# Getting Started Welcome to **Ice Open Network (ION)**, a cutting-edge Layer 1 blockchain ecosystem designed to redefine the digital landscape by bridging the gap between Web2 and Web3. Whether you're a developer, a project owner, or simply a curious user, this documentation will guide you through the core components of the ION ecosystem and how you can leverage its capabilities to build, deploy, and interact in a fully decentralized environment. ### **The ION Ecosystem** At its core, the ION ecosystem is a **scalable, decentralized platform** that seamlessly integrates both **on-chain** and **off-chain components**, creating a powerful infrastructure that is designed to handle the demands of **billions of users** and **millions of transactions per second** without compromising performance. The ecosystem is built to empower users and developers alike, offering an unparalleled combination of blockchain technology and user-friendly tools, including: * **Blockchain Capabilities**: A high-performance Layer 1 blockchain supporting rapid, low-cost transactions with built-in scalability. * **dApp Framework**: A revolutionary framework that enables anyone to build and deploy decentralized applications (dApps) using a **drag-and-drop interface**, with no coding experience required. * **Developer-Friendly Tools**: Developers can create custom templates or enhance existing ones, enabling advanced functionality and tailored user experiences on top of the ION protocols. ### **Decentralized by Design** ION’s architecture emphasizes **privacy, security, and decentralization** across all its components. Even though some functionalities operate off-chain, the ecosystem as a whole is **fully decentralized**, ensuring that no single point of control exists. This design enables seamless interaction between components while maintaining the integrity and security expected from a blockchain network. ### **Built to Scale** ION is engineered to scale with global adoption in mind, capable of supporting **millions of transactions per second** and adapting effortlessly to the needs of billions of users. This makes it an ideal platform not just for individuals or small projects, but also for large-scale enterprises and global applications. ### **Explore the Possibilities** With **ION**, the barriers to entering the world of blockchain are removed. Whether you're looking to: * Build a social platform, e-commerce site, or community forum, * Deploy custom tokens or tokenized communities, * Or explore decentralized finance (DeFi), real-world asset tokenization, and beyond, ION provides the tools and infrastructure to turn your vision into reality. ***
How to StakeSecure the network and earn rewards by staking your ION tokens./pages/ZgxL4kDvDMoID7BbRQbM/files/kskuapA4V4JfC4ZsFHKQ
How to Run a ValidatorBecome a key player in the ecosystem by setting up a validator node./files/kskuapA4V4JfC4ZsFHKQ
DevelopersAccess tools, APIs, and resources to build and deploy on ION./files/kskuapA4V4JfC4ZsFHKQ
Drag and Drop BuilderEasily create decentralized apps without any coding knowledge./files/kskuapA4V4JfC4ZsFHKQ
TemplatesExplore pre-designed templates to kickstart your dApp development./files/kskuapA4V4JfC4ZsFHKQ
Tokenized ContentMonetize and tokenize user interactions with innovative content features./files/kskuapA4V4JfC4ZsFHKQ
# Overview **Ice Open Network (ION)** represents a new paradigm in decentralized technology, combining a powerful Layer 1 blockchain with the groundbreaking **ION Connect protocol** and a comprehensive **dApp framework**. These components work together to provide a scalable, user-friendly, and efficient environment for creating and managing decentralized applications (dApps) without technical barriers. Designed to transition billions of users seamlessly from Web2 to Web3, ION reimagines what is possible in blockchain-based ecosystems. ### **ION Connect: The Backbone of Decentralized Applications** At the heart of ION’s ecosystem lies **ION Connect**, a decentralized protocol designed for storing, processing, and managing user data such as social profiles, content, interactions, chats, and multimedia assets. It provides the foundation for building robust dApps like social platforms, chat apps, websites, blogs, e-commerce stores, video-sharing platforms, task management tools, and more. **Key features of ION Connect** 👇 * **Immutable Ledger and Byzantine Consensus**: ION Connect operates on an immutable ledger secured by a Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) consensus, ensuring that user data is securely stored and processed. * **Horizontal Scalability**: As the user base grows, ION Connect scales horizontally, making it capable of supporting billions of users while maintaining performance and reliability. * **Gasless Transactions**: Unlike traditional blockchain networks, ION Connect nodes do not require gas fees. This ensures that users can interact with dApps without needing to own cryptocurrency, removing barriers to entry for Web2 users transitioning to Web3. * **Decentralized, Trustless Nodes**: Community-operated nodes ensure a fully decentralized and trustless environment, preserving the integrity of the protocol. By separating the social and content-related aspects of dApps from transactional elements, ION Connect creates an optimized and efficient ecosystem for data-intensive