# Become a Validator

A validator is a participant in the network who runs validator nodes to run and secure the network. Here are some steps to run a validator node in REI Network:

### Step1: Setup a validator node

Following quick start to setup your nodes and make sure your validator node is fully synced.

{% content-ref url="../../developer/quick-start" %}
[quick-start](https://docs.rei.network/developer/quick-start)
{% endcontent-ref %}

#### Minimum system requirements

* RAM: 16GB
* CPU: 4-core
* Storage: 500G SSD
* Bandwidth: 10Mb/s

#### Recommended system requirements

* RAM: 32GB
* CPU: 8-core
* Storage: 1T SSD
* Bandwidth: Unlimited

### Step2: Submit a Validator Profile

This repository (repo) provides the details about offchain informations of validators.

{% embed url="<https://github.com/REI-Network/rei-validator>" %}
REI Validator Profile Guideline
{% endembed %}

### Step3: Vote/Stake to your node

You can stake on REI Network by following the guides below:

{% content-ref url="voting-for-a-validator" %}
[voting-for-a-validator](https://docs.rei.network/rei-dao/guides/voting-for-a-validator)
{% endcontent-ref %}

### Step4: Set commission rate

Commission rate represents the proportion of the validator's reward, which is a number from 0 to 100. It can only be set by the validator, and the interval between 2 modifications cannot be less than **24 hours**.

> Eg: If a validator sets the Commission rate to 40, then 40% of the rewards he receives will be distributed to all users who voted for this validator.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="UI" %}

* Navigate to <https://dao.rei.network/#/stake>&#x20;
* If the address in your wallet is a validator address, there will be a `Set Commission Rate` button appears beside `Voting to Validator`

![Set Commission Rate](https://1587922022-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F66Nmajb3NGWZfp8dG26G%2Fuploads%2FoHn1wtqnk38YBENLNVQ9%2F06-28.png?alt=media\&token=0b101346-b3ff-4943-baa3-9f1e6b96eeab)

* Click on `Set Commission Rate` and enter a percent number you wanna share with voters

![Set Commission Rate](https://1587922022-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F66Nmajb3NGWZfp8dG26G%2Fuploads%2FoWd04kqv7MvPVx1FnGZC%2Fset%20commission%20rate.png?alt=media\&token=b845eee4-aa51-4cfe-93e5-89f4be13960a)
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Ethers" %}

```typescript
import { getDefaultProvider, Wallet } from "ethers";
import { StakeManager__factory } from "@rei-network/contracts";

const provider = getDefaultProvider("https://rpc-mainnet.rei.network");

const wallet = new Wallet("yourPrivateKey", provider);

const stakeManager = StakeManager__factory.connect(
  "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000001001",
  wallet
);

stakeManager
  .setCommissionRate("commissionRate")
  .then(() => {
    // ...
  })
  .catch(() => {
    // ...
  });
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

### Step5: Claim validator reward

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="UI" %}
Click on `Get Reward` and Claim block producer rewards in the validator list

![](https://1587922022-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F66Nmajb3NGWZfp8dG26G%2Fuploads%2FoHn1wtqnk38YBENLNVQ9%2F06-28.png?alt=media\&token=0b101346-b3ff-4943-baa3-9f1e6b96eeab)

![](https://1587922022-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F66Nmajb3NGWZfp8dG26G%2Fuploads%2Fg59zpCjeT6RWoARxoQLE%2Freward.png?alt=media\&token=6dee963b-d38f-4756-9119-d782fddd9cc4)
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Ethers" %}

```typescript
import { getDefaultProvider, Wallet } from "ethers";
import { StakeManager__factory } from "@rei-network/contracts";

const provider = getDefaultProvider("https://rpc-mainnet.rei.network");

const wallet = new Wallet("yourPrivateKey", provider);

const stakeManager = StakeManager__factory.connect(
  "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000001001",
  wallet
);

stakeManager
  .startClaim("receiveAddress", "claimAmount")
  .then(() => {
    // ...
  })
  .catch(() => {
    // ...
  });
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
Node: The reward will be vested for 7 days before you can finally claim it, checkout [ ](https://docs.rei.network/rei-dao/voting-for-a-validator#claim-vested-stake)[Claim Vested Stake ](https://docs.rei.network/rei-dao/voting-for-a-validator#claim-vested-stake)
{% endhint %}