> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://zel.gitbook.io/zelnodes/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://zel.gitbook.io/zelnodes/master.md).
# Setting up a ZelNode on a DigitalOcean VPS
**This guide will assist you in setting up a ZelNode on a DigitalOcean VPS running Ubuntu 18.04.5 x 64**
**Use Goose's video guide in conjunction with these steps to help answer any questions by clicking** [**here**](https://youtu.be/afE2hnKR9CQ)
**If you require further assistance contact the support team on** [**Discord**](https://discord.gg/szN9yZ) **or** [**Telegram English**](http://t.me/zelcash) **/** [**Chinese**](http://t.me/zelcashcn) **/** [**Russian**](http://t.me/zelcashru)
### Requirements
1. **ZEL Collateral (10K Basic / 25K Super / 100K BAMF)**
2. **Controller wallet (ZelCore or ZelCash Swing Wallet)**
3. **VPS running Linux Ubuntu 18.04 (benchmark requirements can't be guaranteed for servers that the team hasn't tested)**
4. **SSH client such as** [**Putty**](https://www.putty.org/)
### Contents
* **Section A : Preparing ZelCore Wallet**
* **Section B : Creating** [**DigitalOCean**](https://www.digitalocean.com/) **VPS**
* **Section C : Downloading and Installing** [**Putty**](https://www.putty.org/)
* **Section D : Connecting VPS and Installing ZelNode Script**
* **Section E : Connecting and Starting ZelNode**
### Section A: Preparing ZelCore Wallet
***Step 1 (if necessary)***
* **Download the current ZelCore wallet based on your OS by clicking** [**here**](https://zelcore.io/#download)
***Step 2***
* **First time users of a ZEL full node need to download the bootstrap file to decrease sync time by clicking** [**here**](https://github.com/zelcash/zelcash/wiki/Bootstrap-for-ZelNodes)
***Step 3***
* **Open your ZelCore wallet and choose 'ZelCash' (Click 'My Assets' and add 'ZelCash' if not already displayed in 'Portfolio' screen)**
***Step 4***
* **'Full Node'**
***Step 5***
* **'Launch Full Node'**
***Step 6***
* **'Launch ZelCash' when prompted**
***Step 7***
* **Go into 'Tools' after wallet is 100% synced**
***Step 8***
* **Open ZelNodes Management**
***Step 9***
* **Setup ZelNodes**
***Step 10***
* **'Backup all addresses' (use a text file to save info, and store in multiple secure locations)**
***Step 11***
* **Set automatic logout to 'Never'**
***Step 12***
* **Continue to the next step after zelcash.conf info is generated**
***Step 13***
* **Choose which type of ZelNode you are going to set up**
***Proceed to the next section, leave ZelCore wallet open to continue setting up in future steps***
### Section B: Creating DigitalOcean VPS
***Step 1***
* **Register at** [**DigitalOcean**](https://m.do.co/c/c9c22684c5db) **(use this** [**referral link**](https://m.do.co/c/c9c22684c5db) **to receive a $100 credit that's good for 2 months)**
***Step 2***
* **After you have your account setup go** [**here**](https://cloud.digitalocean.com/droplets?i=8fe2ca\&preserveScrollPosition=false) **to create your ZelNode droplet**
***Step 3***
* **Choose server type: 'Ubuntu 18.04'**
***Step 4***
* **Choose Droplet (Basic/Super/BAMF)**
***Step 5***
***Step 6***
### Section C: Downloading and Installing Putty
***Step 1***
* **Download Putty** [**here**](https://www.putty.org/)
***Step 2***
* **Select the correct installer depending upon your operating system, and follow the install instructions**
### Section D: Connecting VPS and Installing ZelNode Script
***Step 1***
* **Copy your VPS IP (located within Droplets tab)**
***Step 2***
* **Open the Putty terminal and fill in the "Host Name" box with the IP address of your VPS**
***Step 3***
* **Once you hit 'Open' a security alert will open up (click yes)**
***Step 4***
* **Type "root" as the login/username**
***Step 5***
* **Copy the root password that DigitalOcean emailed you**
***Step 6***
* **Paste the password into the Putty terminal by right clicking (it will not show the password so just press enter)**
***Step 7***
* **Enter password for root (UNIX password same as Step 5)**
* **Make new password and confirm**
***Step 8***
**`sudo apt-get update`**
**`sudo apt-get upgrade -y`**
***Step***** 9**
* **Adduser to secure your VPS, by adding a new username so you aren't running everything as root**
* **Run the command below and use a username that you want associated with this server ('whodatbamf1' is an example, you need to generate your own username)**
**`adduser YOURUSERNAME`**
***Step 10***
* **You will then need to make a new password associated with your new username. Hit 'Enter' for the next 5 lines after your new password has been set, then 'Y' to save your information.**
***Step 11***
* **Grant sudo permissions for your adduser by running the command below to activate it**
**`usermod -aG sudo YOURUSERNAME`**
***Step 12***
* **Reboot server with the following command**
**`sudo reboot -n`**
* **Close Putty terminal while server reboots**
### Section E : Connecting and Starting ZelNode (ZelCore and VPS)
***Step 1 (ZelCore)***
* **Go back to your ZelCore wallet and enter your VPS IP address**
***Step 2 (ZelCore)***
* **Name your ZelNode**
***Step 3 (ZelCore)***
* **Save your private key that is generated in ZelCore and enter on VPS when prompted**
***Step 4 (VPS)***
* **Log back into your VPS with the new username and password from Section D: Steps 9 and 10**
***DO NOT RUN THE INSTALL SCRIPT AS ROOT, ONLY RUN IT AS THE NEW USER THAT WAS MADE IN STEP 9!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!***
***Step 5 (VPS)***
* **Paste the code below into the Putty terminal then press enter**
***`wget https://apt.zel.cash/zelnodev4.0.sh && chmod +x zelnodev4.0.sh && ./zelnodev4.0.sh`***
***HUGE SHOUTOUT TO GOOSE, SKYSLAYER AND DK808 FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THIS INSTALL SCRIPT***
***Step 6 (VPS)***
* **Confirm IP and enter** **ZELNODE KEY from Step 3 and hit 'Enter'**
***Step 7***
* **Go to the ZelCash block explorer**
****
***Step 8 (VPS)***
* **Press any key, then CTRL-C when the blocks match explorer in Step *****7***
***Step 9 (VPS)***
* ***Run the following cmd, and proceed to Step 10 when you get 'Synchronization finished'***
***`zelcash-cli znsync status`***
***Step 10 (ZelCore)***
* **Activate your ZelNode**
* **Successfully started will show if everything is done properly ('startzelnode local false' isn't needed)**
***(It will take at least 15 confirms for your ZelNode to show up in 'MY ZELNODES')***
***Step 10***
* **Run the following command in VPS to confirm that your ZelNode is showing 'Status 4' (If VPS does not show successfully started, wait 5 minutes and run the command again. Repeat if necesary)**
**`zelcash-cli getzelnodestatus`**
* **You can also view your ZelNode on the block explorer `https://explorer.zel.cash/zelnodes`**
***(It will show up as 'PRE\_ENABLED' for at least 3-4 hours, and could take up to 48 hrs for 1st reward)***
## ***CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THE COMMUNITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!***