SSV Staker

Credits

This guide references the ideas and work of one of the Lido Community Staking members, @ivans_music. Check out his original work below!

Comprehensive guide to setting up a distributed Lido CSM validator cluster with SSV Network - HackMDHackMD

Pre-requisites

1) Get testnet SSV tokens via the official SSV faucet below.

SSV Networkfaucet.ssv.network

2) Install and configure ETH Docker only if you have not completed the SSV Operator section

ETH Docker

• Choose Holešovice Testnet >> Ethereum node - consensus, execution and validator client

• Choose any configuration options for the subsequent steps. We only want to get to a point where you can use ETH Docker to generate validator keystores easily here.

Method 1: Distribute existing keystores

Customise ETH Docker Settings

Open up the ETH Docker .env file for editing.

nano ~/eth-docker/.env

Add :deposit-cli.yml to the end of the COMPOSE_FILE= line.

Generate validator keystores

First, generate your validator keystores.

ethd cmd run --rm deposit-cli-new --execution_address YOURHARDWAREWALLETADDRESS --uid $(id -u)

Copy the validator keystore onto your laptop. Open the terminal on your laptop and run:

scp $USER@EXTERNAL_IP_ADDRESS:~/eth-docker/.eth/validators/keystore*.json $HOME/Documents

Note: Replace EXTERNAL_IP_ADDRESS with your actual VM's external IP

Your validator keystore will now be found in the Documents folder of your laptop.

Delete this copy of your validator keystore on your laptop completely after splitting it on SSV in the next section.

Split keystores on SSV

Open up the SSV webapp and your wallet wallet.

• Click on the Operators drop down and switch to Validators

• Add Cluster >> Go to Distribute Validator >> Generate new key shares

• Select cluster size and the SSV Operators in your cluster >> Select Online as your preferred method to split your validator keystore

• Upload your keystore.json file and provide your keystore password (set during keystroke generation)

• Choose the period you want to run your validator key for, accept the fees charged by your chosen SSV Operators, and read + acknowledge the warnings/disclaimers

• Approve the spending of your SSV tokens and register your validator

Delete the copy of your validator keystore on your laptop completely after splitting it on SSV.

Method 2: Distributed Key Generation (WIP)

Open up the SSV webapp and your wallet wallet.

• Go to Distribute Validator >> Generate new key shares

• Select cluster size and the SSV Operators in your cluster >> Select Offline as your preferred DKG method

• Select DKG - Generate from New Key, number of keys you want to generate, & set the withdrawal address to 0xF0179dEC45a37423EAD4FaD5fCb136197872EAd9 (Lido TESTNET withdrawal vault)

  • Select Linux (and WSL) and copy the DKG command that will be generated for you

Initiating the DKG Ceremony

Make sure all cluster members have confirmed that their DKG service is running and reachable.

Run cd, then run the generated DKG command on your VM and you should see "DKG ceremony completed" if the DKG ceremony completes successfully.

Back up all DKG output files located in $HOME/ceremony* folder.

#run on your laptop
scp -r $USER@<EXTERNAL_IP_ADDRESS>:~/ceremony* $HOME

Save this folder onto a USB drive and delete the copy on your laptop.

#run on your laptop
sudo rm -r $HOME/ceremony*

Return to the SSV Webapp and acknowledge Step 2: Deposit Validator (although this is not yet done at this point), then go to Step 3 and click on Register Validator.