# How to run a Node on Starknet for $STARK 

By [Sinatech](https://paragraph.com/@sinatech) · 2023-11-03

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Welcome to this guide on running a Node on Starknet mainnet using a VPS! Before we delve into the technicalities, let's clarify what Starknet is and why we're interested in running a node on it.

### **What is Starknet?**

StarkNet is a permissionless decentralized zk (zero-knowledge) rollup that offers scalable solutions for users within a secure Ethereum-like state. It fundamentally operates as an L2 (layer-2) network over the Ethereum blockchain and allows any DApp (decentralized application) to achieve unlimited scale for its computation without compromising security and composability.

### **Why would you want to run a node on Starknet?**

Well, running a node on the Starknet mainnet comes with several benefits. Firstly, as a node operator, you actively contribute to the network's decentralization and security. Your node helps validate transactions, maintain consensus, and propagate information across the network, thereby strengthening the overall infrastructure.

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/95ff97577dc31dfe9e73fa30585118892f809fb3e0f80a1bd9906ada6290afbc.png)

Secondly, running a Starknet node can also qualify you for the potential $STARK airdrop. Depending on the network's governance model, node operators may be rewarded with a $STARK airdrop for their contributions. This allows you to potentially earn passive income by simply operating a node and supporting the Starknet ecosystem. However, there is no official confirmation on it, which means it’s purely speculative at the moment.

* * *

Now that we understand the significance of Starknet and the motivations behind running a node, let's dive into the practical aspects of setting up a node on the Starknet mainnet using a Virtual Private Server (VPS).

To run a node, we can divide the whole process into 2 parts:

1.  Buy a VPS
    
2.  Run Node
    

* * *

### **1\. Buy a VPS:**

You can buy a VPS server from any service provider. But in this tutorial, we are using, PQ Hosting.

*   First, create an account: [Here](https://pq.hosting/?from=562097)
    
*   Once registered, go to “Products/Services” > “Virtual private servers”
    
*   Now click on “Order” 👇🏻
    
*     
    

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/dd34899efe2ce8ef65e9f3aa4f9e55b99600f6fd1b9879655def4a50605cb23f.png)

*   Now select any country.
    
*   Due to higher demand, some countries may take several hours to days to activate. If you face this issue, contact the support team, and they will help you out.
    
*   Select “Palladium, vCore x4, 8 GB RAM ECC, 80 GB SSD NVME” 👇🏻
    
*     
    

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/f130c1ad28faab37ab70af39992441605a1f49e6afd2ea10fcadff3705e2a0da.png)

*   Select “Ubuntu 22.04” as the operating system and click on “Add to cart” 👇🏻
    
*     
    

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/9e5ad621277abc1932dc4f7cade13266aadbb790c808d7e02cc92c713d271370.png)

*   Finally, make the payment. You can pay using different options which include crypto as well 👇🏻
    
*     
    

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/f15c97cea0166d4e1d0c2de2469e349d42179e3a452e97a409fbc53031bf7d08.png)

*   Once you made the payment, go to the “Products/Services” > “Virtual private servers” section.
    
*   There you’ll first see “Activation in progress” 👇🏻
    
*     
    

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/a6d5b592428980c354024e45ef42c0f6be3c964c525dd7b0612133c594f26bf0.png)

*   After 5-10 minutes, it will change to “Active” 👇🏻
    
*     
    

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/0871005aae150e91d36e3f7abe53cc0d7c82d0c6ec099b7cbf8a43c8544912b4.png)

*   If it’s more than an hour or so, and the status is still showing “Activation in progress”, contact support. They will help you out.
    

* * *

*   Once activated, open the server details by double-clicking on the server name 👇🏻
    
*     
    

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/1c0cfabfc18bbf931ecd3407b1a8a8de35797a085d21129d92fee13cd37dc635.png)

*   Now copy the IP Address and Password and save it securely.
    

### **2\. Run Node:**

Now it’s time to run the node. For this, we will use the “PuTTY” software. You can download it here:

[**Download PuTTY - a free SSH and telnet client for Windows**](https://www.putty.org/)

[https://www.putty.org/](https://www.putty.org/)

*   Once downloaded, install and open the software.
    
