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Configure the Node

Run these commands on the server, unless a step says on your computer. Finish Prepare the Server first.

1. Choose a protocol​

The node runs one protocol. Use the one you installed in Prepare the Server, step 7: wireguard, amneziawg, v2ray, xray, openvpn, or hysteria2. The next steps call it <PROTOCOL>.

2. Add the operator key (optional)​

Skip this step to let init create a new key.

To use a key file you already have (a Solana keypair JSON), copy it in before init.

On your computer:

cd <FOLDER_WITH_OPERATOR_JSON>
scp operator.json <USER>@<SERVER_IP>:~/operator.json

On the server:

sudo install -d -m 700 /var/lib/sentinel-dvpn/n0/keys
sudo install -m 600 ~/operator.json /var/lib/sentinel-dvpn/n0/keys/operator.json
rm ~/operator.json

3. Initialize the node​

<OWNER_PUBLIC_KEY> comes from Prepare Your Computer. Prices are in base units: 1 tDVPN = 1,000,000. The example sets every price to 50 tDVPN.

sudo sentinel-dvpnd init \
  --instance n0 \
  --owner <OWNER_PUBLIC_KEY> \
  --country <COUNTRY_CODE> \
  --api-hosts <SERVER_IP> \
  --api-port 8443 \
  --service <PROTOCOL> \
  --prices.channel-per-gb 50000000 \
  --prices.channel-per-hour 50000000 \
  --prices.lease-per-hour 50000000
  • <COUNTRY_CODE>: two capital letters, for example SG.
  • Write down id and public_key from the output. You need them on-chain.
  • If init asks for a passphrase, choose one for a new key, or type your key file's passphrase. Then do step 4.

4. Save the passphrase​

Skip this step if init didn't ask for a passphrase.

sudo mkdir -p /etc/sentinel-dvpn
sudo install -m 600 /dev/null /etc/sentinel-dvpn/n0.pass
sudoedit /etc/sentinel-dvpn/n0.pass

Type the passphrase. To save in nano, press Ctrl+O, Enter, then Ctrl+X. Point the config at the file:

sudo sed -i "s|^passphrase_file = ''|passphrase_file = '/etc/sentinel-dvpn/n0.pass'|" /var/lib/sentinel-dvpn/n0/config.toml

5. Back up the operator key​

Keep a copy of the operator key off the server.

On the server:

sudo install -m 600 -o "$USER" /var/lib/sentinel-dvpn/n0/keys/operator.json ~/operator-n0.json

On your computer:

cd <FOLDER_FOR_BACKUPS>
scp <USER>@<SERVER_IP>:~/operator-n0.json .

On the server:

rm ~/operator-n0.json

If init asked for a passphrase, keep it with the backup.

6. Use your own RPC (optional)​

The public devnet RPC limits requests. Your own RPC avoids 429 errors.

sudo sed -i \
  -e "s|^url = 'https://api.devnet.solana.com'|url = '<RPC_URL>'|" \
  -e "s|^ws_url = 'wss://api.devnet.solana.com'|ws_url = '<WS_URL>'|" \
  /var/lib/sentinel-dvpn/n0/config.toml

Next: register the node on-chain.