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Running a Node

This guide covers running a Pastella full node and keeping it synchronized with the network.

Quick Start​

Once you've compiled Pastella, run the daemon:

cd Pastella/build/src
./Pastellad

The daemon will start synchronizing with the network. By default:

  • P2P Port: 21000
  • RPC Port: 21001
  • Data Directory: ~/.pastella

Configuration Options​

Command-Line Flags​

FlagDescriptionDefault
--data-dirCustom data directory~/.pastella
--rpc-bind-ipRPC bind IP address127.0.0.1
--p2p-portP2P network port21000
--rpc-portRPC interface port21001
--enable-corsEnable CORS for RPCDisabled
--enable-blockexplorerEnable block explorer featuresDisabled
--enable-blockexplorer-detailedEnable all API featuresDisabled
--start-mining <address>Start mining with wallet addressDisabled
--mining-threads <N>Number of mining threads1

Public Node Configuration​

To run a public node accessible from the internet:

./Pastellad --rpc-bind-ip=0.0.0.0 --enable-cors

Important: Make sure your firewall allows:

  • Port 21000 - P2P network (for peer connections)
  • Port 21001 - RPC API (for external access)

Examples​

# Custom data directory
./Pastellad --data-dir=/mnt/pastella-data

# Public node with external access
./Pastellad --rpc-bind-ip=0.0.0.0 --enable-cors

# Enable block explorer mode
./Pastellad --enable-blockexplorer

# Start mining
./Pastellad --start-mining=PAS18z7m9DGbJFoVv6HiGoiwxNG5mLoniSEFWkguBKt59JSHPHjYaa

Daemon Modes​

Default Mode​

Basic endpoints for mining and network info.

Block Explorer Mode (--enable-blockexplorer)​

Adds blockchain explorer features like transaction queries and balance checks.

Full Access Mode (--enable-blockexplorer-detailed)​

Advanced querying features for detailed blockchain analysis.

Connecting to the Network​

Default Seed Nodes​

Pastella connects to seed nodes automatically when you start the daemon. No manual configuration needed for basic operation.

Custom Peers​

./Pastellad --add-peer=peer_ip:21000 --add-peer=another_peer:21000

Checking Sync Status​

Use the API to check your sync status:

curl http://localhost:21001/info

Response includes:

{
  "status": "OK",
  "wallet_height": 150000,
  "daemon_height": 150000,
  "synchronized": true
}

Running as a Service​

systemd (Linux)​

Create /etc/systemd/system/pastellad.service:

[Unit]
Description=Pastella Daemon
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=pastella
WorkingDirectory=/opt/pastella
ExecStart=/opt/pastella/Pastellad --rpc-bind-ip=0.0.0.0 --data-dir=/var/lib/pastella
Restart=always
RestartSec=10

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Enable and start:

sudo systemctl enable pastellad
sudo systemctl start pastellad

Docker​

FROM ubuntu:22.04
RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y wget
RUN wget https://github.com/PastellaOrg/PastellaCore/releases/latest/download/Pastellad-linux-x64.zip
RUN unzip Pastellad-linux-x64.zip
EXPOSE 21000 21001
CMD ["./Pastellad"]

Firewall Configuration​

Open the necessary ports:

# Linux
sudo ufw allow 21000/tcp comment 'Pastella P2P'
sudo ufw allow 21001/tcp comment 'Pastella RPC'

Monitoring​

Logs​

Logs are written to stdout. To save them:

./Pastellad 2>&1 | tee pastellad.log

Health Check​

# Check if daemon is responding
curl http://localhost:21001/info

# Check peer connections
curl http://localhost:21001/peers

Troubleshooting​

High CPU Usage​

  • Normal during initial sync
  • Reduce mining threads if mining
  • Check for stuck sync

Cannot Connect to Peers​

  • Verify ports 21000/21001 are open
  • Check firewall settings
  • Try restarting the daemon

Sync Stuck​

  • Restart the daemon
  • Check if you're on the correct chain
  • Verify your internet connection

Next Steps​