# Nimbus VC

### Download Nimbus

Follow the steps in this previous section to download Nimbus if you have not done so.

{% content-ref url="/pages/J13y2wNXbcJ5WQrAry47" %}
[Nimbus BN](/installing-and-configuring-your-el+cl-clients/set-up-and-configure-consensus-layer-client/nimbus-bn.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

### Create a new user account

```sh
sudo useradd --no-create-home --shell /bin/false nimbusvalidator
```

### Prepare the validator data directory

1\) Create a new folders to store the validator client data, validator keystore, and the validator keystore password

```sh
sudo mkdir -p /var/lib/nimbus_validator
```

2\) Run the validator key import process.

<pre class="language-sh"><code class="lang-sh"><strong>sudo /usr/local/bin/nimbus_beacon_node deposits import --data-dir:/var/lib/nimbus_validator/ ~/validator_keys
</strong></code></pre>

3\) Change the owner of this new folder to the `nimbus_validator` user

4\) Restrict permissions on this new folder such that only the owner is able to read, write, and execute files in this folder

```sh
sudo chown -R nimbusvalidator:nimbusvalidator /var/lib/nimbus_validator
sudo chmod 700 /var/lib/nimbus_validator
```

### Configure the validator client service

Create a systemd configuration file for the Nimbus Validator Client service to run in the background.

```bash
sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/nimbusvalidator.service
```

Paste the configuration parameters below into the file:

```
[Unit]
Description=Nimbus Validator Client (Holesky)
Wants=network-online.target
After=network-online.target

[Service]
User=nimbusvalidator
Group=nimbusvalidator
Type=simple
Restart=always
RestartSec=5
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/nimbus_validator_client \
  --data-dir=/var/lib/nimbus_validator \
  --payload-builder=true \
  --beacon-node=http://<Internal_IP_address>:5052 \
  --metrics \
  --metrics-port=8108 \
  --suggested-fee-recipient=<your_designated_ETH_wallet address> \
  --graffiti="<your_graffiti_of_choice>" \
  --doppelganger-detection

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
```

Once you're done, save with `Ctrl+O` and `Enter`, then exit with `Ctrl+X`. Understand and review your configuration summary below, and amend if needed.

**Nimbus Validator Client configuration summary:**

1. `--data-dir`: Specify the directory for Nimbus to store the validator info
2. `--payload-builder`: Required when using external builders to build blocks (e.g. MEV relays)
3. `--beacon-node`: URLs to connect to the main and backup consensus clients if any. This needs to be the same IP address set in your consensus client. Refer back [here](/installing-and-configuring-your-el+cl-clients/set-up-and-configure-consensus-layer-client.md) if you don't remember it.&#x20;
4. `--metrics`: Enable metrics for monitoring
5. `--metrics-port`: Set the port for retrieving metrics
6. `--suggested-fee-recipient`: ETH wallet address to receive rewards from block proposals and MEV bribes
7. `--graffiti`: Optional text to display on-chain when your validator proposes a block
8. `--doppelganger-detection`: Helps prevents slashing due to double signing by checking if your validator keys are already active on the network. ***Not a fool-proof solution.***

### Start the Nimbus Validator Client service

Reload the systemd daemon to register the changes made, start the Nimbus Validator Client, and check its status to make sure its running.

```bash
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl start nimbusvalidator.service
sudo systemctl status nimbusvalidator.service
```

The output should say the Nimbus Validator Client is **“active (running)”.** Press CTRL-C to exit and the Nimbus Validator Client will continue to run.

Use the following command to check the logs for any warnings or errors:

```bash
sudo journalctl -fu nimbusvalidator -o cat | ccze -A
```

**Expected output:**

<figure><img src="/files/k0HjUt2rIpsJe1QVwaKM" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Press `CTRL-C` to exit.

If the Nimbus Validator Client service is running smoothly, we can now enable it to fire up automatically when rebooting the system.

```bash
sudo systemctl enable nimbusvalidator
```

**Expected output:**

```
Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/nimbusvalidator.service → /etc/systemd/system/nimbusvalidator.service.
```

### Remove duplicates of validator keystores

To prevent configuration mistakes leading to double signing in the future, remove duplicate copies of the validator signing keystores once everything is running smoothly.

```sh
sudo rm -r ~/validator_keys
```

## Resources

* Releases: <https://github.com/status-im/nimbus-eth2/releases>
* Documentation: <https://nimbus.guide/install.html>
* Discord: <https://discord.gg/BWKx5Xta>


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