How to launch POA Core/Sokol validator node with Docker Compose and OpenEthereum

1. Install Docker Engine and Docker Compose following the original instructions https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/ and https://docs.docker.com/compose/install/

2. Clone this repo:

   $ git clone https://github.com/poanetwork/validator-node-dockerized
   $ cd validator-node-dockerized

3. If you are POA Core validator, change the following lines in the docker-compose.yml:

   • --chain=poasokol to --chain=poacore
   • - ./key:/root/data/keys/poasokol/key to - ./key:/root/data/keys/poacore/key
   • WS_SERVER: "https://sokol-netstat.poa.network/api" to WS_SERVER: "https://core-netstat.poa.network/api"

4. To be a validator, you need to have a mining address and a private key for it. Name your JSON keystore file as key and put it to the validator-node-dockerized directory. Put keystore's password to password file.

5. Copy .env.example to .env and configure the .env file. There are a few settings you need to define:

   ETHSTATS_ID=[validator_name]
   ETHSTATS_CONTACT=[contact_email]
   ETHSTATS_SECRET=[netstat_secret_key]
   EXT_IP=[server_external_ip]
   ACCOUNT=[0x_your_mining_address]
   

   • ETHSTATS_ID - The displayed name of your validator in Sokol Netstats or Core Netstats.
   • ETHSTATS_CONTACT - Validator's contact (e.g., e-mail).
   • ETHSTATS_SECRET - Secret key to connect to Netstat (should be provided by POA team, please, request it).
   • EXT_IP - External IP of the current server.
   • ACCOUNT - Your mining address (with leading 0x).

6. Start your node and Netstat service.

   $ docker-compose up -d

After docker containers are created, the node will sync with the chain (may take a while).

To restart you need to use docker-compose stop and docker-compose start being in the validator-node-dockerized directory.