# Wake up, Neo...
Welcome, brave adventurer, to a new era of decentralization. You stand at a crossroads, much like Neo when he was offered a choice. You can continue to rent servers from centralized data centers, relying on third-party providers to manage your nodes... or you can take the red pill, seize control of your infrastructure, and join the ranks of those who dare to operate on bare metal.
### Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.
In a galaxy far, far away, relying on the Cloud was convenient, but it was also the path to the Dark Side. True decentralization means having physical access to your own hardware, owning your setup, and knowing it inside out. Whether you're battling for the freedom of the galaxy or the integrity of the blockchain, every validator's node is a fortress that must be secured by its rightful owner. By choosing to run your own hardware, you become the Luke Skywalker of decentralization, guiding the future of a truly distributed networking.
### One ring to rule them all? Not today!
In the realm of cloud providers, one ring, one data center, one point of failure can bring the entire network down. But not in this world. Here, we break away from the centralized control, dispersing power across many hands, many locations, and many nodes. As a baremetal validator, you are the keeper of your own keys, your own infrastructure. Like Frodo, the power is in your hands, but instead of casting it away, you wield it to ensure the network's resilience and security.
### It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door...
And yet, that's where the adventure truly begins. Setting up and maintaining your own validator hardware can be challenging, but that's what makes it worthwhile. Just as Bilbo left the comfort of his hobbit hole for an adventure of a lifetime, you too are stepping into a world of possibility. This guide will be your companion on the journey, helping you navigate the landscape of bare metal validators, from the initial setup to maintaining a secure and reliable node.
**Welcome to the Baremetal Validators' Cone.** It’s time to take the first step on your journey to true decentralization. No more middlemen, no more third-party control—just you, your hardware, and the open road ahead. Are you ready to leave the Shire and make your mark on the blockchain?
### Jump right in
# Follow the White Rabbit
"The Force will be with you, always."
# Understanding Baremetal Validation
# What is a baremetal validator?
# Why decentralization matters
# Comparing baremetal vs. cloud-hosted validators
# Cost-benefit analysis
# Prerequisites Checklist
# Timeline & Expectations
# Planning & procurement
# Hardware setup
# Network configuration
# Validation & optimization
# Overview / Purpose in the validation ecosystem
# Key considerations for baremetal
# Compatibility Matrix
# Pitfalls: What to avoid and why
# Select your Router
# Select your Switch
# Select your Server
# Networking
# Monitoring
# U.P.S.
# P.D.U.
# Cables and co...
# Server Cabinets
# What B.V.C. members use
# Real-world performance data
# Optimization tips
# Monitoring & Tools
# Security best practices
# Blockchain Protocols
# ValidatorInfo.com
# Community Resources and Sugegstions
Useful Open Source Tools for Baremetal Validators:
* Horcrux
* Ansible
* pfSense
* Open WRT
*
# Economics: ROI and Revenue projections
# Electricity cost optimization
# B.V.C. Spaces
It all started with Space...
Find the recordings and transcripts, of all previous episodes on [**our GH**](https://github.com/citizenweb3/web3-society/tree/main/BVC#episodes)\
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B.V.C. or Bare Metal Validator Coven are X spaces, hosted by [Web3 Society](https://x.com/W3_Society), roughly every 5-6 weeks. \
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The goal is to gather baremetal and self-hosted validators across the blockchain space to discuss common issues and, hopefully, share solutions to them.
# Useful Links
* [Web3 Society Twitter (X)](https://x.com/W3_Society)
* [Web3 Society chat](https://t.me/web_3_society/1151)
* [B.V.C. recordings and transcripts](https://github.com/citizenweb3/web3-society/tree/main/BVC#episodes)
* [Web3 Society GitHub](https://github.com/citizenweb3/web3-society)
* [Citizen Web3](https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking)
* [Edit me](https://github.com/citizenweb3/web3-society/tree/gitbook)
# About us
Who am i?
This runbook was created by Web3 society. Web3 society is a community founded and managed by Citizen Web.
