PART 2 - MAINTENANCE

Best practices for node lifecycle management.

Blockchain networks are living protocols. They undergo regular upgrades (Hard Forks) to improve scalability and security. As a node operator, you must keep your software up to date to remain in sync with the chain.

The Golden Rules of Updates

  1. Read Release Notes: Never update blindly. Always check the [GitHub Releases] page for "Breaking Changes" or database migration requirements.

  2. One at a Time: Do not update your Execution Client and Consensus Client simultaneously. Update one, verify stability, and then update the other.

  3. Backup Services: If possible, have a failover node ready before taking your primary node offline for maintenance.

⏱️ Downtime Expectations

Updating a client typically takes 2-5 minutes.

  • Beacon Node: Short downtime is acceptable. It will re-sync quickly.

  • Validator Client: You may miss 1-2 attestations, which is negligible (a few cents of lost rewards) compared to the risk of running outdated software.

⏭️ Select a Guide

Choose the component you need to update from the sidebar menu.

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