applications while keeping blockchain-based operations on the ION blockchain. ### **The dApp Framework: A No-Code Revolution** Building on the foundation of ION Connect is the **dApp framework**, a no-code, drag-and-drop builder that empowers anyone to create decentralized applications with ease. Inspired by the success of platforms like WordPress, the dApp framework takes the idea of customizable templates and expands it into the Web3 space, enabling users to build **cross-platform applications** with unmatched flexibility. **Key aspects of the dApp framework** 👇 * **Cross-Platform Availability**: Users can deploy dApps that run seamlessly across all platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and web browsers. This ensures a uniform experience across devices, maximizing user reach. * **Modular Design**: The framework offers a library of modules and components, enabling users to enhance their dApps by adding features like websites, blogs, forums, video sharing, e-commerce, social, chat, wallet, and more—all within the same application. This modular approach eliminates the need to switch templates, allowing for continuous expansion without disruption. * **Ease of Use**: The no-code drag-and-drop interface is designed for users with no technical background, making it possible for individuals, small businesses, and organizations to create sophisticated dApps without relying on developers. {% hint style="success" %} This approach addresses one of the **biggest** **challenges** in blockchain adoption: the lack of developers and technical expertise. By empowering users to build their own applications, ION removes a key bottleneck in ecosystem growth and drives **mass adoption**. {% endhint %} ### **The Role of the ION Blockchain** While ION Connect and the dApp framework are the ecosystem's core focus, the **ION blockchain** plays a crucial supporting role. Designed as a high-performance Layer 1 blockchain, it handles all transactions and smart contract execution with: * **Fast, Low-Cost Transactions**: The blockchain supports millions of transactions per second with negligible fees, ensuring scalability and efficiency. * **Secure Smart Contract Execution**: All blockchain-based operations, including staking, governance, and token transactions, are handled securely and transparently on the ION blockchain. The blockchain's role is to complement the decentralized capabilities of ION Connect, ensuring that the ecosystem delivers high performance for transactional and contract-based operations. ### **Solving Market Challenges** The ION ecosystem is designed to address the limitations of traditional blockchain platforms and the barriers preventing **Web2** users from **transitioning** **to** **Web3**. * **Scalability:** Many existing blockchains struggle to scale efficiently, resulting in high costs, slow transactions, and limited adoption. ION’s horizontally scalable infrastructure ensures that both the blockchain and ION Connect can support billions of users and dApps, making it future-proof. * **Accessibility:** Blockchain adoption has been hindered by complexity and technical barriers. With ION’s dApp framework, anyone can build decentralized applications without needing coding skills. This user-friendly approach fosters mass adoption and empowers creators to bring their ideas to life. * **Adoption Without Gas Fees:** Most blockchain solutions require users to own tokens to interact with the network, creating a significant barrier for new users. ION Connect eliminates this issue with gasless interactions, making it easy for Web2 users to engage with decentralized apps without any friction. * **Flexibility for Developers and Users:** Traditional ecosystems often lock users into rigid templates or solutions. ION’s modular and flexible dApp framework allows for limitless customization, ensuring that applications evolve with user needs while maintaining a seamless experience. # The ICE Coin The **ICE Coin** is the native cryptocurrency of the Ice Open Network (ION), functioning as the core element that powers the ecosystem. It is more than just a currency; the ICE Coin facilitates transactions, incentivizes participation, enables governance, and underpins the operations of both the blockchain and the broader decentralized applications (dApps) built within the ION ecosystem. By seamlessly integrating with ION Connect and the dApp framework, the ICE Coin drives the platform’s mission of bringing Web3 to the masses. ### **Total Supply and Distribution** The ICE Coin originally operated on Binance Smart Chain with a fixed total supply of **21,150,537,435.26 ICE**. Following its migration to the ION Blockchain in November 2024, it transitioned to a proof-of-stake blockchain, introducing an inflation rate of 6% per year over its supply. The coin distribution is strategically allocated to balance incentives, promote innovation, and fund long-term ecosystem development. * **Community Mining Allocation** – 5,842,127,776.35 ICE coins – Recognizing the pivotal role of the community, half of the initial distribution is earmarked for those who actively participated in mining activities during Phase 1. This allocation is a nod to their trust, support, and contribution to the network’s foundational growth. * **Mining Rewards Pool** – 2,618,087,197.76 ICE coins locked for 5 years at BSC address [0xcF03ffFA7D25f803Ff2c4c5CEdCDCb1584C5b32C](https://bscscan.com/token/0xc335df7c25b72eec661d5aa32a7c2b7b2a1d1874?a=0xcF03ffFA7D25f803Ff2c4c5CEdCDCb1584C5b32C). This pool is used in mainnet to incentivize nodes, creators and validators. * **Team Pool** – 5,287,634,358.82 ICE coins locked for 5 years at BSC address [0x02749cD94f45B1ddac521981F5cc50E18CEf3ccC](https://bscscan.com/token/0xc335df7c25b72eec661d5aa32a7c2b7b2a1d1874?a=0x02749cD94f45B1ddac521981F5cc50E18CEf3ccC). This allocation serves as a testament to the relentless efforts, innovation, and dedication of the team behind ICE. It aims to incentivize and reward their unwavering commitment to the project’s vision and its continuous evolution. * **DAO Pool** – 3,172,580,615.29 ICE coins locked for 5 years at BSC address [0x532EFf382Adad223C0a83F3F1f7D8C60d9499a97](https://bscscan.com/token/0xc335df7c25b72eec661d5aa32a7c2b7b2a1d1874?a=0x532EFf382Adad223C0a83F3F1f7D8C60d9499a97). This pool is a reservoir of opportunities. It’s dedicated to the community, allowing them to democratically vote on and decide the best avenues for investment. Whether it’s funding a promising dApp or bolstering the network’s infrastructure, this pool ensures that the community’s voice is at the forefront of ICE’s future trajectory. * **Treasury Pool** – 2,115,053,743.53 ICE coins locked for 5 years at BSC address [0x8c9873C885302Ce2eE1a970498c1665a6DB3D650](https://bscscan.com/token/0xc335df7c25b72eec661d5aa32a7c2b7b2a1d1874?a=0x8c9873C885302Ce2eE1a970498c1665a6DB3D650). The Treasury Pool is strategically designated to provide liquidity, establish exchange partnerships, launch exchange campaigns, and cover market maker fees. This pool enhances our ability to execute strategic initiatives, strengthening ICE’s position in the market. * **Ecosystem Growth and Innovation Pool** – 2,115,053,743.53 ICE coins locked for 5 years at BSC address [0x576fE98558147a2a54fc5f4a374d46d6d9DD0b81](https://bscscan.com/token/0xc335df7c25b72eec661d5aa32a7c2b7b2a1d1874?a=0x576fE98558147a2a54fc5f4a374d46d6d9DD0b81). This pool is dedicated to fostering innovation, supporting partnerships with third-party organizations, acquiring third-party services for development and marketing, onboarding new projects within the ION ecosystem, and collaborating with external providers to expand our reach and capabilities. It aims to drive continuous growth and innovation within the Ice Open Network. This structured allocation ensures a balanced approach to growth, sustainability, and community empowerment. ### **Economic Model** The ICE Coin's economic framework is designed to support a thriving and sustainable ecosystem. A **deflationary mechanism** plays a central role, with a portion of revenues from activities such as transaction fees, smart contract execution, and other services burned to reduce the total circulating supply over time. This mechanism not only adds value to the remaining tokens but also aligns long-term incentives for all stakeholders. Revenue generated from the ecosystem is redistributed to support validators, developers, and the broader community, ensuring an equitable and sustainable economic structure. ### **Key Utilities** The ICE Coin powers the Ice Open Network in diverse and critical ways: 1. **Transaction Fees**: The ICE Coin is used for all blockchain transactions, providing low-cost, high-speed processing for all users and applications. 2. **Smart Contract Execution**: It enables the deployment and execution of smart contracts that power decentralized applications within the ecosystem. 3. **Staking and Validator Operations**: Validators secure the network by staking ICE Coins. Staking also incentivizes holders with rewards while enhancing network security. 4. **Governance Participation**: As a governance token, the ICE Coin allows holders to vote on key proposals that shape the network’s future, ensuring decentralized decision-making. 5. **dApp Framework Integration**: Developers and creators can use ICE Coins to unlock advanced features, integrate premium modules, and scale their decentralized applications seamlessly. 6. **Monetization and Tipping**: Within social and content-driven dApps, ICE Coins can be used to tip creators, unlock premium content, or participate in subscription-based services, creating new revenue streams for app owners. 7. **Ad Network Payments**: ICE Coins are central to the ION decentralized ad network, enabling businesses and creators to launch campaigns while redistributing revenue across validators, stakers, and contributors. 8. **Node Operations**: Running ION Connect nodes or validators requires staking ICE Coins, which incentivizes participants while maintaining a secure, decentralized infrastructure. ### **Integration Across the Ecosystem** The ICE Coin operates at the heart of a multi-faceted ecosystem. On the blockchain, it enables transactions, smart contracts, staking, and governance. Meanwhile, on ION Connect, it supports backend operations such as incentivizing node operators and ensuring the integrity of decentralized content management. By decoupling gas fees from user interactions, ION Connect ensures that users can interact with dApps without needing cryptocurrency, lowering the barriers for Web2 users transitioning to Web3. ### **The** ICE **Coin: Catalyst for Decentralized Innovation** The ICE Coin is much more than a cryptocurrency; it