# Node Configuration

Waves node parameters are stored in the node configuration file (*.conf). The system uses HOCON (Human-Optimized Config Object Notation) format that provides simple syntax and ability to use comments. Read more about HOCON (opens new window). See default node configuration file (opens new window) for reference and the usage examples of parameters.

The node configuration file is located in default application directory.

# Required Parameters

In most cases, such as running a node from scratch, you can use default node configuration parameters, however, you need to specify the following required parameters specific for your node:

waves.wallet.seed
waves.wallet.password
waves.network.declared-address
waves.network.node-name
waves.rest-api.api-key-hash (to use node API)

# Overriding Jar node Parameters

Nodes running from jar-file have the .conf file with default settings embedded in the jar-file. You can override the embedded default settings by entering path to your customized configuration file in the command line when starting the node. The file should contain the required parameters describing unique characteristics of your node as well as the blockchain parameters.

Use the following command (replace {*} with actual file name):

java -jar {*}.jar {*}.conf

# Sections of the Configuration File

Node configuration file contains parameters grouped into the following sections:

Section	Description
waves	Essential node parameters and other configuration subsections
db	Blockchain database parameters
network	Peer to peer network parameters
wallet	Built in node wallet parameters
blockchain	Blockchain parameters
miner	Blocks generator parameters
rest-api	Node API parameters
synchronization	Node synchronization parameters
utx	Unconfirmed transactions pool parameters
features	Features parameters
rewards	Rewards parameters
extensions	Extensions parameters
kamon	Performance metrics parameters
metrics	Blocks, transactions and other info metrics parameters

# Waves Configuration Section

Root configuration section waves holds essential application parameters and other configuration subsections.

The directory parameter allows to set a path to the base application directory. It is possible to use environment variables to set configuration parameters. For example, by default, the base directory constructed relative to the user’s HOME environment variable. Please, do not enclose environment variables references in quotes, in this case, they will be handled as strings and won’t be resolved.

After upgrading to version 1.0.2 please note if your /etc/waves/waves.conf was originally copied from a template, make sure that waves.directory points to the correct directory. If this option doesn't exist in the config, default directory will be used.

Make sure the defined directory has a correct owner set: waves, waves-testnet or waves-stagenet for mainnet, testnet or stagenet.

# Default Application Directory

For nodes installed from DEB package:

	*nix
Mainnet	`/var/lib/waves`
Testnet	`/var/lib/waves-testnet`
Stagenet	`/var/lib/waves-stagenet`

The following default application directories, depending on the operating system and the type of blockchain, are used for jar nodes if the directory parameter is not set in the node configuration .conf file:

	*nix	macOS	Windows
Mainnet	`$XDG_DATA_HOME/waves-mainnet` or `$HOME/.local/share/waves-mainnet`	`$HOME/Library/Application Support/waves-mainnet`	`%LOCALAPPDATA%/waves-mainnet`
Testnet	`$XDG_DATA_HOME/waves-testnet` or `$HOME/.local/share/waves-testnet`	`$HOME/Library/Application Support/waves-testnet`	`%LOCALAPPDATA%/waves-testnet`
Stagenet	`$XDG_DATA_HOME/waves-stagenet` or `$HOME/.local/share/waves-stagenet`	`$HOME/Library/Application Support/waves-stagenet`	`%LOCALAPPDATA%/waves-stagenet`
Custom	`$XDG_DATA_HOME/waves-custom-<character>` or `$HOME/.local/share/waves-custom-<character>`	`$HOME/Library/Application Support/waves-custom-<character>*`	`%LOCALAPPDATA%/waves-custom-<character>*`

* See address-scheme-character parameter description.

Note: The cache size parameters are set in bytes, but you can use size units:

K - for kilobyte
M - for megabytes
G - for gigabytes

# Network Settings

In network section you can set P2P network parameters.

