CLI Node Types
There are two main categories of nodes - one for Consensus and one for Domains. Each of these can be configured in different ways to perform various functions. Nodes are launched with the CLI Application.
Consensus Nodes
There are two ways to configure a Consensus node. One is for Full nodes and one for Archive nodes.
Full Consensus Node
This is the most common type of node as it is used by farmers. It processes all blocks and serves peers. It preserves the blockchain's state and recent history. While you can customize the block and state pruning, the defaults are 256 and 140,000. Running a full node allows the participant to verify all blocks, ensuring independent auditability. All farmers, operators and timekeepers are full nodes by default.
<BASE_PATH>
: Path where you want to store the node database
./subspace-node-ubuntu-x86_64-skylake-mainnet-2025-jul-14 run \
--chain mainnet \
--base-path "<BASE_PATH>"
When running a full node, farmers need to add the --farmer
parameter to allow the farmer CLI to connect to the full node.
Archive Consensus Node
An archival node keeps a history of all blocks and serves peers. It preserves the blockchain's state and entire history. It is useful for faster historical block retrieval and block explorers. All farmers, operators and timekeepers can be archival nodes.
<BASE_PATH>
: Path where you want to store the node database
./subspace-node-ubuntu-x86_64-skylake-mainnet-2025-jul-14 run \
--chain mainnet \
--base-path "<BASE_PATH>" \
--blocks-pruning archive \
--state-pruning archive \
--sync full
blocks-pruning and state-pruning can be set to archive
or archive-canonical
. The former keeps state of all blocks and the latter only blocks which form the canonical chain.
Domain Nodes
Domains are essentially built-in rollups that support any conceivable state transition framework and smart contract execution environment through custom runtimes. Deploying a domain as easy as deploying a smart contract. They allow builders to easily launch their own network without bootstrapping a new validator set, while still benefiting from the shared security and interoperability provided by the Autonomys Network consensus chain.
There are also two ways to configure a Domain node. One is for Full nodes and one for Archive nodes.
To configure the domain part of the node, you need to include a line that is just two dashes --
. That will tell the CLI that anything after those dashes applies to the domain portion.