is the enabler of a decentralized future. With its comprehensive utility, deflationary economic model, and deep integration across the ION ecosystem, it drives the platform’s vision of making Web3 accessible, scalable, and user-centric. From powering financial transactions to incentivizing innovation, the ICE Coin is at the core of Ice Open Network’s mission to redefine the blockchain landscape. # Scalability and Performance Ice Open Network (ION) sets a new benchmark in scalability and performance, addressing the critical challenges of building a decentralized ecosystem capable of supporting billions of users and diverse decentralized applications (dApps). The architecture of ION leverages two core components, the ION blockchain and ION Connect, to create a comprehensive infrastructure that seamlessly combines high-speed transaction processing with efficient data management and interaction. ### **The ION Blockchain: High-Speed and Cost-Effective Transactions** At the heart of ION’s infrastructure lies its high-performance Layer 1 blockchain, which has been purpose-built to provide ultra-fast transaction speeds, low fees, and robust security. The ION blockchain processes millions of transactions per second (TPS), ensuring it can handle the demands of a rapidly growing user base and diverse application requirements. ### **Key Features of the ION Blockchain**: * **High Throughput**: Capable of millions of TPS, enabling real-time applications and enterprise-grade dApps to operate without delays. * **Low Transaction Costs**: Minimal fees make the network accessible to both developers and users, lowering barriers to adoption. * **Fast Finality**: Transactions are confirmed almost instantly, providing a seamless experience for applications that require high responsiveness. * **Smart Contract Execution**: The blockchain powers a wide range of use cases through its support for customizable and efficient smart contracts. The ION blockchain plays a critical role in ensuring the entire ecosystem remains scalable, decentralized, and cost-effective, forming the foundation for all transaction-based activities and smart contract executions. ### **ION Connect: Decentralized Data Management at Scale** While the ION blockchain handles transactions and smart contracts, ION Connect focuses on managing and processing user data, such as social profiles, posts, interactions, chats, and other types of content. Built on a decentralized and horizontally scalable architecture, ION Connect ensures that applications can handle billions of users without any compromise in performance. One of the defining features of ION Connect is its gasless model. Unlike traditional blockchain systems that require users to pay transaction fees for every interaction, ION Connect allows users to interact with dApps without needing cryptocurrency. This approach makes the platform more accessible, particularly for users transitioning from Web2 to Web3, by removing financial and technical barriers. ### **Key Features of ION Connect**: * **Horizontal Scalability**: The infrastructure scales dynamically as the user base grows, ensuring consistent performance even with billions of users. * **Gasless Transactions**: No fees are required for user interactions, making the platform intuitive and frictionless for newcomers. * **Decentralized Nodes**: ION Connect nodes are operated in a trustless environment by the community, ensuring decentralization and resilience. * **Multi-Purpose Data Handling**: The protocol supports various types of content, including social interactions, messaging, blogs, videos, and e-commerce data. ION Connect provides the backbone for the ION dApp framework, enabling developers to create applications that prioritize user experience and accessibility. This includes social media platforms, chat apps, task management tools, e-commerce solutions, and more, all supported by a highly efficient and scalable protocol. ### **Seamless Integration of Blockchain and Connect** The combination of the ION blockchain and ION Connect creates a unique, dual-layer architecture that separates transaction processing from data management. This approach not only enhances scalability but also ensures that the system can adapt to the varying demands of different applications. By delegating specific tasks to each component, ION achieves a level of efficiency and scalability that is difficult to match. * The **ION blockchain** handles monetary transactions, staking, governance, and smart contract execution, ensuring financial operations remain fast, secure, and decentralized. * **ION Connect** focuses on content and data interactions, offering a frictionless, gasless experience for end-users while maintaining a decentralized and trustless environment. This separation allows ION to deliver unparalleled performance for developers and users alike, creating a platform that is both powerful and user-friendly. ### **Scalability Without Compromise** Scalability is a fundamental requirement for blockchain networks to achieve mass adoption. Many traditional blockchains face significant challenges as user activity grows, leading to slower transaction times and higher costs. ION addresses these issues through its horizontally scalable architecture, which ensures that both the blockchain and ION Connect can expand as the ecosystem grows. #### **For the