Name	Description	Default value
`file`	Sets the location of database file where the node stores lists of known and blacklisted peers.	`${waves.directory}"/peers.dat` By default, the path is resolved with regard to `directory` parameter from `waves` section.
`declared-address`	Sets the IP address and port (`address:port`) that is sent as external address during handshake. • Can be set automatically if UPnP is enabled. If the `declared-address` is not set and UPnP is enabled, the node will attempt to connect to an IGD (Internet Gateway Device), retrieve its external IP address and configure the gateway to allow traffic through. If the node succeeds, the IGD's external IP address becomes the node's `declared-address`. • If the `declared-address` is set and the UPnP is disabled, the node will listen to incoming connections on `bind-address:port` and broadcast specified `declared-address` to peers. • If the `declared-address` is not set and UPnP is disabled, the node will not listen to incoming connections at all. • In some cases, however, this setup is not recommended, you can set `declared-address` and enable UPnP (e.g. when IGD can't reliably determine its external IP address), so that the node attempts to configure an IGD to pass traffic from external port to `bind-address:port`.	`1.2.3.4:6863`
`bind-address`	Sets the IP address of local network interface on which Waves Node will accept incoming connections.	By default, node binds to `0.0.0.0` that means that it will listen on all available network adapters.
`port`	Sets the network port number to which other Waves nodes will connect. Check that the port is reachable from outside, otherwise your node will connect to P2P network using only outgoing connections. If this the port is used by other application, your node won’t start.
`node-name`	Sets the name of your node visible to other participants of the P2P network. The name is transmitted during initial handshake.	By default, this parameter is commented out, which leads to random name generation.
`nonce`	This value is sent during handshake. The value is used to distinguish nodes connected from one IP address.	By default, it is not set and generated randomly.
`known-peers`	This parameter stores the list of bootstrap nodes to which your node will establish outgoing connections while initializing.
`peers-data-residence-time`	Sets the period of time during which the node stores information about external peer since last communication session with it.
`black-list-residence-time`	Sets the period of time for which the information about external peer stays in the blacklist.
`max-inbound-connections`	Sets the maximum number of simultaneous inbound connections handled by the node.
`max-outbound-connections`	Sets the number of maximum outgoing network connections.
`max-single-host-connections`	Sets the allowed number of network connections made from single IP address.
`connection-timeout`	Sets the network communication timeout.
`outbound-buffer-size`	Sets the network buffer size. Better leave the default value, incorrect buffer size can lead to node malfunction.
`max-unverified-peers`	Sets the maximum size of the buffer to store information about peers during handshake process.
`enable-peers-exchange`	Enables or disables requesting and sending the information about peers.
`enable-blacklisting`	Enables or disables blacklisting of peers.
`peers-broadcast-interval`	Sets the period of time between broadcasts of known peers list to other nodes.
`handshake-timeout`	Sets time period to wait for reply during handshake. In case of no reply the peer will be blacklisted.
`upnp`	This section allows to set the UPnP settings. The settings are useful if your node is running in the network where the node can ask your router (Internet Gateway Device) to establish a tunnel.	By default, this functionality is disabled. To enable set the `enable` parameter to `yes`.
`traffic-logger`	This section allows to enable or disable logging of some of the incoming or outgoing network messages. Network messages are logged at TRACE level.

Note: The time span parameters are set in milliseconds, but you can use duration units to shorten the value. Supported units are:

s - second, seconds
m - muinute, minutes
h - hour, hours
d - day, days

For usage examples see default configuration file .

# Wallet Settings

In wallet section you can configure parameters of the wallet built in Waves node.

Name	Description	Default value
`file`	Sets the path to the wallet file.	By default, the path to the file is calculated relative to the base application directory.
`password`	Sets the password string to protect the wallet file.
`seed`	This parameter is used to recreate an existing wallet on a new node. Provide the BASE58 string of your seed here. If you don’t have any existing wallet, comment out this parameter and start the node. During the first run, the application will create a new wallet with a random seed for you. In this case, the seed will be displayed in the application log. If you miss it or if you don’t want to check the log files, it will also be available in REST API using the wallet/seed method.

Warning: Wallet is a critical part of your node. It is better to create its file in a safe and protected location. Don’t forget to backup your wallet’s file. It’s recommended to remove the seed from the configuration file immediately after the start of the node. If an attacker gains access to the seed string, he will have access to your funds on all your addresses!

# Blockchain Settings

In blockchain section you can select the blockchain type or create your own blockchain.

Name	Description	Default value
`max-transactions-per-block-diff`	Sets the number of transactions stored in memory before storing on disk. Reducing the number could increase the number of disk operations.
`min-blocks-in-memory`	Change the number of blocks stored in memory using this parameter.
`type`	This parameter allows to select the blockchain type. Choices are: MAINNET, TESTNET, STAGENET, and CUSTOM. For MAINNET or TESTNET or STAGENET types, parameters of blockchain are built in the application so you don’t have to configure the parameters. Standard parameters for different types of blockchain (opens new window). But if you select CUSTOM blockchain type, you have to provide parameters in the `custom` configuration section.

# Configuring Custom Blockchain

The custom section allows to set parameters of your custom blockchain.