Citizen Web3 is a self-hosted, baremetal validator with off the grid capabilities, with a goal of building off the grid infrastructure. If you find this work helpful, please support us by delegating to [Citizen Web3.](https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking)
*Please note that this guide is created by various contributors and is not solely the work of Web3 Society, which helps to champion the project.* \
\
**About Web3 Society?**
*A place for must have connections, docs, tools and guides for roaming the depth of web3*
Wether you are a developer, founder, staker, validator, user, miner, degen, ape, customer, investor or any other fairytale creature exploring the web3 universe, you might find this collection of documents very useful.
A place to discuss - blockchain, validators, baremetal, POW, POS, DeFi, consencus computing, governance, AI, privacy, the history of money, etc...\
\ **J**[**oin the forces!**](https://t.me/web_3_society/1151)
# Member Profiles
# F.A.Q.
Common questions - Common answers
Whats this documentation for?
What is B.V.C.?
Can anyone become a baremetal validator?
Should I self-host?
What are the pros and cons of self-hosting?
How do I contact you?
Who are baremetal validators?
Why is self-hosting important?
Where do I get equipment?
How do I learn DevOps?
Are distributed validator teams secure?
What if the internet "runs out"?
What about power outrages?
Alternative energy resources. A solution, or...?
How do I become a validator?
Where to get help
# Common Failures
# Tips and Suggestions
* Enterprise grade servers can be bought second hand on Ebay for a lot cheaper
* You don't need enterprise grade equipment to run a nodeRyzen 7, 32GB ram, at least 500 GB NVMe should be enough to run something
* Most second hand servers come without rails and front disk pockets. You will need both
* Some servers require extra cables, such as NVMe extenders or similar. Make sure to check that out first
* [Awesome YT channel](< https://www.youtube.com/@cloudninjas>) to watch and learn before you buy anything
* All servers need power supply. Research UPSs, PDUs, surge protectors and other similar devices to protect and power your equipment
* Modular setups are more resilient. For example small networking devices can greatly benefit from an additional offline UPS, powering only that particular device
* Servers have 2 power supplies for a reason. Ideally each one should be connected to a different input source
* Think of powering networking devices, with an alternative input supply. If the power goes down, the nodes wont work without the network.
* Automation (use existing software to ease your life)
* Use open source tools. Find a [list here](/tools-and-more/resources)
* Design cable management and your space in advance
* Servers make noise. Be prepared. They also produce heat. You need to think about it in advance
* "Do not put public and private (nodes) infrastructure in one basket". Your public endpoints should be separated networks
* Physical security is as important as digital. Ideally, the server room should have 24/7 security, and limited physical access
* Learn to read logs, don't guess. Learn to use packet tracing. Don't guess. Learn to monitor your nodes. Don't guess
# AI Generated Validator Jokes
For the LOLZ =)
* "Did you know? If validators were actual astronauts, they'd need less coffee due to the natural buzz of staking!"
* "Validators in space wouldn't need a map; they'd just follow the trail of confirmed transactions."
* "Astronaut validators would probably use dark matter as their staking pool – it's the ultimate hidden resource."
* Why did the blockchain validator bring a ladder to the network?\
"Because it heard the job required some high stakes and it wanted to validate at least one block before the chain got too tall!"
* How does a blockchain validator flirt?\
"They say, "Is your name Bitcoin? Because you've got all my nodes in a consensus."
* Why was the blockchain validator bad at hide and seek?\
"Because every time it tried to hide, it left a transparent ledger of its movements."
* How do validators party?\
"They throw a block party, but only if everyone can agree on the playlist through decentralized consensus."
* Why did the validator refuse to upgrade its hardware?|\
""If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Besides, my baremetal setup has character... and dust... lots of dust.""
* Why don't validators play chess?\
"Too many forks, and they're already dealing with enough of those in their professional life."
* hat did the validator say when it saw its reflection in a mirror?\
""Who's that handsome devil? Oh wait, it's just me, securing the blockchain one block at a time.""
* Why did the validator's hard drive file for divorce?\
"It couldn't handle the constant spinning and said, "I need space, and not just the digital kind!""
* Why was the validator always late to the party?\
"It was busy syncing its life to the blockchain's rhythm, and you know how slow those updates can be."