Vara Node

Introduction

There are two ways to get started with the Vara node. First, download a pre-built binary file and run it. Second, compile the binary file and configure it manually. Using a ready-made build is a quick and convenient way to get started, as it skips the installation of Rust and all its dependencies and the node compiling process. Compiling the node from scratch may take about twenty minutes or more, depending on hardware.

System Requirements

• CPU: 2 vCPUs @ ~3.4 GHz (Intel Ice Lake or equivalent) • Memory: 8 GB RAM • Storage: 80 GB SSD

Install with Pre-built Binary

Depending on the operating system, download the latest release build of the node from https://get.gear.rs:

Terminal:

curl https://get.gear.rs/gear-v1.2.1-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu.tar.xz | tar xJ

Linux x86-64: gear-v1.2.1-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu.tar.xz

Run the node:

./gear --version
gear 1.2.1-a218853

Terminal:

curl https://get.gear.rs/gear-v1.2.1-aarch64-apple-darwin.tar.xz | tar xJ

macOS ARM: gear-v1.2.1-aarch64-apple-darwin.tar.xz

Run the node:

./gear --version
gear 1.2.1-a218853

Terminal:

curl https://get.gear.rs/gear-v1.2.1-x86_64-apple-darwin.tar.xz | tar xJ

macOS x86-64: gear-v1.2.1-x86_64-apple-darwin.tar.xz

Run the node:

./gear --version
gear 1.2.1-a218853

Terminal:

curl -O https://get.gear.rs/gear-v1.2.1-x86_64-pc-windows-msvc.zip

Windows x86-64: gear-v1.2.1-x86_64-pc-windows-msvc.zip

Unzip the downloaded package, then run the node:

gear.exe --version
gear.exe 1.2.1-a218853

Need the Latest Features?

If you require cutting-edge functionality before it hits the stable release, you can use our nightly builds.

Note: Nightly versions may be less stable than official releases.

Compile Node Manually

Compiling the build will take some time and requires the installation of some dependencies.

Windows Compatibility

Windows users often face issues with Rust dependencies and build tools.
We strongly recommend using Linux or macOS for compiling Vara nodes and programs.

Tip: If you are on Windows, using WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux) is the best way to ensure a stable development environment.

Prerequisites

Linux users should generally install GCC and Clang, according to their distribution’s documentation. Additionally, the binaryen toolset, which contains the required wasm-opt tool, should be installed.

For example, on Ubuntu use:

sudo apt install -y clang build-essential binaryen cmake protobuf-compiler

On macOS, get a compiler toolset and binaryen by running:

xcode-select --install
brew install binaryen

Install Rust

If Rust is already installed, skip this step.

curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh

Reboot the terminal after installation.

Install Wasm Toolchains

rustup toolchain add nightly
rustup target add wasm32-unknown-unknown --toolchain nightly

Clone Gear Repository

git clone https://github.com/gear-tech/gear.git
cd gear
# Checkout to the latest release tag
git checkout v1.2.1 -b release-1.2.1

Using the Master Branch

To access the latest or experimental Gear Protocol functions, compile the node from the master branch.

If you have switched to another branch, you can return to master using:

git checkout master

Compile

cargo build -p gear-cli --release

make node-release

Build Output Location

The compiled binary is located at: target/release/gear

To navigate to the output folder, run:

cd target/release

Run Vara Node

Starting the Node

Regardless of how you obtained the binary, navigate to its directory and run the node to connect to the Vara Testnet:

./gear

To run the Vara node in dev mode:

./gear --dev

Command Flags and Options

gear [subcommand] [options]

--chain=testnet

Connect the node to the test network (default option).
--chain=vara

Connect the node to the Vara network.
--dev

Run a local node in development mode for testing purposes. This node will not be connected to any external network and will store the state in temporary storage.
purge-chain

Remove storage of the selected chain type. Specify the chain connection type --chain=testnet, --chain=vara, or --dev.
help, --help

Print the available subcommands/options or the help of the given subcommand.

Special Environment Variables

To run the Vara node with logs from contracts:

RUST_LOG="gwasm=debug" gear [subcommand] [options]

Vara Node

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