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Setting Up a Full Node on CrossFi: A Beginner-Friendly Guide

Introduction

Running a full node on the CrossFi blockchain allows you to participate in network validation, verify transactions, and contribute to decentralization. Whether you’re a developer, validator, or blockchain enthusiast, setting up a node is a great way to interact with the CrossFi ecosystem.

This guide will walk you through every step of setting up a CrossFi full node, from installation to synchronization.

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

✅ Install and configure a CrossFi full node

✅ Connect to the CrossFi network and sync with the blockchain

✅ Monitor your node’s status and logs

✅ Troubleshoot common setup issues

Let’s get started! 🚀

1. Prerequisites

Before installing the CrossFi node software, ensure you have:

🖥️ System Requirements:

  • CPU: 4+ cores
  • RAM: 8GB minimum (16GB recommended)
  • Storage: 500GB+ SSD
  • OS: Ubuntu 20.04+ (or any Linux distribution with systemd)
  • Internet: A stable high-speed connection

📝 Installed dependencies:
Run the following command to update your system and install required tools:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install build-essential git curl jq -y
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2. Installing the CrossFi Node Software

The official CrossFi node software (crossfid) is available on GitHub. Let’s install it step by step.

Step 1: Download and Install CrossFi Node Software

1️⃣ Download the prebuilt binary from the official CrossFi GitHub releases:

wget https://github.com/crossfichain/crossfi-node/releases/download/v0.3.0-prebuild3/crossfi-node_0.3.0-prebuild3_linux_amd64.tar.gz
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2️⃣ Extract the downloaded file:

tar -xf crossfi-node_0.3.0-prebuild3_linux_amd64.tar.gz
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3️⃣ Clone the CrossFi testnet repository:

git clone https://github.com/crossfichain/testnet.git
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4️⃣ Start the node using the extracted binary:

./bin/crossfid start --home ./testnet
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To check if the installation was successful, run:

./bin/crossfid version
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If the installation was successful, you should see output similar to:

v0.3.0-prebuild3
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3. Initializing Your CrossFi Node

Now that crossfid is installed, it’s time to initialize your node.

🔹 Run the following command to initialize your node:

./bin/crossfid init my-node --chain-id crossfi-1 --home ./testnet
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This command:

  • Creates necessary configuration files inside ./testnet
  • Prepares your node to connect to the CrossFi blockchain
  • Assigns a unique identifier (my-node) to your node (you can change this name)

4. Configuring the Node

To connect your node to the CrossFi network, you must configure its settings.

Step 1: Connect to Peers

🔹 Open the configuration file:

nano ./testnet/config/config.toml
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🔹 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>"
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Save the file (CTRL + X, then Y, and ENTER).

Step 2: Configure Minimum Gas Prices

To set minimum gas prices, edit the app.toml file:

nano ./testnet/config/app.toml
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Find the minimum-gas-prices setting and update it:

minimum-gas-prices = "0.0025mpx"
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Save and exit.

5. Running and Syncing Your Node

Now it’s time to start your node and sync it with the blockchain.

🔹 Run the following command:

./bin/crossfid start --home ./testnet
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Your node will begin downloading blockchain data. This process may take several hours, depending on your system’s performance and internet speed.

To check if your node is syncing, run:

./bin/crossfid status --home ./testnet | jq .sync_info
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Example output:

{
  "latest_block_height": "563902",
  "catching_up": true
}
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🔹 When catching_up becomes false, your node is fully synced!

6. Monitoring Your Node

To ensure your node is running smoothly, use the following commands:

Check Logs in Real-Time 

tail -f ./testnet/logs/crossfid.log
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Check Sync Status 

./bin/crossfid status --home ./testnet | jq .sync_info
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Check Node ID 

./bin/crossfid tendermint show-node-id --home ./testnet
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7. Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you encounter problems, here are some common solutions:

1. Node Won’t Start

Check the logs for errors:

tail -f ./testnet/logs/crossfid.log
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2. Node is Stuck Syncing

Try resetting your node and restarting:

./bin/crossfid unsafe-reset-all --home ./testnet
./bin/crossfid start --home ./testnet
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3. Validator Got Jailed?

If you are running a validator and it gets jailed, unjail it with:

./bin/crossfid tx slashing unjail --from <your-wallet-name> --chain-id crossfi-1 --home ./testnet --gas=auto
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8. Conclusion

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

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