🔧 Mastering CrossFi Node Setup: A Beginner-Friendly Guide

Introduction

CrossFi is a blockchain network designed for cross-chain asset transfers and interoperability. Running a full node allows you to verify transactions, contribute to the network, and even become a validator. If you’re new to blockchain infrastructure, this guide will walk you through everything step by step.

By the end of this guide, you’ll learn how to:

✅ Install and configure a CrossFi node

✅ Connect to the network and sync the blockchain

✅ Monitor your node’s status and logs

✅ Troubleshoot common issues

Let’s get started! 🚀

1. Installing the CrossFi Node Software

Step 1: Install Required Software

Before we install the CrossFi node software (crossfid), we need to install some dependencies on your Linux machine.

📝 Run the following commands in your terminal (Press CTRL + ALT + T to open a terminal on Linux or use an SSH client if running a remote server):

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install build-essential git curl jq -y

Next, install Go (Golang), which is needed to compile CrossFi’s source code.

wget https://go.dev/dl/go1.19.10.linux-amd64.tar.gz
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/go
sudo tar -C /usr/local -xzf go1.19.10.linux-amd64.tar.gz

Now, update your system’s PATH so Go is recognized:

echo 'export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/go/bin' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Verify that Go is installed:

go version

You should see output like go1.19.10 linux/amd64.

Step 2: Download and Install CrossFi Node Software

Now, let’s install the CrossFi node software.

1️⃣ Clone the official CrossFi repository:

git clone https://github.com/crossfi-project/crossfi.git
cd crossfi

2️⃣ Check out the latest version (You can find the latest version in the CrossFi GitHub repository):

git checkout v1.0.0

3️⃣ Compile and install CrossFi software:

make install

To check if the installation was successful, run:

crossfid version

You should see output like v1.0.0.

2. Initializing Your CrossFi Node

Before your node can start, it needs some basic configuration. Run this command to initialize your node:

crossfid init my-node --chain-id crossfi-1

🔹 This creates necessary configuration files inside ~/.crossfid/

🔹 Replace my-node with a unique name for your node.

3. Configuring the Node

Step 1: Connect to Peers

To sync with the CrossFi network, your node needs to connect to other nodes. Edit the configuration file by running:

nano ~/.crossfid/config/config.toml

🔹 Locate the seeds and persistent_peers sections and add official peer addresses (Check the CrossFi documentation for the latest peer list).

Example:

seeds = "<seed-node-address>"
persistent_peers = "<peer-node-address>"

Save the file by pressing CTRL + X, then Y, and hit ENTER.

Step 2: Enable Pruning (Optional)

If you want to save disk space, edit the pruning settings in app.toml:

nano ~/.crossfid/config/app.toml

Find the pruning section and change it to:

pruning = "custom"
pruning-keep-recent = "100"
pruning-interval = "10"

Save and exit (CTRL + X, Y, ENTER).

Step 3: Configure Minimum Gas Prices

This helps prevent spam transactions. Open app.toml and update the fees section:

nano ~/.crossfid/config/app.toml

Locate:

minimum-gas-prices = "0.0025mpx"

Save and exit.

4. Running and Syncing Your Node

Start the node by running:

crossfid start

Your node will begin downloading blockchain data. This can take several hours.

To keep your node running in the background:

nohup crossfid start > crossfi.log 2>&1 &

To check if your node is syncing, run:

crossfid status | jq .sync_info

Example output:

{
  "latest_block_height": "563902",
  "catching_up": true
}

When catching_up becomes false, your node is fully synced!

5. Monitoring Your Node

Check Logs in Real-Time

tail -f ~/.crossfid/logs/crossfid.log

Check Sync Status

crossfid status | jq .sync_info

Check Node ID

crossfid tendermint show-node-id

6. Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. Node Won’t Start

Run:

tail -f ~/.crossfid/logs/crossfid.log

Check for errors.

2. Node is Stuck Syncing

Add more peers in config.toml and restart the node:

crossfid unsafe-reset-all
crossfid start

3. Validator Got Jailed?

Unjail your validator:

crossfid tx slashing unjail --from <your-wallet-name> --chain-id crossfi-1 --gas=auto

Conclusion

Congratulations! 🎉 You’ve successfully set up a CrossFi full node.

What’s Next?

✅ Set up automatic monitoring using scripts.

✅ Learn how to become a validator and earn rewards.

✅ Join the CrossFi governance system and vote on proposals.

If you have any issues, check the official CrossFi docs or ask in the community forums. Happy node running! 🚀