 days. For production or extended testing, see the self-hosted option below.

Optional: Self-Hosted Infrastructure

If you want to test out your production environment, running beyond 3 days, or anything more complex; you should run nodes on your own infrastructure using Docker:

Builder Console

L1 Node Setup with Docker

This will start a Docker container running an RPC or validator node that tracks your L1.

Set up Instance

Set up a linux server with any cloud provider, like AWS, GCP, Azure, or Digital Ocean. Low specs (e.g. 2 vCPUs, 4GB RAM, 20GB storage) are sufficient for basic tests. For more extensive test and production L1s use a larger instance with appropriate resources (e.g. 8 vCPUs, 16GB RAM, 1 TB storage).

If you do not have access to a server, you can also run a node for educational purposes locally. Simply select the "RPC Node (Local)" option in the next step.

Docker Installation

Make sure you have Docker installed on your system. You can use the following commands to install it:

# Install Docker using convenience script
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh
sudo sh get-docker.sh
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
newgrp docker
 
# Test installation
docker run -it --rm hello-world

If you do not want to use Docker, you can follow the instructions here.

Select L1

Enter the Avalanche Subnet ID of the L1 you want to run a node for.

Subnet ID