# Prysm VC {% hint style="info" %} The Prysm validator client only works with a Prysm Consensus Client. {% endhint %} ### Download Prysm [Download](https://github.com/prysmaticlabs/prysm/releases) the latest version of the Prysm validator client. ```bash cd curl -LO https://github.com/prysmaticlabs/prysm/releases/download/v5.1.2/validator-v5.1.2-linux-amd64 curl -LO https://github.com/prysmaticlabs/prysm/releases/download/v5.1.2/validator-v5.1.2-linux-amd64.sha256 ``` Run the checksum verification process. ```sh sha256sum --check validator-v5.1.2-linux-amd64.sha256 ``` {% hint style="info" %} Each downloadable file comes with it's own checksum. Replace the actual checksum and URL of the download link in the code block above. {% hint style="info" %} Make sure to choose the amd64 version. Right click on the linked text and select "copy link address" to get the URL of the download link to `curl`. {% endhint %} {% endhint %} ***Expected output:** Verify output of the checksum verification.* ``` validator-v5.1.2-linux-amd64: OK ``` If checksum is verified, extract the files and move them into the `(/usr/local/bin)` directory for neatness and best practice. Then, clean up the duplicated copies. 
mv validator-v5.1.2-linux-amd64 prysmvalidator #rename the binary file for easy reference
chmod +x prysmvalidator
sudo cp prysmvalidator /usr/local/bin
rm -r prysmvalidator validator-v5.1.2-linux-amd64.sha256
### Create a new user account ```sh sudo useradd --no-create-home --shell /bin/false prysmvalidator ``` ### 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/prysm_validator ``` 2\) Run the validator key import process. ```sh sudo /usr/local/bin/prysmvalidator accounts import --keys-dir=$HOME/validator_keys --wallet-dir=/var/lib/prysm_validator --holesky ``` **Note:** You will be prompted to accept the terms of use, create a new password for the Prysm wallet, and enter the password of your validator keystore. **Expected output:**
3\) Create a plain text password file for the Prysm wallet ```sh sudo nano /var/lib/prysm_validator/password.txt ``` Enter the password you set during the validator keystore import process. Then, save + exit with `CTRL+O`, `ENTER`, `CTRL+C`. 4\) Change the owner of this new folder to the `prysmvalidator` user 5\) 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 prysmvalidator:prysmvalidator /var/lib/prysm_validator sudo chmod 700 /var/lib/prysm_validator ``` ### Configure the validator client service Create a systemd configuration file for the Lighthouse Validator Client service to run in the background. ```bash sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/prysmvalidator.service ``` Paste the configuration parameters below into the file: ``` [Unit] Description=Prysm Validator Client (Holesky) Wants=network-online.target After=network-online.target [Service] User=prysmvalidator Group=prysmvalidator Type=simple Restart=always RestartSec=5 ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/prysmvalidator \ --accept-terms-of-use \ --holesky \ --datadir=/var/lib/prysm_validator \ --enable-builder \ --beacon-rpc-provider=:4000 \ --beacon-rpc-gateway-provider=:5052 \ --wallet-dir=/var/lib/prysm_validator \ --wallet-password-file=/var/lib/prysm_validator/password.txt \ --monitoring-port=8108 \ --suggested-fee-recipient= \ --graffiti="" \ --enable-doppelganger [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. **Lighthouse Validator Client configuration summary:** 1. `--accept-terms-of-use`: Accept the terms and conditions. 2. `--holesky`: Run the validator client on the Holesky testnet 3. `--datadir`: Specify the directory for Lighthouse to store the validator info 4. `--enable-builder`: Required when using external builders to build blocks (e.g. MEV relays) 5. `--beacon-rpc-provider/beacon-rpc-gateway-provider`: URLs to connect to the main and backup ***Prysm*** consensus clients if any. This needs to be the same IP address set in your ***Prysm*** 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. Use multiple comma-separated endpoints here to configure fallback beacon nodes for your validator. 6. `--wallet-dir`: Path to a wallet directory on-disk for Prysm validator accounts 7. `--wallet-password-file`: Path to a plain-text, .txt file containing your wallet password 8. `--monitoring-port`: Set the port for retrieving metrics 9. `--suggested-fee-recipient`: ETH wallet address to receive rewards from block proposals and MEV bribes 10. `--graffiti`: Optional text to display on-chain when your validator proposes a block 11. `--enable-doppelganger`: 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 Prysm Validator Client service Reload the systemd daemon to register the changes made, start the Prysm Validator Client, and check its status to make sure its running. ```bash sudo systemctl daemon-reload sudo systemctl start prysmvalidator.service sudo systemctl status prysmvalidator.service ``` The output should say the Prysm Validator Client is **“active (running)”.** Press CTRL-C to exit and the Prysm Validator Client will continue to run. Use the following command to check the logs for any warnings or errors: ```bash sudo journalctl -fu prysmvalidator -o cat | ccze -A ``` **Expected output:**
{% hint style="info" %} You will see some warnings if your beacon node (consensus client) is not yet synced. {% endhint %} Press `CTRL-C` to exit. If the Prysm Validator Client service is running smoothly, we can now enable it to fire up automatically when rebooting the system. ```bash sudo systemctl enable prysmvalidator ``` **Expected output:** ``` Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/prysmvalidator.service → /etc/systemd/system/prysmvalidator.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: * Documentation: * Discord: --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://dvt-homestaker.stakesaurus.com/native-solo-staking-setup/validator-client-setup/prysm-vc.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.