# Run Read-Only Node

## Validator Parameters

* **Minimum hardware requirements**: AWS EC2 m5.large with 8GB RAM, 2 vCPUs, and at least 300GB of Amazon EBS General Purpose SSD (gp2) storage (or equivalent).
* We would recommend going with Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS (64-bit). 

### **Network Settings**

Open up port 22 for SSH, as well as port 7946 for both TCP and UDP traffic. A custom port can be used with "--port \<port>" flag when running your Opera node.

## Install Required Tools

You are still logged in as the new user via SSH. Now we are going to install **Go** and **Opera**.

First, install the required build tools:

```
# Install build-essential
(validator)$ sudo apt-get install -y build-essential
# Install go
(validator)$ wget https://go.dev/dl/go1.19.3.linux-amd64.tar.gz
(validator)$ sudo tar -xvf go1.19.3.linux-amd64.tar.gz
(validator)$ sudo mv go /usr/local
# Export go paths
(validator)$ vi ~/.bash_aliases
# Append the following lines
export GOROOT=/usr/local/go
export GOPATH=$HOME/go
export PATH=$GOPATH/bin:$GOROOT/bin:$PATH
#
source ~/.bash_aliases
```

## Run a Read Node

You can run your read node using go-opera 1.1.3-rc.5 (full sync or snapsync mode).

```
# Install Opera
(validator)$ git clone https://github.com/Fantom-foundation/go-opera.git
(validator)$ cd go-opera/
(validator)$ git checkout release/1.1.3-rc.5
(validator)$ make
```

Validate your Opera installation:

```
$./build/opera help

VERSION:
1.1.3-rc.5
```

**db.preset**

When using version 1.1.3, you need to add the **db.preset** argument (introduced since 1.1.2) to the starting Opera command. You can see options for this parameters with **`opera help`** command. For standard conditions, please use this option:

* db.preset=ldb-1

You can use different db presets, either `--db.preset ldb-1` OR `--db.preset legacy-db` or `--db.preset pbl-1`.  Note that ldb-1 is recommended.

Download a genesis file from this [list of genesis files](https://github.com/Fantom-foundation/lachesis_launch/blob/master/docs/genesis-files.md).&#x20;

```
# Start opera node
(validator)$ cd build/
(validator)$ wget https://download.fantom.network/testnet-6226-no-mpt.g
(validator)$ nohup ./opera --genesis testnet-6226-no-mpt.g --nousb \
            --db.preset ldb-1 &
```

You can start a node with a syncmode flag. There are two possible options:

* &#x20;"--syncmode snap", and
* "--syncmode full" (by default).

For **archive** node and **validator** node, you should use full syncmode.

For the latest update, please check [our GitHub](https://github.com/Fantom-foundation/lachesis_launch).