Ethereum 2.0 Mainnet Staking Guide (Ubuntu/Teku)

This comprehensive tutorial details how to participate in Ethereum 2.0 mainnet staking using ConsenSys' Teku client on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.

Key Technologies Used

• Ubuntu Server v20.04 (LTS) x64
• Go Ethereum (Geth) Node
• ConsenSys Teku ETH 2.0 Client
• MetaMask browser wallet

Important: Staking requires 32 ETH per validator plus gas fees. Never send ETH to random addresses. This guide explains safe deposit procedures.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to:

• EthStaker community members
• Eth2 client teams
• Ethereum Foundation researchers

Disclaimer

This guide is for informational purposes only. The author isn't responsible for any losses incurred by following this tutorial.

Prerequisites

Knowledge Requirements

• Basic understanding of Ethereum, ETH, and staking
• Familiarity with Linux and MetaMask

Hardware Requirements

• Modern CPU
• 8GB RAM (16GB recommended)
• 500GB SSD (1TB recommended)
• Stable internet connection

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Generate Staking Data

1. Download the ETH2 Deposit CLI

2. Run the deposit tool offline:

   ./deposit new-mnemonic --num_validators [N] --chain mainnet

3. Securely store the generated:

   • Keystore files (keystore-m*.json)
   • Deposit data (deposit_data-[timestamp].json)
   • Mnemonic phrase

2. Server Setup

1. Connect via SSH
2. Create a new user account with sudo privileges

3. Update system packages:

   sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

3. Security Configuration

1. Change SSH default port

2. Configure firewall:

   sudo ufw allow [SSH_PORT]/tcp
   sudo ufw allow 30303  # Geth port
   sudo ufw allow 9000   # Teku port

4. Sync Eth1 Node

1. Install Geth:

   sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:ethereum/ethereum
   sudo apt install geth

2. Configure as service:

   sudo systemctl start geth
   sudo journalctl -fu geth.service

5. Install Teku Client

1. Download latest Teku release

2. Install Java:

   sudo apt install default-jre

6. Configure Validators

1. Copy keystore files to /var/lib/teku/validator_keys
2. Create password files for each keystore

3. Set permissions:

   sudo chmod -R 700 /var/lib/teku/validator_keys

7. Launch Teku Service

sudo systemctl start teku
sudo journalctl -fu teku.service

8. Deposit ETH

1. Visit Ethereum 2.0 Launchpad
2. Upload deposit_data-[timestamp].json
3. Connect MetaMask and complete transactions

Monitoring

Track your validator status on beaconcha.in using your:

• Validator public key
• MetaMask wallet address

👉 Check validator status now

FAQs

How long until my validator activates?

Activation typically takes a few hours to several days after deposit.

What if my Eth1 node isn't synced?

Your validator will be penalized until synchronization completes.

Can I add more validators later?

Yes, generate new keys using your original mnemonic.

👉 Join EthStaker Discord for support

Maintenance Tips

• Regularly update clients (see Appendices A & B)
• Monitor system resources with htop
• Set up alerts on beaconcha.in

Appendices

A. Updating Geth

sudo systemctl stop geth
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
sudo systemctl start geth

B. Updating Teku

1. Download new release
2. Stop service
3. Replace binaries
4. Restart

C. Expanding Disk Space

Use LVM to allocate full SSD capacity if Ubuntu only shows 200GB.

Remember: Always keep your mnemonic phrase secure and never share validator keys.

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