How do I run a flare validator / state connector for profit

[ihilda]

I have a lot of questions regarding running a validator / state connector.

Feel free to ask your own question. There's no stupid questions. This is brand new technology. 

We're using Elons starlink for internet, the connection is extremely fast but I wonder about high latency which affects other satellite connections. I know star link's satellites are closer to the earth's surface. The connection does seem beyond fast. Anyone running a validator on starlink?

Is validating profitable? I was under the impression there are no validation rewards. There's a number of us that will hold flr and two of us are pitching on a server. 

Our budget is the $5000 required for a server which can remain relevant for a number of years. I was thinking a dell poweredge server rack. If I could find a poweredge with a 32 core cpu I figure that's enough to run for a number of years without requiring any upgrade other than hard drive space. I'm shooting for double the minimum specs because I simply don't know. I'd rather pay double and be good for twice as long.

We are hoping at minimum to recoup expenses. Profitability is a deal breaker because I also hold oraichain and could validate that coin instead. 

My question is, how do I obtain profitability as quickly as possible? 

Could I set up a linux server, download and install a validation app. Run it. Delegate to my own validator and begin earning right away? I'm thinking the answer is no??

If not then what do I ACTUALLY need to do? To start earning some passive income.

Should I be running a state connector instead? Is it complicated? Or is it set and forget? 

I saw something about needing to be approved to be a validator. 
or do state connectors need to be approved?

I also read you have to validate for the songbird testnet first? 

My last question is. Can I run three servers on the same internet connection and avoid congestion? songbird, flare and oraichain

[BillyOckham]

42 minutes ago, ihilda said:

We're using Elons starlink for internet, the connection is extremely fast but I wonder about high latency which affects other satellite connections.

Dunno anything about the rest of your questions but this I do…

The latency from other satellite connections is due to the long distance out and back to geostationary satellites.  70,000 klm round trip.  The speed of light limits them so that means they can never have low pings.

Starlink orbits on the other hand, (and other low orbit satellite networks are starting up) is down at around 550 klms.  So it can have very low ping times.

How it behaves on throughput, jitter, dropouts etc is dependent on network capacity and traffic and will likely change over time.  Perhaps not….  depends on how they manage their capabilities.

 

[ftso_au]

In short, your pathway is …

Start on Songbird, by running an Observation node and your own FTSO algorithm.

The below is extra info …

The initial set of Validators on Flare are a subset of Songbird Data Providers, who’ll do the validation along with professional providers for the first 6-9 months.

Validation requires VP from your FTSO service, so you can’t just run a validator by itself.

Attestation also requires you to run nodes on all underlying chains, Rippled, Algo, BTC, LTC, Doge. 

[ihilda]

42 minutes ago, BillyOckham said:

Dunno anything about the rest of your questions but this I do…

The latency from other satellite connections is due to the long distance out and back to geostationary satellites.  70,000 klm round trip.  The speed of light limits them so that means they can never have low pings.

Starlink orbits on the other hand, (and other low orbit satellite networks are starting up) is down at around 550 klms.  So it can have very low ping times.

How it behaves on throughput, jitter, dropouts etc is dependent on network capacity and traffic and will likely change over time.  Perhaps not….  depends on how they manage their capabilities.

 

Sky net is ungodly fast. Omg I called it sky net by accident. Star link lol. I can download an entire linux operating system in about 5 minutes. There's high drop out for now until more satellites go up but I haven't noticed much down time. The lags I experience could be the servers I'm connecting to. Star link seems very reliable.