Ethereum with an external CL

Alternatively, you can run an Ethereum node with an external Consensus Layer (CL).

Both Prysm and Lighthouse, or any other Consensus Layer client can be used alongside Erigon by adding the --externalcl flag. This allows you to access the Ethereum blockchain directly and manage your keys to stake your ETH and produce blocks.

Erigon with Prysm as the external CL

  1. Start Erigon with the --externalcl flag:

    erigon --externalcl

    If your Consensus Layer (CL) client is on a different device, add the following flags:

    • --authrpc.addr 0.0.0.0, since the Engine API listens on localhost by default;
    • --authrpc.vhosts <CL_host> where <CL_host> is the source host or the appropriate hostname that your CL client is using.

  2. Install and run Prysm by following the official guide: https://docs.prylabs.network/docs/install/install-with-script.

    Prysm must fully synchronize before Erigon can start syncing, since Erigon requires an existing target head to sync to. The quickest way to get Prysm synced is to use a public checkpoint synchronization endpoint from the list at https://eth-clients.github.io/checkpoint-sync-endpoints.

  3. To communicate with Erigon, the --execution-endpoint must be specified as <erigon address>:8551, where <erigon address> is either http://localhost or the IP address of the device running Erigon.

  4. Prysm must point to the JWT secret automatically created by Erigon in the --datadir directory.

    ./prysm.sh beacon-chain \
--execution-endpoint http://localhost:8551 \
--mainnet --jwt-secret=<your-datadir>/jwt.hex \
--checkpoint-sync-url=https://beaconstate.info \
--genesis-beacon-api-url=https://beaconstate.info

Erigon with Lighthouse as the external CL

  1. Start Erigon:

    ./build/bin/erigon --externalcl

  2. Install and run Lighthouse by following the official guide: https://lighthouse-book.sigmaprime.io/installation.html

  3. Because Erigon needs a target head in order to sync, Lighthouse must be synced before Erigon can synchronize. The fastest way to synchronize Lighthouse is to use one of the many public checkpoint synchronization endpoints at https://eth-clients.github.io/checkpoint-sync-endpoints.

  4. To communicate with Erigon, the --execution-endpoint must be specified as <erigon address>:8551, where <erigon address> is either http://localhost or the IP address of the device running Erigon.

  5. Lighthouse must point to the JWT secret automatically created by Erigon in the --datadir directory.

    lighthouse bn \
--network mainnet \
--execution-endpoint http://localhost:8551 \
--execution-jwt <your-datadir>/jwt.hex \
--checkpoint-sync-url https://mainnet.checkpoint.sigp.io \