zkSync Era Node Setup Guide

This guide explains step-by-step how to set up a zkSync Era node on Ubuntu Linux.

System Requirements

• CPU: A relatively modern CPU is recommended.
• RAM: 32 GB
• Storage: 300 GB, with the state growing about 1TB per month.
• Network: 100 Mbps connection (1 Gbps+ recommended)

Server Rental

If you need a server, you can rent one from Hetzner. Additionally, if you sign up using this referral link, you will receive a 20 EUR credit.

Hetzner

Step 1: Install Visual Studio Code (On Local Computer)

1. Download and Install Visual Studio Code: Visual Studio Code Download Page

   • Once downloaded, follow the installation wizard to install Visual Studio Code.

2. Install the SSH Extension:

   • Open Visual Studio Code.
   • Click on the Extensions icon in the left sidebar.
   • Type Remote - SSH in the search bar and install the extension developed by Microsoft.

Step 2: Connect to the Server via SSH (From Local Computer)

1. Connect to SSH in Visual Studio Code:

   • Press Ctrl+Shift+P in Visual Studio Code and select Remote-SSH: Connect to Host....
   • Enter your server address in the format ssh root@ip_address.
   • Enter your password or SSH key to complete the connection.

   Note: Replace ip_address with the actual IP address of your server.

2. Verify the Connection:

   • If the connection is successful, the name of the connected server will appear in the lower-left corner of the Visual Studio Code window.

3. Open the Terminal:

   • After connecting to the server in Visual Studio Code, you can open the terminal by clicking on Terminal > New Terminal in the top menu.
   • Alternatively, you can open the terminal by pressing Ctrl+ (Control key and the backtick key, located below the ESC key).

Step 3: Install Docker and Docker Compose (On Server)

After successfully connecting to the server, execute these commands on the server.

Docker Installation

1. Update System Packages:

   sudo apt update
   

2. Install Docker:

   sudo apt install docker.io
   

3. Verify Docker Service is Running:

   sudo systemctl status docker
   

4. Verify Docker Installation:

   docker --version
   

Docker Compose Installation

1. Download Docker Compose:

   sudo curl -L "https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/download/1.29.2/docker-compose-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m)" -o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
   

2. Give Execute Permission to Docker Compose:

   sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
   

3. Verify Installation:

   docker-compose --version
   

Step 4: Start the zkSync Era Node (On Server)

1. Install Git (if not already installed):

   sudo apt install git
   

2. Clone the Repository:

   git clone https://github.com/matter-labs/zksync-era.git
   

3. Navigate to the Cloned Directories:

   cd zksync-era/docs/guides/external-node
   cd docker-compose-examples
   

4. Start the Node Using Docker Compose:

   docker-compose -f mainnet-external-node-docker-compose.yml up -d
   

5. Verify Running Containers:

   docker ps
   

   This command lists currently running Docker containers. You should see the containers related to the zkSync Era node.

6. View and Follow the Last 100 Logs:

   docker logs -f --tail 100 docker-compose-examples_external-node_1
   

Press Ctrl+C to exit the log view. This will not stop your node; it will continue to run in the background.

Step 5: Access the Dashboard via Port Forwarding (On Local Computer)

After running Docker, you can access a dashboard on port 3000. To view this dashboard from your local computer, you need to set up port forwarding in Visual Studio Code.

1. Set Up Port Forwarding:

   • Press Ctrl+Shift+P to open the command palette.
   • Type Forward a Port and select the option.
   • Enter 3000 for the port number and press Enter.

   Alternatively:

   • Click on the PORTS section in the bottom right corner of Visual Studio Code.
   • Select Forward Port... from the menu.
   • Enter 3000 for the port number and press Enter.

2. Access the Dashboard:

   • Open your web browser and go to http://localhost:3000/d/0/external-node.
   • You should now have access to the dashboard.

This step allows you to easily view the dashboard of the application running on your remote server from your local computer.

Additional Information

• View Container Logs:

  docker logs <container_id>
  

• Stop the Node:

  docker-compose -f mainnet-external-node-docker-compose.yml down