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Operate a Stake Pool

Cardano Operate a Stake Pool

There are excellent guidelines available on how to set up cardano-node as a stake pool. You may even set one up without any prior Linux experience or concern for best practices. Simply copy and paste the commands from the instructions into your shell.

Unfortunately, simply getting your node up and running is insufficient. You must be able to manage, update, and safeguard it. To do so, you must first comprehend what you are doing in one of the testnets. Consider this category an entry point into the Cardano Pool Operator Community.

What are the prerequisites for persons who wish to learn how to run a stake pool?​

  • Knowledge of how to manage a server. You must be familiar with the operating system of your choosing in order to administer, maintain, and secure your server.
  • This includes a thorough understanding of how networks operate, as well as how to backup and restore data.
  • Experienced in interpreting documentation and implementing best practices.
  • Understand Cardano, blockchain, wallets, and key pairs on a fundamental level.

What if I don't meet the requirements?​

If you don't meet all of the qualifications, you'll need a strong desire to study and the understanding that you won't be able to learn everything in a few weeks.

We observed people who had no prior knowledge of Linux, shells, or networking, but who were committed and had enough time to properly deal with it, and who now manage a profitable stake pool. It isn't for everyone, and it isn't going to be simple. Here are a few resources to get you started:

Choose security over comfort​

Best practices should always be a key consideration when running a stake pool. Security isn't something you can turn on or off or change in a configuration file. It is both an attitude and a way of life, therefore consider following the security related topics with stake pool operators on the Cardano Forum. Make sure to fully understand Cardano Key Pairs in the basic category.

Learn the basics​

The basic category starts with learning about relay and block producer topology, what the hardware requirements are, which keys are available, which are hot and sensitive, and which you should never save on a server, no matter how convenient it is.

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If you would like to do a deep dive on technical concepts please visit Consensus and Network & Communication

Stake pool operator resources​

Stake pool operator channels​

t.me/CardanoStakePoolWorkgroup
Best practice workgroup on Telegram for stake pool operators. This group is hectic. A good resource to search for answers.

Cardano Forum - SPO
If you care about well structured, long format discussions, visit the stake pool operator categories on forum.cardano.org.