ION Blockchain**: * Increased validator participation enhances throughput and decentralization without compromising performance. * Dynamic transaction processing ensures the network remains responsive even during peak activity. #### **For ION Connect**: * The decentralized node infrastructure allows the system to handle an increasing volume of content and interactions without slowing down. * Efficient data storage and retrieval mechanisms ensure that applications can scale seamlessly with their user base. ### **Real-World Applications Enabled by ION** The scalability and performance of the ION ecosystem make it an ideal platform for a wide range of use cases: * **Social Applications**: Support millions of daily interactions, posts, and messages without delays or high costs. * **E-Commerce**: Enable seamless transactions and inventory management for global online marketplaces. * **Content Platforms**: Host and share large volumes of videos, blogs, and other media without bottlenecks. By addressing the technical and economic barriers that have hindered blockchain adoption, ION provides developers and businesses with the tools they need to create applications that cater to global audiences. ### **Future-Proof Infrastructure** ION’s architecture is designed to evolve alongside the needs of its ecosystem. As adoption grows, both the blockchain and ION Connect can scale independently to meet new challenges, ensuring the platform remains reliable, secure, and efficient. This forward-thinking approach positions ION as a leader in the blockchain space, capable of driving Web3 adoption at a global scale. By combining cutting-edge technology with user-centric design, ION delivers a platform that is both scalable and high-performing, setting a new standard for what blockchain networks can achieve. # Data Privacy and Ownership Ice Open Network (ION) places data privacy and ownership at the core of its ecosystem, redefining how individuals interact with decentralized applications (dApps) while maintaining complete control over their personal information. By leveraging innovative protocols and decentralized technologies, ION ensures that users retain autonomy over their data and enjoy a secure, censorship-resistant environment. ### User-Centric Data Control One of the key principles of ION is to empower users by giving them full control over their data. In contrast to traditional Web2 platforms, where user data is often stored on centralized servers and monetized without consent, ION employs decentralized protocols to protect user information. • Self-Sovereign Identity: Through the ION Identity service, users can create, manage, and own their digital identities. These identities are decentralized, ensuring that users are the sole custodians of their data and can decide what to share, with whom, and for how long. • Selective Data Access: dApps on ION allow users to share only the necessary data with each application, ensuring their privacy is preserved while still enabling functionality. This concept of partial and selective access ensures that users maintain control over their digital footprint. ### Decentralized Data Storage with ION Connect ION Connect provides the infrastructure for decentralized data management, enabling users to store their data across a trustless network of community-operated nodes. Unlike centralized systems, where a single point of failure can lead to breaches or loss of information, ION Connect ensures redundancy and security through its decentralized architecture. • No Central Authority: Data stored on ION Connect nodes is distributed across a network of independent operators, eliminating the risks associated with centralized data storage. • Gasless Model: Users can interact with dApps without paying transaction fees, making the ecosystem accessible while ensuring data remains decentralized and secure. • Immutable Ledger: ION Connect leverages an immutable ledger to ensure that data integrity is maintained, allowing users to trust that their information has not been altered or tampered with. ### Censorship Resistance Censorship resistance is a cornerstone of the ION ecosystem. In a world where centralized platforms can restrict or remove content at their discretion, ION provides a decentralized environment where users can freely express themselves and interact with others. • Community-Driven Governance: Decisions about content moderation and ecosystem rules are made collectively through decentralized governance mechanisms, ensuring transparency and fairness. • Decentralized Nodes: By relying on a network of independent node operators, ION ensures that no single entity has the power to control or manipulate data, making the system inherently resistant to censorship. ### Privacy by Design ION adopts a privacy-by-design approach, incorporating cutting-edge technologies to protect user data and interactions. From the ION blockchain to ION Connect, every component of the ecosystem has been designed with privacy and security in mind. • Zero-Knowledge Proofs: The use of zero-knowledge proofs allows users to verify transactions and interactions without revealing sensitive information, adding an extra layer of privacy. • Encryption: All data within the ION ecosystem is encrypted both at rest and in transit, ensuring that user information remains secure from unauthorized access. ### Real-World