Validator Operations

Validator Installation

Full wizard for server readiness, node installation, sync checks, and validator preparation.

Validator Infrastructure Operating System

Validator Installation Wizard

Step-by-step operational path for a Hickory validator node.

deployment runbook

Prepare Server

Update the operating system and inspect basic server resources before installation.

Safe

Paste the output before moving forward if you want the assistant to validate capacity.

Server update and inspection

01sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

03lsb_release -a

04free -h

05df -h

06nproc

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Install Dependencies

Install common build and operations tools used by Cosmos-based validator nodes.

Safe

Dependencies

01sudo apt install curl git jq build-essential make gcc tar wget lz4 -y

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Install Go

Install the Go version required by the official Hickory release instructions.

Requires official version

Go installation placeholder

01# TODO: replace with official Hickory-supported Go version and install method

02go version

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Build Hickory Binary

Use only the official Hickory release URL or source instructions when available.

TODO official URL

Official source placeholder

01# TODO: replace with official Hickory release URL or install script

02# Do not use unofficial binaries.

03hickoryd version

Do not install validator binaries from unofficial links.

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Initialize Node

Initialize the local node configuration with the official chain ID.

Uses official Chain ID

Initialize

01hickoryd init "YOUR_NODE_MONIKER" --chain-id Hickory

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Download Genesis

Download genesis only from official Hickory distribution channels.

TODO official source

Genesis placeholder

01# TODO: replace with official Hickory genesis URL

02# Verify checksum when published.

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Configure Peers

Configure persistent peers from official network documentation or trusted sentries.

Needs official peers

Peer configuration placeholder

01# TODO: insert official persistent_peers values when published

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Start Node

Start hickoryd through systemd and inspect service logs.

Operational

Service inspection

01sudo systemctl status hickoryd

03journalctl -u hickoryd -f

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Check Sync

Confirm whether the node is still catching up or fully synced.

Read-only

catching_up = true means syncing. catching_up = false means synced.

Sync status

01hickoryd status 2>&1 | jq

03curl -s http://localhost:26657/status | jq

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Create Validator

Use a safe template and replace only the moniker and wallet name locally.

Sensitive operation

Create-validator template

01hickoryd tx staking create-validator \

02 --amount 1000000uhic \

03 --pubkey "$(hickoryd tendermint show-validator)" \

04 --moniker "YOUR_VALIDATOR_NAME" \

05 --chain-id Hickory \

06 --commission-rate "0.05" \

07 --commission-max-rate "0.20" \

08 --commission-max-change-rate "0.01" \

09 --min-self-delegation "1" \

10 --fees 2000uhic \

11 --from YOUR_WALLET_NAME

Never share your mnemonic, private key, validator key, or server SSH password.

deployment runbook

Optional Sentry Node

Keep validator RPC private and let sentry nodes handle external P2P traffic.

Security upgrade

Firewall baseline

01sudo ufw allow 22/tcp

02sudo ufw allow 26656/tcp

03sudo ufw allow 26657/tcp

04sudo ufw enable

RPC port 26657 should not be publicly exposed unless intentionally needed.

deployment runbook

Monitoring & Maintenance

Monitor disk, memory, sync, logs, and validator uptime continuously.

Ongoing

Health checks

01df -h

02free -h

03systemctl status hickoryd

04hickoryd status 2>&1 | jq

Server Requirements

An IONOS VPS is acceptable for the early Hickory validator network if it meets the minimum requirements.

Minimum

4 vCPU
8 GB RAM
200 GB SSD/NVMe
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
Static IPv4
100 Mbit/s network

Validator Installation