aztec-docker

Overview

The Aztec Network is a privacy-focused blockchain platform designed to enable secure and private transactions. This guide provides instructions for setting up and running an Aztec sequencer node, a critical component of the network infrastructure.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have the following:

• Aztec CLI Tool: Install the Aztec CLI tool and verify the correct version for the testnet using aztec-up alpha-testnet.
• Operating System: A Linux or macOS machine with terminal access.
• Community Support: Join the Aztec Discord for assistance and updates.

Setting Up Your Sequencer

The aztec start command simplifies the process of running a sequencer node. It uses default configurations based on the --network flag and launches a Docker container with the sequencer software.

Required Components

1. RPC Endpoints:

   • L1 Execution Client: Specify via --l1-rpc-urls or the ETHEREUM_HOSTS environment variable.
   • L1 Consensus Client: Specify via --l1-consensus-host-urls or the L1_CONSENSUS_HOST_URLS environment variable.

2. Ethereum Keys:

   • Private Key: Set using --sequencer.validatorPrivateKey.
   • Public Address: Specify using --sequencer.coinbase.

3. Networking:

   • Forward UDP and TCP traffic on port 40400 to your local IP.
   • Pass your external IP address to --p2p.p2pIp.

4. Sepolia ETH:

   • Obtain Sepolia ETH for gas costs via a faucet or the Aztec Discord.

   Environment Configuration

   Before starting the sequencer, you need to configure your environment variables. Follow these steps:

   1. Copy the example environment file:

      cp example.env .env

   2. Open the .env file in a text editor and fill in the required values:

      # Environment Variables
      
      # Ethereum RPC URL for the L1 execution client
      ETHEREUM_HOSTS=https://eth-sepolia.g.alchemy.com/v2/
      
      # Ethereum RPC URL for the L1 consensus client
      L1_CONSENSUS_HOST_URLS=https://ethereum-sepolia.core.chainstack.com/beacon/
      
      # Ethereum private key for the sequencer
      VALIDATOR_PRIVATE_KEY=
      
      # Public address associated with your private key
      COINBASE_ADDRESS=0x95
      
      # Log level for debugging
      LOG_LEVEL=debug
      
      # Data directory for storing sequencer data
      DATA_DIRECTORY=/data

   3. Save the .env file after making the changes.