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Connect to a Node

Before you connect, find a node and check it.

1. Find a node​

These commands read the chain and don't need --instance:

sentinel-dvpn node search --help
sentinel-dvpn node show <NODE_ADDRESS>

Check a node's signed metadata and health before you pay it:

sentinel-dvpn node inspect <NODE_ADDRESS>

inspect verifies the node's signed metadata and checks its health over a pinned connection.

2. Start a session​

Choose the route that matches how you pay. See Ways to pay on the overview page. client commands go through your client daemon, so they need --instance c0. --node is required, and you must pick one of --new-channel, --channel, --ticket, or --ticket-hash.

New channel, paid by voucher:

sentinel-dvpn client start \
  --instance c0 \
  --node <NODE_ADDRESS> \
  --new-channel \
  --mode voucher \
  --escrow-base-units <BASE_UNITS>

Existing channel:

sentinel-dvpn client start --instance c0 --node <NODE_ADDRESS> --channel <CHANNEL_ADDRESS>

Provider ticket:

sentinel-dvpn client start \
  --instance c0 \
  --node <NODE_ADDRESS> \
  --provider <PROVIDER_ADDRESS> \
  --subscription <SUBSCRIPTION_ADDRESS> \
  --ticket

Use --mode stream for pay-as-you-go streaming instead of vouchers.

3. Check and stop the session​

sentinel-dvpn client sessions --instance c0
sentinel-dvpn client status <SESSION_ID> --instance c0
sentinel-dvpn client watch <SESSION_ID> --instance c0
sentinel-dvpn client stop <SESSION_ID> --instance c0

client watch streams updates until you stop it. To list your channels and the tickets the daemon holds:

sentinel-dvpn client channels --instance c0
sentinel-dvpn client tickets --instance c0

4. Tickets​

Tickets are access proofs issued by a provider. These commands don't need --instance:

sentinel-dvpn ticket request --help
sentinel-dvpn ticket show <ENCODED_TICKET>
sentinel-dvpn ticket verify <ENCODED_TICKET>

ticket verify checks the ticket against the provider's on-chain owner.

5. Leases, subscriptions, and balances​

Leases rent a node by the hour. These are chain commands, so they don't take --instance. Run --help for the flags:

sentinel-dvpn lease open-lease --help
sentinel-dvpn lease fund-leases --help
sentinel-dvpn lease redeem-lease-vouchers --help
sentinel-dvpn lease start-close-lease --help
sentinel-dvpn lease close-lease --help

Withdraw any unused user balance:

sentinel-dvpn user withdraw-user-balance --help

Close a subscription when you no longer need it:

sentinel-dvpn subscription close-subscription --help