*   Paste the IP Address of your VPS 👇🏻
    
*     
    

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/0620ac6dd87df2f91c2528d135f163367b5bc9518f9481f579aed1465f113fd4.png)

*   Then go to “Connections” >
    
*   In the field beside Seconds between keepalives, enter 5 >
    
*   Check to Enable TCP Keepalives (SO\_KEEPALIVE option) and click on “Open” 👇🏻
    
*     
    

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/39ab067560436df888a5f83781550ce665cb0732f83375915a88090d104ff6d8.png)

*   Now a new window will open
    
*   Here, login as “root” 👇
    
*     
    

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/b065a1d73d44688ee26abc30714ec197e6dc2d0f0f20cbcb6d4a176fceb9c2fc.png)

*   And paste the password (which you saved from your VPS details)
    
*   Keep in mind, to paste any text within the PuTTY terminal, you just need to right-click and press “Enter” on your keyboard.
    
*   Once you enter the password correctly, you will see a window like this 👇🏻
    
*     
    

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/2dd10606334b38a37728791450ccae95cab18bc388c1dbdb68abc08d8b70df3e.png)

Now go to Alchemy:

[**Alchemy - the web3 development platform**](https://www.alchemy.com/)

[https://www.alchemy.com/](https://www.alchemy.com/)

[https://www.alchemy.com/](https://www.alchemy.com/)

Sign in or Sign up if you don’t have an account already.

And click on “CREATE APP” 👇

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/47b8f629fb63e06fc9c07f891b753afeaf116f776f0d6f448c897a1ab9805e11.png)

Name: Set any random name (does not matter)

Chain: `Ethereum`

Network: `Ethereum Mainnet`

And create the app.

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/69e303c228b48538155fa34459ad46affaf750ed67b70d905f1e496ec9135f2e.png)

Now click on “View Key” 👇

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/f2e5c1af067c09c9cc29e2bea99797d972fa39161a611ec7afe75864b1aa69b4.png)

And copy the HTTPS link 👇

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/51082efe9bfaedef33dc36e224e481f89e4987212d21d6ebd77aa0b9769a876b.png)

Now replace “YOUR\_ALCHEMY\_HTTP\_ADDRESS” with your HTTPS link on the below code 👇

`ALCHEMY=YOUR_ALCHEMY_HTTP_ADDRESSecho 'export ALCHEMY='$ALCHEMY >> $HOME/.bash_profile`

For example:

`ALCHEMY=https://eth-mainnet.g.alchemy.com/v2/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx`

`echo 'export ALCHEMY='$ALCHEMY >> $HOME/.bash_profile`

* * *

Now open PuTTY and paste the above code 👇

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/be655df2383595efbb212d52b4fba8aef5de432cb9c5f3f3cd21df255320c200.png)

Now paste this code and hit enter:

`wget -O starknet.sh https://api.nodes.guru/starknet.sh && chmod +x starknet.sh &&./starknet.sh`

The installation will start and you’ll see a window like this 👇

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/2d19d1485f18505f56247e90e51c4620e7cfc5bc0c264bbcb3b19c433fc27db9.png)

If you see any error like this 👇

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/930c9bf91b16611cf6ba90bb0fce9ce19e2f32aca53861d530e2df83a37aa462.png)

Just put “1” and hit enter.

Expect the entire process to take up to 15-45 minutes or even more to complete.

Once completed, you will see a page like this

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/3edf0920d5401a0d97a4b8faeefcdc83909c1717fe5bcf7f1c59f0c270be1222.png)

If you can see this page, congratulation, you’ve successfully set up a node on Starknet. 🎉

**A few questions you may ask:**

❓ Is it a confirmed airdrop for node runners?

No! There is no official announcement of airdrop to node runners. But this is the beauty of such mega airdrops 😁

❓ How to claim the airdrop as there is no wallet address involved?

There is no announcement yet, but if they do reward the node runners, most likely they will provide a way to connect our VPS with our wallet in future. So we will need to keep the VPS running till the airdrop is announced.

❓ Can we run this node with the same VPS we run for other nodes?

No. Have to set up a brand new VPS.

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*Originally published on [Sinatech](https://paragraph.com/@sinatech/how-to-run-a-node-on-starknet-for-stark)*