Use Cases for Privacy and Ownership ION’s focus on data privacy and ownership unlocks numerous real-world applications across industries: • Social Media: Users retain ownership of their profiles, posts, and interactions, ensuring their data is not exploited for advertising or other purposes. • E-Commerce: Buyers and sellers can transact without sharing unnecessary personal information, protecting their privacy and reducing the risk of fraud. • Content Creation: Creators maintain ownership of their work, ensuring they have full control over how it is shared, monetized, and distributed. • Gaming: Gamers retain ownership of in-game assets, ensuring they have the freedom to trade or transfer items without interference from centralized platforms. ### Addressing Current Market Challenges In today’s digital landscape, users face numerous challenges, including data breaches, lack of transparency, and exploitation by centralized platforms. ION addresses these issues by providing a decentralized framework that prioritizes user rights and autonomy. By eliminating intermediaries and empowering individuals, ION redefines the relationship between users and their data. ### Enabling Web3 Adoption Through Trust One of the biggest barriers to Web3 adoption is the lack of trust in how user data is managed. ION’s commitment to privacy and ownership fosters trust among users, making it easier for individuals to transition from Web2 to Web3. With ION, users can engage with dApps and services without worrying about losing control of their data or compromising their privacy. By combining decentralized data management, advanced encryption, and user-centric governance, ION is setting a new standard for privacy and ownership in the digital age. The platform not only protects users but also empowers them to take full advantage of the benefits of Web3. # Overview # Developers # Staking # Governance # Validator How to run a Validator ## OS Requirements We highly recommend installing MyIonCtrl using the supported operating systems: * Ubuntu 20.04 * Ubuntu 22.04 * Debian 11 ## Hardware Requirements ### Node Usage on Personal Local Machine {% hint style="danger" %} You shouldn't run any type of node on your personal local machine for long, even if it satisfies the requirements. Nodes actively use disks and can damage them quickly. {% endhint %} ### Validator Node #### **Minimal Hardware Requirements** * 16 cores CPU * 128 GB RAM * 1TB NVME SSD OR Provisioned 64+k IOPS storage * 1 Gbit/s network connectivity * Public IP address (fixed IP address) * 100 TB/month traffic on peak load Typically, you'll need at least a 1 Gbit/s connection to reliably accommodate peak loads (the average load is expected to be approximately 100 Mbit/s). {% hint style="info" %} We draw special attention to IOPS disk requirements, as it is crucially important for smooth network operation. {% endhint %} ### Port Forwarding All types of nodes require a static external IP address, one UDP port to be forwarded for incoming connections, and all outgoing connections to be open. The node uses random ports for new outgoing connections and must be visible to the outside world over NAT. This can be done with your network provider or by renting a server to run a node. {% hint style="info" %} You can find out which UDP port is open using the `netstat -tulpn` command. {% endhint %} ## Run a Node ### Switch to Non-Root User {% hint style="warning" %} This step is required to successfully install and use MyIonCtrl — don't ignore non-root user creation. Without this step, there will be no errors during installation, but MyIonCtrl will not work properly. {% endhint %} If you don't have a non-root user, you can create one with the following steps (otherwise skip the first two steps and go to the third): 1. Login as root and create a new user: ```bash sudo adduser ``` 2. Add your user to the sudo group: ```bash sudo usermod -aG sudo ``` 3. Log into the new user (if you are using SSH, you will need to stop the current session and reconnect with the correct user): ```bash ssh @ ``` ### Install MyIonCtrl Download and run the installation script from the non-root user account with sudo privileges: {% code overflow="wrap" %} ```bash wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ice-blockchain/myionctrl/refs/heads/ion-mainnet/scripts/install.sh sudo bash install.sh -m validator ``` {% endcode %} ### **Install Options** * `-d` - Download a dump of the latest blockchain state. This will reduce synchronization time by several times. **Dump is currently not activated. Please avoid using it.** * `-i` - Ignore minimum requirements, use it only if you want to check the compilation process without real node usage. * `-m` - Mode: can be `validator` or `liteserver`. ### Run MyIonCtrl Run MyIonCtrl console from the local user account used for installation: ```bash myionctrl ```
Check the MyIonCtrl status using the `status` command: ```bash status ``` The following statuses should be displayed: * **myioncore status**: Should be in green. * **local validator status**: Should also be in green. * **local validator out of sync**: Initially, a `n/a` string is displayed. As soon as the newly created validator connects with other validators, the number will be bigger. As synchronization progresses, this number decreases. When it falls below 20, the validator is synchronized.

