# Thousand Validators Getting Started

## Getting Started

As a validator, getting nominations can be hard. The Thousand Validators Programme helps validators bootstrap themselves and cultivate a community around their reputation.

By applying and following the setup instructions, you will be eligible to receive nominations from Web3 Foundation and Parity Technologies to help kickstart your Kusama node.

We require:
- Validators run a validator node with at least one sentry node
- Validators have a minimum stash in their accounts (50 KSM)
- Validator nodes connect to a private telemetry
- Validators charge no more than 10% commission
- A one-week monitoring period to ensure validator and sentry nodes have stable operations.
- All nodes must upgrade to the latest version within 12 hours of its release if it is labeled "critical" or "high" priority and 24 hours if it is labeled "medium" or "low" priority

Validators meeting the above requirements will obtain a rotation of nominations per period of successful operation. The cadence of nominations is relative to their rank in the programme, where upon performing their duty successfully per period, validators will move up a rank. If a validator fails for any reason (slashing, getting kicked out the validator set, not upgrading on time), that validator's rank will be halved. If a validator gets slashed, or receives five halvings they will be suspended from nominations and will need to re-apply. These rankings will be made public, to help a validator establish their reputation.

# Applying to the Programme

The following are required to apply to the programme:
- Sentry Node Network ID
- Validator Node Name
- Stash Account Address
- Emergency Phone Number
- Email
- Riot Handle

# Setting up a Sentry Node

A validator node should connect to only sentry nodes, as sentry nodes will protect the validator node from the public internet. More information on how to setup and configure sentry nodes can be found [here](https://wiki.polkadot.network/docs/en/maintain-guides-how-to-setup-sentry-node).

In order to apply to the programme, each participant must supply the network id of at least one of their sentry nodes. The network id can be retrieved in multiple ways:

1.) Retrieving the network id from logs:

Upon starting or restarting a node, the network id will be logged

2.) Retrieving the network id from RPC calls:
The network id can also be retrieved as the `peerId` field of the `system_networkState` RPC call

curl -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"id":1, "jsonrpc":"2.0", "method": "system_networkState", "params":[]}' http://localhost:9933 | sed 's/{.*peerId":"*\([0-9a-zA-Z]*\)"*,*.*}/\1/'

# Setting up a Validator Node

Setting up a validator node must be done with the utmost security in mind. As the bonded funds of the validator and nominators are at stake, getting slashed can result in up to 100% of funds lost. More information on setting up a validator node can be found [here](https://wiki.polkadot.network/docs/en/maintain-guides-how-to-validate-kusama)

In order to participate in the programme, the validator node must connect to a private telemetry endpoint for monitoring. The following flag must be added to the validator node:

--telemetry-url wss://telemetry-backend.w3f.community/submit

Note: node names must remain the same throughout the course of the program

# Setting up Accounts

In order to apply and participate in the program, the stash account bonded must have at least 50 KSM in it at all times.

In addition to that, the validator must set of a commision of no more than 10%.

Both of these will be checked on a routine basis, and changes to these against the outlined rules will result in negative consequences.

# FAQ

- Is running a sentry node mandatory?

Yes, running at least one sentry node is mandatory, as it is a key part of having secure validator node architecture. Sentry nodes act as a first layer of defense against against DDoS attacks against a validator. Just having a sentry node attached to a validator node is not enough, however. It's important that the validator node sits inside a VPN, as to not expose itself to the public internet. If a sentry node is attacked and goes offline, other instances can be provisioned to replace it. DDoS attacks should never make it to the validator.

- What do ranks mean?

Ranks determine how much nomination will be given to a validator. This is important in particular when the validator set size is smaller. Ranks additionally are representative of the validator's reputation.

- What happens when the rules are violated?

If a validator gets slashed by their own accord, they will be kicked out of the programme and must reapply. For other offenses (such as changing comission, minimum KSM in stash account, getting kicked out of the validator set, etc), a validators rank will be halved. Upon the third offense, a validator will be kicked out of the programme and will need to reapply.

- Why no more than 10% comission?

This is what Parity and the Web 3 Foundation has deemed fair for awarding nominations.

- How do I connect to a private telemetry?

Add the following flag to the validator node:

--telemetry-url wss://telemetry-backend.w3f.community/submit

Note, a node can connect to multiple telemetry endpoints at once by providing this flag along with a telemetry url multiple times.

- How do I upgrade my nodes?

More information on how to upgrade validator nodes can be found [here](https://wiki.polkadot.network/docs/en/maintain-guides-how-to-upgrade).

- Where will I be notified about new releases?

Subscribe to the Kusama Announcements channel on Riot to get notified about new releases.