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Installation Guide

This guide explains how to install and set up a Helios node using Heliades, the command-line interface (CLI) for interacting with the Helios blockchain. Whether you are running a validator, full node, or light node, this guide will walk you through the setup.

1. Pre-Installation Setup​

Before installing Helios, ensure your system is fully updated and has the required dependencies.

Updating System Packages​

To ensure your system is running the latest software versions, update all existing packages by running:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Installing Essential Dependencies​

Helios requires several core dependencies. Install them with:

sudo apt install curl git jq build-essential -y

This will install:

  • curl - Used for downloading files from external sources.
  • git - Required for cloning the Helios repository.
  • jq - A command-line JSON processor, useful for managing Helios logs.
  • build-essential - Includes essential compilation tools for building Helios binaries.

2. Installing Go (Golang)​

Helios requires Go to build and run. Install the latest stable version:

curl -OL https://golang.org/dl/go1.21.4.linux-amd64.tar.gz
sudo tar -C /usr/local -xzf go1.21.4.linux-amd64.tar.gz
echo 'export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/go/bin' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc
go version

Expected output:

go version go1.21.4 linux/amd64

3. Installing Heliades (CLI) - Compilation​

The Heliades CLI is the main tool used to interact with your Helios node. To install it manually:

  1. Clone the official repository:

    git clone https://github.com/helios-network/helios-core.git

  2. Navigate into the directory:

    cd helios-core

  3. Build and install Heliades:

    make install

  4. Verify installation:

    heliades version

4. Alternative: Using Pre-Built Releases​

Instead of compiling from source, you can download a pre-built release from the Helios GitHub repository:

curl -L https://github.com/helios-network/helios-core/releases/latest/download/heliades-linux-amd64 -o heliades
chmod +x heliades
sudo mv heliades /usr/local/bin/
heliades version

For macOS, replace heliades-linux-amd64 with heliades-macos-amd64.

5. Alternative: Running Helios with Docker​

If you prefer a Docker-based setup, you can pull the latest Helios node image:

docker pull heliosnetwork/helios-node:latest

Run the node:

docker run -d --name helios-node -p 26656:26656 -p 26657:26657 heliosnetwork/helios-node

To check logs:

docker logs -f helios-node

6. Initializing Your Node​

Each node requires initialization with a unique name (moniker). To set up your node:

  • Mainnet:

    heliades init <your-node-name> --chain-id helios-mainnet

  • Testnet:

    heliades init <your-node-name> --chain-id helios-testnet

7. Downloading the Genesis File​

The genesis file is required to sync your node with the Helios network.

  • Mainnet:

    curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/helios-network/networks/main/mainnet/genesis.json
    mv genesis.json ~/.helios/config/genesis.json

  • Testnet:

    curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/helios-network/networks/main/testnet/genesis.json
    mv genesis.json ~/.helios/config/genesis.json

8. Setting Up Peers & Seeds​

To connect to other nodes and start syncing, update the config.toml file:

nano ~/.heliades/config/config.toml

Replace persistent_peers with the latest peer list:

persistent_peers = "NODE_ID@IP_ADDRESS:26656,NODE_ID@IP_ADDRESS:26656"

Find the latest peers at:

Save the file and exit.

9. Running the Node​

To start your node:

heliades start

Check logs:

tail -f ~/.heliades/logs/helios.log

For continuous uptime, configure systemd:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/helios-node.service

Add:

[Unit]
Description=Helios Node
After=network-online.target

[Service]
User=$USER
ExecStart=$(which heliades) start --chain-id helios-mainnet
Restart=always
RestartSec=5
LimitNOFILE=65535

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Enable the service:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable helios-node
sudo systemctl start helios-node
sudo systemctl status helios-node

Final Notes​

  • For further configurations (RPC, APIs, and network settings), see Configuring Your Node.
  • Ensure your node is properly synced before participating in consensus.
  • Monitor logs regularly to troubleshoot issues.