Why should you consider running your own in-house RPC Node?

Vikas Yadav

Aug 27, 2024 • 5 min read

As the blockchain ecosystem continues to change with every passing day, the need for a simple and reliable infrastructure becomes more crucial. One way to achieve this is by running your own in-house RPC (Remote Procedure Call) node. Having your own RPC node ensures that you have faster access to the blockchain since you’re not sharing resources with others.

In this blog, we will explore the benefits of having an in-house RPC node, the types of blockchain nodes, and how Celestia RPC can enhance your blockchain operations.

Understanding Blockchain Nodes

Understanding the different types of blockchain nodes is essential to understand the benefits of running your own in-house RPC node. Here are the main types of nodes relevant to this discussion:

Full Nodes: These store and maintain a complete copy of the blockchain ledger, validate transactions and blocks, and enforce network rules. Full nodes are crucial for maintaining the security and validity of the blockchain network.
Light Nodes (Lightweight Nodes): These store only partial blockchain data, typically just block headers. They rely on full nodes to access the complete blockchain history. Light nodes are useful for devices with limited storage and computational power.
Validator Nodes: These participate in block validation and creation, often in proof-of-stake systems. Validator nodes are essential for maintaining consensus and security in proof-of-stake blockchains.
Archival Full Nodes: These store the entire blockchain history from the genesis block. Archival full nodes are important for querying historical data and supporting the blockchain's transparency.
RPC (Remote Procedure Call) Nodes: These provide an interface for applications to interact with the blockchain. RPC nodes are essential for developers and services that need to query blockchain data frequently.

Why Run Your Own In-House RPC Node?

Running your own in-house RPC node comes with a multitude of benefits:

Control: Having an in-house RPC node means you have complete control over your blockchain interactions. You decide how and when data is accessed.
Speed: An in-house RPC node reduces the latency associated with third-party providers. Your transactions and data requests are processed faster.
Security: Managing your own node reduces the risk of data breaches and other security vulnerabilities. You have direct oversight over your data, ensuring that it is handled securely.
Reliability: With an in-house node, you are not dependent on the uptime and performance of external providers. You can ensure that your node is always available and performing optimally.

Introducing Celestia RPC

Celestia is a modular blockchain network designed to be simple and scalable. By using Celestia RPC, you can take advantage of a powerful network that enhances your blockchain interactions.

Key Features of Celestia RPC:

Scalability: Celestia’s architecture allows for scalable data processing, ensuring that your node can handle increasing loads without compromising performance.
Flexibility: The modular design of Celestia means that you can customize and extend the network to meet your specific needs.
Efficiency: Celestia RPC is optimized for smooth and efficient data handling, reducing the overhead associated with traditional blockchain networks.

Setting Up Your In-House Celestia RPC Node

Getting started with an in-house Celestia RPC node is straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you set up your own node:

Prepare Your Infrastructure: Ensure that you have the necessary hardware and network resources to support your RPC node. This includes a stable internet connection, sufficient storage, and computational power.
Install Celestia RPC: Download and install the Celestia RPC software from the official repository. Follow the installation instructions to configure your node.
Configure Your Node: Customize the configuration settings to match your specific requirements. This may include setting up network parameters, security settings, and data handling preferences.
Start Your Node: Once configured, start your Celestia RPC node and begin syncing with the network. Monitor the synchronization process to ensure that your node is operating correctly.
Maintain Your Node: Regularly update and maintain your node to ensure optimal performance and security. Monitor logs and performance metrics to identify and address any issues promptly.

To run an RPC node for Celestia mainnet (production) using Polkachu's snapshot and other resources, follow these steps: (https://polkachu.com/networks/celestia)

Set up the server:
- Recommended specs: 4 CPU, 8GB RAM, 500GB SSD
- Operating system: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
Install dependencies:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install curl tar wget clang pkg-config libssl-dev jq build-essential git make ncdu -y

Install Go:

ver="1.22.3"
cd $HOME
wget "https://golang.org/dl/go$ver.linux-amd64.tar.gz"
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/go
sudo tar -C /usr/local -xzf "go$ver.linux-amd64.tar.gz"
rm "go$ver.linux-amd64.tar.gz"
echo "export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/go/bin:$HOME/go/bin" >> $HOME/.bash_profile
source $HOME/.bash_profile
go version

Install Celestia Node:

cd $HOME
rm -rf celestia-node
git clone https://github.com/celestiaorg/celestia-node.git
cd celestia-node
git checkout tags/v0.13.2
make install
make cel-key

Initialize the node:

celestia bridge init --core.ip rpc-celestia.pops.one

Download Polkachu's snapshot:

cd $HOME
rm -rf ~/.celestia-bridge-mainnet/data
mkdir -p ~/.celestia-bridge-mainnet/data
wget -O - http://snapshots.polkachu.com/snapshots/celestia/celestia_11700000.tar.lz4 | lz4 -c -d - | tar -x -C ~/.celestia-bridge-mainnet/data

Update the config file:

sed -i.bak -e "s|^bootstrap-peers *=.*|bootstrap-peers = \""`
curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/celestiaorg/celestia-node/master/docs/celestia-node-mainnet.toml | grep bootstrap-peer | awk -F'=' '{print $2}' | sed 's/"//g' | sed 's/,/","/g' | tr '\n' ','`"\"|" \
$HOME/.celestia-bridge-mainnet/config.toml

Set up the systemd service:

bash
sudo tee /etc/systemd/system/celestia-bridge.service > /dev/null << EOF
[Unit]
Description=Celestia Bridge Node
After=network-online.target
[Service]
User=$USER
ExecStart=$(which celestia) bridge start --core.ip rpc-celestia.pops.one
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=3
LimitNOFILE=65535
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
EOF
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable celestia-bridge

Start the node:

sudo systemctl start celestia-bridge

Check the logs:

sudo journalctl -u celestia-bridge -f

This setup will create an RPC node for Celestia mainnet using Polkachu's snapshot. The node will connect to the network using the bootstrap peers from the official config, and it will use the RPC endpoint rpc-celestia.pops.one for core network communication. Remember to keep your node updated and monitor its performance regularly. You may need to adjust firewall settings to allow incoming connections on the required ports.

Benefits of an In-House Celestia RPC Node

By running your own in-house Celestia RPC node, you can:

Improve Operations: With faster and more reliable data processing, your blockchain operations will run more smoothly.
Simplify Transactions: Direct control over your node allows for more efficient transaction handling, reducing delays and errors.
Stay Ahead: A self-managed system ensures that you are always in control, allowing you to adapt quickly to changes in the blockchain landscape.

Conclusion

Running an in-house RPC node is a powerful way to enhance your blockchain infrastructure. With Celestia RPC, you gain access to a scalable, flexible, and efficient network that ensures your blockchain interactions are optimized for control, speed, security, and reliability.

Looking to deploy your own RPC node? Reach out to us at https://www.kubenine.com/ and we will take charge of your blockchain node operations!