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Registering in the Hippius Blockchain

After setting up your validator or storage miner node, you need to register it in the Hippius blockchain to start participating in the network and earning rewards. This guide walks you through the registration process using Polkadot.js Apps, which is currently the only available method for node registration.

Prerequisites​

Before registering, ensure you have:

  • A running validator or storage miner node
  • HIPS key properly configured (see Installing Validator or Storage Miner guides)
  • Access to Polkadot.js Apps and the Polkadot.js browser extension
  • Alpha tokens for registration fees and staking

Registration via Polkadot.js Apps​

Step 1: Access Polkadot.js Apps​

  1. Go to the Polkadot.js Apps https://polkadot.js.org/apps/?rpc=wss%3A%2F%2Frpc.hippius.network#/extrinsics connected to the Hippius network
  2. Ensure you're connected to the Hippius network endpoint: wss://rpc.hippius.network
  3. Connect your wallet using the Polkadot.js extension

Step 2: Navigate to Extrinsics​

  1. From the top navigation menu, select "Developer"
  2. Click on "Extrinsics"
  3. In the extrinsics submission form, you'll see options to select an account and the extrinsic to submit

Step 3: Configure the Registration Extrinsic​

  1. From the "submit the following extrinsic" dropdown, select registration → registerNodeWithColdKey(nodeType, nodeId, payInCredits, ipfsNodeId)

  2. Configure the parameters:

    • nodeType: Select the appropriate type:

      • StorageMiner for IPFS or S3 storage miners
      • Validator for validator nodes
      • ComputeMiner for compute nodes

    • nodeId: Enter your node's ID in string format

      • This is the ID of your Hippius node generated during node setup
      • Format should be like: 1...... (not the hexadecimal format)
      • You can also use the file upload option to select a key file

    • payInCredits: Boolean indicating whether to pay in credits (default: false to pay in Alpha)

    • ipfsNodeId: Your IPFS node ID in string format

Step 4: Submit the Transaction​

  1. Review all entries for accuracy
  2. Click "Submit Transaction"
  3. Review the transaction details in the confirmation window
  4. Sign the transaction with your account

Step 5: Confirm Registration​

  1. Check that the transaction is included in a block
  2. Verify your node registration was successful by navigating to "Network" → "Explorer"
  3. Look for your extrinsic in recent transactions

Node Type Details​

Different node types serve different functions in the Hippius network:

  • Validator Node: For block production and validation
  • Storage Miner (IPFS): For decentralized IPFS storage
  • Storage Miner (S3): For S3-compatible storage
  • Compute Miner: For computation resources (future)

Verifying Registration​

After registration, verify your node appears on the network:

  1. In Polkadot.js Apps, go to "Developer" → "Chain state"
  2. Query the registration pallet to verify your node ID is registered

Next Steps​

After successful registration:

  1. Monitor your node's status
  2. Set up additional monitoring tools
  3. Optimize performance for better rewards
  4. Stay updated with network upgrades and changes

Remember that your node must remain online and in good standing to earn rewards and maintain its registration status.