Professional Guide to Running an Aztec Prover Node on Vultr Server

Ever wondered how to participate in cutting-edge blockchain technology? Aztec Network is a privacy-focused Layer 2 solution on Ethereum, and you can contribute by running a Prover Node! This article will guide you through setting up an Aztec Prover Node on a Vultr Server like a professional.

What is an Aztec Prover Node and Why Choose Vultr?

An Aztec Prover Node is a critical component of the Aztec Network infrastructure, creating cryptographic proofs to verify transaction validity. This resource-intensive task requires robust hosting, which Vultr delivers through:

• Multiple high-performance server options
• Quick and easy setup
• Flexible resource scaling
• 24/7 support

Special Offer: Sign up for Vultr through this link to receive $300 in free credit to test the platform! (Unused credit expires after 30 days)

Understanding Aztec Prover Architecture

Before starting, it’s important to understand that the Aztec Prover consists of three main components working together:

1. Prover Node – Monitors Ethereum for data requiring proof and submits results back to the blockchain
2. Proving Broker – Manages the queue of proving jobs and distributes them to Agents
3. Proving Agents – Performs the actual proving work which requires substantial resources

Hardware Requirements

Running an Aztec Prover demands robust resources:

• Prover Node: 8 CPU cores, 16GB RAM, approximately 1TB disk space
• Proving Broker: 4 CPU cores, 16GB RAM, approximately 1GB disk space
• Proving Agents: Each Agent uses up to 16 CPU cores and 128GB RAM

For a basic setup on Vultr, we recommend:

• Optimized Cloud Compute or Bare Metal with at least 128GB RAM
• At least 1TB NVMe SSD or additional Block Storage

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up an Aztec Prover Node on Vultr

1. Create a Vultr Server

1. Sign up for a Vultr account through our special link
2. Select “Deploy New Server” in the dashboard
3. Choose “Optimized Cloud Compute” or “Bare Metal” based on your budget
4. Select Ubuntu 22.04 LTS as the operating system
5. Choose an appropriate server size (recommended plans with at least 128GB RAM)
6. Name your server and click “Deploy Now”

2. Prepare the Server

Connect to your server via SSH and run the following commands:

# Update the system
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# Set up firewall
sudo apt install ufw -y
sudo ufw allow ssh
sudo ufw allow 8080/tcp
sudo ufw allow 40400
sudo ufw enable

3. Install Docker and Docker Compose

# Install dependencies
sudo apt install -y ca-certificates curl

# Set up Docker repository
sudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings
sudo curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc
sudo chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc
echo "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(. /etc/os-release && echo "${UBUNTU_CODENAME:-$VERSION_CODENAME}") stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null

# Install Docker
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin

# Add current user to docker group
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
newgrp docker

4. Install Aztec CLI Tools

bash -i <(curl -s https://install.aztec.network)
echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.aztec/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

5. Prepare Ethereum Wallet and RPC Endpoints

1. Create a dedicated Ethereum wallet for your Prover Node (store the private key securely)
2. Obtain ETH on Sepolia testnet from a faucet
3. Sign up for RPC services like Alchemy or Infura to obtain:
   • Execution Layer (EL) RPC endpoint
   • Consensus Layer (CL) RPC endpoint

6. Configure the Aztec Prover Node

1. Create a folder for your Aztec Prover:

mkdir -p ~/aztec-prover
cd ~/aztec-prover

2. Create directories for data storage:

sudo mkdir -p /opt/aztec-prover/prover_data
sudo mkdir -p /opt/aztec-prover/broker_data
sudo chmod -R 777 /opt/aztec-prover

3. Create the docker-compose.yml file:

nano docker-compose.yml

4. Copy the following content (replace values in brackets with your information):

name: aztec-prover
services:
  prover-node:
    image: aztecprotocol/aztec:alpha-testnet
    command:
      - node
      - --no-warnings
      - /usr/src/yarn-project/aztec/dest/bin/index.js
      - start
      - --prover-node
      - --archiver
      - --network
      - alpha-testnet
    depends_on:
      broker:
        condition: service_started
        required: true
    environment:
      DATA_DIRECTORY: /data
      DATA_STORE_MAP_SIZE_KB: "134217728"
      ETHEREUM_HOSTS: "<YOUR_ETHEREUM_EL_RPC_ENDPOINT>"
      L1_CONSENSUS_HOST_URLS: "<YOUR_ETHEREUM_CL_RPC_ENDPOINT>"
      LOG_LEVEL: info
      PROVER_BROKER_HOST: http://broker:8080
      PROVER_PUBLISHER_PRIVATE_KEY: "0x<YOUR_PROVER_PUBLISHER_PRIVATE_KEY>"
    ports:
      - "8080:8080"
      - "40400:40400"
      - "40400:40400/udp"
    volumes:
      - /opt/aztec-prover/prover_data:/data

  agent:
    image: aztecprotocol/aztec:alpha-testnet
    command:
      - node
      - --no-warnings
      - /usr/src/yarn-project/aztec/dest/bin/index.js
      - start
      - --prover-agent
      - --network
      - alpha-testnet
    environment:
      PROVER_AGENT_COUNT: "1"
      PROVER_AGENT_POLL_INTERVAL_MS: "10000"
      PROVER_BROKER_HOST: http://broker:8080
      PROVER_ID: "<YOUR_PROVER_PUBLISHER_ETHEREUM_ADDRESS>"
    pull_policy: always
    restart: unless-stopped

  broker:
    image: aztecprotocol/aztec:alpha-testnet
    command:
      - node
      - --no-warnings
      - /usr/src/yarn-project/aztec/dest/bin/index.js
      - start
      - --prover-broker
      - --network
      - alpha-testnet
    environment:
      DATA_DIRECTORY: /data
      ETHEREUM_HOSTS: "<YOUR_ETHEREUM_EL_RPC_ENDPOINT>"
      LOG_LEVEL: info
    volumes:
      - /opt/aztec-prover/broker_data:/data

7. Start the Aztec Prover Node

docker-compose up -d

8. Check Status and Logs

# Check container status
docker-compose ps

# View logs for each component
docker-compose logs prover-node -f --tail 100
docker-compose logs broker -f --tail 100
docker-compose logs agent -f --tail 100

Common Troubleshooting

1. Containers not starting

   • Check logs: docker-compose logs
   • Verify environment variables are correct

2. Excessive resource usage

   • Monitor resource usage: docker stats
   • Consider adjusting PROVER_AGENT_COUNT or upgrading your server

3. RPC connection issues

   • Verify your RPC endpoints are working correctly
   • Consider using premium RPC services

4. Insufficient storage space

   • Add Block Storage on Vultr
   • Adjust mount points in docker-compose.yml

Benefits of Running an Aztec Prover Node

Running an Aztec Prover Node not only supports the network but offers additional benefits:

• Learn advanced blockchain technology
• Participate in developing privacy solutions on Ethereum
• Prepare for future opportunities when Aztec launches on mainnet

Conclusion

Running an Aztec Prover Node on a Vultr Server is an excellent way to participate in exciting blockchain technology. While it requires substantial resources and technical knowledge, this guide helps you get started smoothly.

Don’t forget to sign up for Vultr through this link to receive $300 in free credit to begin your journey with the Aztec Network!

Have additional questions or need help setting up your Aztec Prover Node on a Vultr Server? Share your experience in the comments below!