Get Started

Set up your Ethereum node in 30 minutes

Transform a fresh server into a fully-configured Ethereum node. Choose the one-liner or manual install.

Prerequisites

  • Server — Ubuntu 20.04+ with SSH key access (bare metal VPS preferred)
  • Storage — 2–4TB SSD/NVMe (4TB NVMe recommended)
  • Memory — 16–64GB RAM (32GB+ recommended)
  • CPU — 4–8+ cores (8+ recommended for sync)
  • Network — Stable broadband, unlimited data preferred
  • RAID — Set swraid 1 & swraidlevel 0 for full disk access before install

Recommended Specs

Minimum: 4 cores, 16GB RAM, 2TB SSD. Cloud instances may not finish syncing; bare metal VPS preferred.

CPU: 8+ cores
RAM: 32GB+
Storage: 4TB NVMe

Option A: One-Line Installer

Same command as the homepage. Generates install_phase1.sh and install_phase2.sh, with auto non-interactive fallback for piped installs.

01

Run the one-line installer

Clones the repo and generates phase scripts. Defaults to non-interactive in piped mode; use --interactive when running from a real TTY.

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/chimera-defi/eth2-quickstart/master/install.sh | sudo bash
02

Run Phase 1 (as root)

Use the path shown when the wizard completes (typically ~/.eth2-quickstart). Hardens firewall, SSH, creates non-root user.

cd ~/.eth2-quickstart && ./install_phase1.sh
03

Reboot

Reboot and SSH back in as the new user.

sudo reboot
04

Run Phase 2 (as new user)

run_1.sh copies the repo to ~/eth2-quickstart for the new user. Run from there.

cd ~/eth2-quickstart && ./install_phase2.sh
05

Start Services

Start and verify all services. Omit mev if you skipped MEV installation.

sudo systemctl start eth1 cl validator mev

Option B: Manual (run_1.sh and run_2.sh)

Clone the repo and use the pre-existing run_1.sh and run_2.sh scripts. No wizard—these scripts are included in the repository.

01

Clone Repository

Download the repo. run_1.sh and run_2.sh are included—make run_1.sh executable.

git clone https://github.com/chimera-defi/eth2-quickstart
cd eth2-quickstart && chmod +x run_1.sh
02

Add SSH key, then run run_1.sh (as root)

Add your SSH key first to prevent lockout. The run_1.sh script hardens firewall, SSH, creates non-root user, copies repo to ~/eth2-quickstart for the new user.

ssh-copy-id root@<your-server-ip>
./run_1.sh   # or: sudo ./run_1.sh if not root
03

Reboot

Reboot and SSH back in as the new user (e.g. eth@ip).

sudo reboot
04

Install Clients with run_2.sh (as new user)

Edit exports.sh with your settings, then run run_2.sh. Use install/utils/select_clients.sh for client recommendations.

nano exports.sh  # Edit settings
./install/utils/select_clients.sh  # Optional: get recommendations
./run_2.sh           # Install clients
05

Start Services

Start and verify all services. Omit mev if you skipped MEV installation.

sudo systemctl start eth1 cl validator mev

Documentation

README

Project overview and quickstart

Scripts

Script reference and usage

Configuration

Configuration guide

Security

Security documentation

Execution Clients

GethGo

Beginners, stability

ErigonGo

Performance, fast sync

RethRust

Performance, modularity

NethermindC#

Enterprise, advanced features

BesuJava

Private networks, compliance

Nimbus-eth1Nim

Low resources

EthrexRust

Early adopters, modular L1/L2 support

Consensus Clients

PrysmGo

Beginners, documentation

LighthouseRust

Performance, security

TekuJava

Institutional, monitoring

NimbusNim

Low resources

LodestarTypeScript

Development

GrandineRust

Advanced users

Configuration Examples

For manual install, edit exports.sh before running run_2.sh.

Basic Setup

# exports.sh
export ETH_NETWORK='mainnet'
export FEE_RECIPIENT='0xYourAddress'

Client Selection

export EXEC_CLIENT='geth'
export CONS_CLIENT='prysm'

MEV Configuration

export MEV_RELAYS='https://relay1,https://relay2'
export MIN_BID=0.002

Need help?

Check the documentation or open an issue on GitHub.

Install CommandReport Issue

Contribute on GitHub

Found an issue? Contributions are welcome.

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