Running a Node

This guide explains how to run and manage Ethereum nodes on your ARM device using systemd services.

Important

You need to run both an Execution Layer client and a Consensus Layer client simultaneously. Choose any EL+CL combination (we recommend minority clients), but keep them running together.

Quick Navigation

🔧 Managing Clients

Start, stop, and monitor your node services with systemd.

Essential

Managing Clients
📊 Node Types

Full nodes, archive nodes, light clients—understand the differences.

Ethereum nodes
⚡ Layer 1 Clients

Run Ethereum mainnet with Geth, Nethermind, Lighthouse, Teku, and more.

Production Ready

Running Layer 1 nodes
🚀 Layer 2 Clients

Arbitrum, Optimism, Starknet, and other L2 scaling solutions.

Production Ready

Running Layer 2 nodes
🌐 Web3 Stack

IPFS, Swarm, and decentralized storage solutions.

Running web3 stack
🧪 Testnets

Practice on Sepolia, Hoodi, and other test networks.

Running on Testnets

What You’ll Learn

Managing Systemd Services

Learn to control your Ethereum clients with systemd:

sudo systemctl start geth          # Start a service
sudo systemctl stop lighthouse     # Stop a service
sudo journalctl -u geth -f         # View live logs

Full guide →

Understanding Node Types

Different node types serve different purposes:

  • Full Node: Stores recent state, validates new blocks

  • Archive Node: Stores complete historical state

  • Light Client: Minimal storage, relies on full nodes

Learn more →

Running Layer 1 Clients

Ethereum mainnet requires two clients working together:

Execution Layer (choose one): Geth, Nethermind, Besu, Erigon, Reth

Consensus Layer (choose one): Lighthouse, Prysm, Teku, Nimbus, Lodestar, Grandine

Setup guide →

Running Layer 2 Clients

Scale Ethereum with Layer 2 solutions:

  • Arbitrum - Optimistic rollup

  • Optimism/Base - OP Stack chains

  • Starknet - ZK rollup

  • Fuel Network - Modular execution layer

L2 guide →

Hardware Requirements

Setup

RAM

Storage

Use Case

Full Node

16 GB

2 TB NVMe

Standard operation

Staking Node

16 GB

2 TB NVMe

Validator + beacon

Archive Node

32 GB

4+ TB NVMe

Historical queries

L2 Node

16-32 GB

2-4 TB NVMe

Depends on L2

Tip

Start with the Managing Clients guide if you’re new to Ethereum on ARM.

Next Steps

  1. New users: Start with Download and Install

  2. Run L1: Follow Running Layer 1 nodes

  3. Run L2: Follow Running Layer 2 nodes

  4. Stake: See Solo Staking