Example of the status command output

Make sure you have the same output for `status`. For all nodes, the "Local Validator status" section should appear. Otherwise, check the troubleshooting section and check node logs. Wait until "Local validator out of sync" becomes less than 20 seconds. When a new node has been started, even from dump, it's needed to wait up to 3 hours before the "out of sync" number starts to decrease. This is because the node still needs to establish its place in the network, propagate its addresses via DHT tables, etc. ### Uninstall MyIonCtrl Download the script and run it: ```bash sudo bash /usr/src/myionctrl/uninstall.sh ``` ### Archive Node #### **Configuration Steps** 1. Use this configuration only if you intend to run the node as an archive node. If you are unsure about the purpose or requirements of an archive node, it is likely not suitable for your needs. 2. Update the `ExecStart` parameter in the `/etc/systemd/system/validator.service` file to include the following: 
ExecStart=/usr/bin/ion/validator-engine/validator-engine --threads 11 --daemonize --global-config /usr/bin/ion/global.config.json --db /var/ion-work/db/ --logname /var/ion-work/log --state-ttl 315360000 --archive-ttl 315360000 --block-ttl 315360000 --verbosity 1
This configuration ensures 10 years of data retention. 3. After modifying the file, reload the systemd configuration with the following command: ```bash systemctl daemon-reload ``` {% hint style="info" %} An archive node can function as either a validator or a lite-server, provided it has sufficient storage. Archive nodes require significantly more storage than standard validators, with 4 TB being the recommended minimum. {% endhint %} ## Tips & Tricks ### List of Available Commands You can use the `help` command to get a list of available commands: ```bash help ``` ## Validator Wallet ### View the List of Wallets Check out the list of available wallets in the MyIonCtrl console using the `wl` command: ```bash wl ``` During the installation of MyIonCtrl, the `validator_wallet_001` wallet is created: ### Activate the Wallets Send the necessary number of coins to the wallet and activate it. Activate the wallet using the `aw` command (wallet name is optional; if no arguments provided, it will activate all available wallets): ```bash aw [wallet name] ``` You should set the stake size: ```bash set stake 1500001 ``` ### Your Validator is Now Ready `myioncore` will automatically join the elections. If the bet is accepted and your node becomes a validator, the bet can only be withdrawn in the second election (according to the rules of the electorate). ## Maintain Guidelines ### Slashing of Poor Validators If the validator processes less than 90% of the expected number of blocks during a validation round, it will be fined by 404 ICE. As an ION validator, follow these crucial steps to ensure network stability and avoid slashing penalties in the future. ### Essential Actions * Ensure your hardware meets or exceeds minimal system requirements. * Use MyIonCtrl. * Keep MyIonCtrl updated as per notifications. * Set up monitoring dashboards for RAM, Disk, Network, and CPU usage. * Monitor the efficiency of your validator with dashboards. * Check with MyIonCtrl via `check_ef`. * Build dashboards with APIs. ### Validation and Effectiveness APIs MyIonCtrl allows checking the effectiveness of validators via the `check_ef` command, which outputs your validator efficiency data for the last round and the current round. This command retrieves data by calling the `checkloadall` utility. Ensure that your efficiency is greater than 90% for the full round period. {% hint style="info" %} In case of low efficiency, take action to fix the problem. {% endhint %} ### Database Grooming ION Node/Validator keeps its database within the path specified by the `--db` flag of validator-engine, usually `/var/ion-work/db`. This directory is created and managed by the node, but it is recommended to perform a database grooming/cleanup task once a month to remove some artifacts. {% hint style="danger" %} Do not forget to stop the validator process before performing these steps, as failure to do so will likely cause database corruption. {% endhint %} #### **Steps for Database Cleanup** 1. Switch to root user: ```bash sudo -s ``` 2. Stop the validator service: ```bash systemctl stop validator ``` 3. Verify that the validator is not running: ```bash systemctl status validator ``` 4. Perform database cleanup: ```bash find /var/ion-work/db -name 'LOG.old*' -exec rm {} + ``` 5. Start the validator service: ```bash systemctl start validator ``` 6. Verify that the validator process is running by analyzing the processes and log. The validator should re-sync with the network within a few minutes. ### Backups The easiest and most efficient way to backup the validator is to copy crucial