# Validator Guide

## Table of Contents

1. [Installation 🔧](#installation)
2. [Validator Requirements ⚠️](#validator-requirements-⚠️)
3. [Registration ✍️](#registration)
   - [Scripted Registration](#scripted-registration)
4. [Validating ✅](#validating)

## Before You Proceed ⚠️

**Ensure you're running Subtensor locally** to minimize outages and improve performance.  
Refer to the [Run a Subtensor Node Locally guide](https://github.com/opentensor/subtensor/blob/main/docs/running-subtensor-locally.md#compiling-your-own-binary).

**Check the minimum compute requirements** for our subnet, defined in the [Minimum compute YAML configuration](../min_compute.yml).

---

## Installation

Clone the repository and navigate to the project directory:

```bash
git clone https://github.com/natixnetwork/natix-subnet.git && cd natix-subnet
```

Python **3.11** is required. Create a virtual environment and install validator dependencies:

```bash
python3.11 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate
pip install -r requirements.validator.txt
```

To also run synthetic image generation (optional background process):

```bash
pip install -r requirements.validator-full.txt
```



## Acquiring a UID

### Mainnet Registration

```bash
btcli s register --netuid 72 --wallet.name [wallet_name] --wallet.hotkey [wallet.hotkey] --subtensor.network finney
```

### Testnet Registration

```bash
btcli s register --netuid 323 --wallet.name [wallet_name] --wallet.hotkey [wallet.hotkey] --subtensor.network test
```
---

## Validating

Update your `validator.env` file with your configuration:

```bash
NETUID=72
SUBTENSOR_NETWORK=finney
SUBTENSOR_CHAIN_ENDPOINT=wss://entrypoint-finney.opentensor.ai:443

WALLET_NAME=default
WALLET_HOTKEY=default

VALIDATOR_AXON_PORT=8092
VALIDATOR_PROXY_PORT=10913
PROXY_CLIENT_URL=https://hydra.natix.network
DEVICE=cuda

WANDB_API_KEY=your_wandb_api_key_here
HUGGING_FACE_TOKEN=your_hugging_face_token_here
```

To run the validator:
```bash
pm2 start scripts/ecosystem.validator.config.js
```

Optional flags:
- `--no-auto-updates`: Disables automatic code updates
- `--no-self-heal`: Disables automatic restart every 6 hours

---

### Exposed Ports
Please note that you need to expose the port numbers you define by `VALIDATOR_AXON_PORT` and `VALIDATOR_PROXY_PORT` for incoming requests.

---

That’s it — you’re ready to validate!