Introduction to Node Operations

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Introduction to Node Operations

Understanding validator node operations on the Canton Network Global Synchronizer

The Global Synchronizer is the public coordination layer of Canton Network, operated by a decentralized set of validators. This section introduces what it means to operate a node on this network.

What is a Validator?

A validator (also called participant node) is infrastructure that:

Hosts parties: Stores contract data for the parties it hosts
Participates in consensus: Confirms transactions affecting its parties
Exposes APIs: Provides Ledger API access for applications
Connects to the Global Synchronizer: Provides connectivity to other validators on the Canton Network

flowchart TB
    subgraph Validator[Your Validator Node]
        PART[Participant<br>Canton runtime]
        DB[(Database<br>Party contracts)]
        API[Ledger API<br>gRPC / JSON]
        PQS[PQS<br>SQL queries]
    end

    subgraph GS[Global Synchronizer]
        SEQ[Sequencer]
        MED[Mediator]
    end

    App[Your Applications] --> API
    App --> PQS
    API --> PART
    PART --> DB
    PQS --> PART
    PART <--> SEQ
    SEQ <--> MED

Validator vs. Super Validator

Validators:

Host parties and store contracts
Expose Ledger APIs for applications
Operated by application operators and enterprises

Super Validators:

Operate synchronizer infrastructure (sequencer, mediator nodes)
Participate in network governance
Operated by major institutions and approved operators

As a validator, you:

Run your own participant node
Host parties for your users/applications
Pay traffic fees in Canton Coin
Are expected to keep your node updated with versions mandated by the network
Do not operate synchronizer components (sequencer/mediator)
Do not participate directly in network governance
Do not run BFT consensus nodes

Network Environments

Canton Network operates across four environments:

LocalNet: Local development environment, accessible to anyone, uses local test CC
DevNet: Integration testing environment, requires VPN and sponsorship, uses faucet for test CC
TestNet: Staging environment, requires application process, uses faucet for test CC
MainNet: Production environment, requires full onboarding, CC has real value

Progression Path

flowchart LR
    LOCAL[LocalNet<br>Your machine] --> DEV[DevNet<br>Shared test env]
    DEV --> TEST[TestNet<br>Staging]
    TEST --> MAIN[MainNet<br>Production]

    style LOCAL fill:#0277bd,color:#fff
    style DEV fill:#ef6c00,color:#fff
    style TEST fill:#7b1fa2,color:#fff
    style MAIN fill:#2e7d32,color:#fff

Moving between environments requires:

LocalNet → DevNet: VPN credentials, Super Validator sponsorship
DevNet → TestNet: Application approval, IP whitelisting
TestNet → MainNet: Full onboarding process, operational readiness

Operating Models

You have two primary options for running validator infrastructure:

Option 1: Self-Hosted

Run your own validator infrastructure on your own (or cloud) servers.

Aspect	Details
Control	Full control over infrastructure
Responsibility	You manage operations, upgrades, security
Requirements	Technical expertise, operational capacity
Cost	Infrastructure costs + operational overhead

Best for: Organizations with DevOps/SRE capacity, specific compliance requirements, or need for full control.

Option 2: Node-as-a-Service

Use a provider to host and manage your validator infrastructure.

Aspect	Details
Control	Configuration control; provider manages operations
Responsibility	Provider handles upgrades, availability
Requirements	Contract with provider
Cost	Service fees

Best for: Teams focused on application development, organizations without infrastructure expertise.

What Running a Validator Involves

Day-to-Day Operations

Task	Frequency	Description
Monitoring	Continuous	Health checks, performance metrics
Log management	Continuous	Capture and analyze logs
Upgrades	Weekly-monthly	Keep pace with network versions
Traffic management	As needed	Ensure Canton Coin balance for fees
Backup	Regular	Database and identity backups

Upgrade Expectations

The Global Synchronizer upgrades frequently:

Type	Frequency	Impact
Minor updates	Weekly-monthly	Usually backward compatible
Feature releases	Quarterly	May require configuration changes
Security patches	As needed	Critical; rapid deployment required

Validators must keep pace with network upgrades. Falling behind versions can result in disconnection from the network.

Getting Started

Prerequisites

Before deploying a validator, ensure you have:

Sponsorship: A Super Validator must sponsor your onboarding
Infrastructure: Meet the infrastructure requirements
Technical capacity: Team capable of operating containerized services
Canton Coin: Budget for traffic fees (TestNet/MainNet)

Onboarding Process

Contact a Super Validator sponsor (list at canton.foundation)
Provide your egress IP for network allowlisting
Wait for allowlisting (typically 2-7 days)
Obtain onboarding secret from your sponsor
Deploy your validator with the onboarding configuration
Verify connectivity and begin operations

DevNet is the recommended starting point for testing. DevNet secrets can be obtained via API and are valid for 1 hour. TestNet and MainNet secrets require manual provision from your sponsor.

Key Responsibilities

As a validator operator, you are responsible for:

Responsibility	Description
Availability	Keep your node running and connected
Security	Protect your infrastructure and keys
Upgrades	Stay current with network versions
Traffic	Maintain Canton Coin balance for fees
Compliance	Meet any regulatory requirements for your jurisdiction

What You Don’t Need to Worry About

The Global Synchronizer handles:

Consensus: Super Validators run BFT consensus
Governance: The Global Synchronizer Foundation (GSF) manages network parameters. GSF is the non-profit foundation that governs the Global Synchronizer.
Sequencing: Synchronizer orders transactions
Mediation: Synchronizer manages confirmations

Next Steps

Hardware, software, and network requirements. Understand your responsibilities as a validator.

Mirrored from Canton Network official documentation (CC-BY-4.0) by CC Privacy Club for learning purposes.