node configuration files, keys, and MyIonCtrl settings: * Node configuration file: `/var/ion-work/db/config.json` * Node private keyring: `/var/ion-work/db/keyring` * Node public keys: `/var/ion-work/keys` * MyIonCtrl configuration and wallets: `$HOME/.local/share/myion*` (where `$HOME` is the home directory of the user who started the installation of MyIonCtrl) or `/usr/local/bin/myioncore` if installed as root. This set is everything you need to perform a recovery of your node from scratch. ### Snapshots Modern file systems, such as ZFS, offer snapshot functionality, and most cloud providers also allow customers to make snapshots of their machines, preserving the entire disk for future use. {% hint style="warning" %} You must stop the node before performing a snapshot. Failure to do so will most likely result in a corrupt database with unexpected consequences. {% endhint %} Snapshots should not be performed often. If you snapshot your node once a week, then in the worst-case scenario, after recovery, you will have a week-old database, and it will take your node more time to catch up with the network than to perform a new installation using MyIonCtrl's "install from dump" feature (`-d` flag). ### Disaster Recovery To perform recovery of your node on a new machine: 1. Install MyIonCtrl/node (add `-d` switch for faster node initialization). 2. Switch to root user: ```bash sudo -s ``` 3. Stop MyIonCore and validator processes: ```bash systemctl stop validator systemctl stop myioncore ``` 4. Apply backed-up node configuration files: * Node configuration file: `/var/ion-work/db/config.json` * Node private keyring: `/var/ion-work/db/keyring` * Node public keys: `/var/ion-work/keys` 5. Set node IP address (if different): * Edit `/var/ion-work/db/config.json` and set the leaf `.addrs[0].ip` to the decimal representation of the new IP address. You can use a Python script to convert your IP to decimal. 6. Ensure proper database permissions: ```bash chown -R validator:validator /var/ion-work/db ``` 7. Apply backed-up MyIonCtrl configuration files: * Replace `$HOME/.local/share/myion*` (ensure that the user is the owner of all files copied). 8. Start MyIonCore and validator processes: ```bash systemctl start validator systemctl start myioncore ``` ## Security ### **Host Level Security** Never install MyIonCtrl under the root user. Use a service account to ensure privilege separation. ### **Network Level Security** ION Validators are high-value assets that should be protected against external threats. Make your node as invisible as possible by locking down all network connections. On a validator node, only the UDP port used for node operations should be exposed to the internet. ### **Tools** * `ufw` firewall interface * `jq` JSON command line processor ### **Setup** 1. Install `ufw` and `jq`: ```bash sudo apt install -y ufw jq ``` 2. Basic lockdown of `ufw` ruleset: ```bash sudo ufw default deny incoming; sudo ufw default allow outgoing ``` 3. Disable automated ICMP echo request accept: 
sudo sed -i 's/-A ufw-before-input -p icmp --icmp-type echo-request -j ACCEPT/#-A ufw-before-input -p icmp --icmp-type echo-request -j ACCEPT/g' /etc/ufw/before.rules
4. Enable access from management networks: ```bash sudo ufw insert 1 allow from ``` Repeat for each management network/address. 5. Expose node/validator UDP port to public: 
sudo ufw allow proto udp from any to any port `sudo jq -r '.addrs[0].port' /var/ion-work/db/config.json`
6. Double-check your management networks. 7. Enable `ufw` firewall: ```bash sudo ufw enable ``` 8. To check the firewall status: ```bash sudo ufw status numbered ``` Example output of a locked-down node with two management networks: ``` Status: active To Action From -- ------ ---- [ 1] Anywhere ALLOW IN /28 [ 2] Anywhere ALLOW IN /32 [ 3] /udp ALLOW IN Anywhere [ 4] /udp (v6) ALLOW IN Anywhere (v6) ``` ### **Expose LiteServer Port** {% code overflow="wrap" %} ```bash sudo ufw allow proto tcp from any to any port `sudo jq -r '.liteservers[0].port' /var/ion-work/db/config.json` ``` {% endcode %} {% hint style="warning" %} The LiteServer port should not be exposed publicly on a validator. {% endhint %} ### **IP Switch** If you believe that your node is under attack, consider switching your IP address. The approach depends on your hosting provider, such as pre-ordering a second address, cloning your stopped VM, or setting up a new instance via the disaster recovery process. {% hint style="info" %} Ensure you update your new IP address in the node configuration file. {% endhint %} # Slashing ## # Overview # ION Connect # ION Vault # ION Liberty # ION Identity # Overview # Drag and Drop Builder # Templates # Tokenized Communities # Tokenized Content # Case Studies # dApp Framework # Smart Contracts # ION Blockchain Nodes # ION DNS # ION Proxy and Sites # ION Storage # ION Gateway