Name	Description	Default value
`address-scheme-character`	This parameter in `custom` section to set the address feature character. This character used while building an address and also passed over a network during a handshake. The latter allow nodes not to connect to the nodes with other blockchains.
`functionality`	This section allows to set the timestamps of activation of different blockchain validations. It is better to set all functionality settings to 0 to have a blockchain with all validations active.
`genesis`	Section describes the first (genesis) block of your custom blockchain.
`block-timestamp`	Sets the date of creation of genesis block.
`timestamp`	Sets time of creation for genesis transactions.
`signature`	Sets the signature of genesis block.
`initial-balance`	This parameter allows to set the total amount of coins. This value should be given in the smallest units of cryptocurrency.
`average-block-delay`	Sets the speed of block generation in your blockchain. This is a target period of time between blocks. In reality the delays between blocks may vary.
`transactions`	This parameter allows to provide the list of first transactions. Each transaction is described by recipient’s address (as BASE58 string) and amount. You have to distribute all initial balance to one or more addresses in genesis block. If you failed to do so, the genesis block will be considered as incorrect and the application won’t start.

# Miner Settings

In miner section it is possible to configure parameters of the new blocks generator.

Name	Description	Default value
`enable`	This parameter enables or disables block generation on the node.	By default, it’s enabled, but if you disable it your node won’t try to generate new blocks (won’t mine).
`quorum`	Sets the minimum required number of connected peers to enable and start mining of new blocks.	By default it is set to 1, so your node will start mining as soon as it connects to the first peer in the P2P network. Setting this parameter to 0 will enable off-line generation.
`interval-after-last-block-then-generation-is-allowed`	This parameter allows to tune your node’s blocks download and generation behavior.	By default, it set to 1 day, which means that your node won’t start block generation until it has the last block in the local blockchain not older than 1 day. So, using this parameter you tell your node to actualize the blockchain before starting to generate new blocks. Actually, it works only after long node shutdowns.
`no-quorum-mining-delay`	Sets mining attempts delay, if no quorum is available
`micro-block-interval`	Sets the interval between microblocks
`max-transactions-in-micro-block`	Sets max amount of transactions in micro block
`min-micro-block-age`	Miner references the best microblock which is at least this age
`minimal-block-generation-offset`	Sets minimal block generation offset
`max-pack-time`	Sets max packUnconfirmed time

# REST API Settings

The rest-api section in the node configuration file contains settings of Node REST API.

Name	Description	Default value
`enable`	Activates REST API. If you want to deactivate REST API, change the default value to `no`	yes
`bind-address`	Network address where the REST API accepts incoming connections. Note. It's not recommended to change the default value. Use Nginx’s proxy pass module (opens new window) or SSH port forwarding (opens new window) for external access	`"127.0.0.1"`
`port`	Port number where the REST API accepts incoming connections	6869
`api-key-hash`	Hash of the API key to access private endpoints. For details see the API Key article	""
`cors`	Enable/disable cross-domain API requests (CORS (opens new window)) from JavaScript	yes
`api-key-different-host`	API key support in requests from other hosts	`no`
`transactions-by-address-limit`	• Maximum `limit` value in request to `/transactions/address/{address}/limit/{limit}` • Maximum number of transactions in request to `/transactions/status`	1000
`distribution-address-limit`	Maximum `limit` value in request to `/assets/{assetId}/distribution/{height}/limit/{limit}`	1000
`limited-pool-threads`	Maximum number of threads that process requests to `/utils/script/compile*`, `/utils/script/decompile`, `/utils/script/estimate` (the processing time for each request is limited)	2

# Synchronization Settings

In synchronization section it is possible to tune different aspects of node synchronization process.

Name	Description	Default value
`max-rollback`	This parameter allows to change the length of blockchain that can be discarded in case of fork detection. If your node is on a fork with a lower score, it will try to switch to another fork, to do so the node will rollback few blocks. If the detected fork is longer than the given number, node prefers not to switch to another fork even if its score is bigger.
`max-chain-length`	Sets the size of the buffer that stores blocks of detected fork. This size should be bigger than maximum fork length.
`synchronization-timeout`	Sets the timeout on block download operation.
`score-broadcast-interval`	Sets the interval between score broadcasts to the P2P network.
`score-ttl`	Sets the time-to-live interval of broadcasted score packets.
`remote-score-debounce`	Sets the time to wait before receiving the next score update from a peer.
`history-replier`	In this subsection you can configure the number of last blocks and micro-blocks cached in memory.
`micro-block-synchronizer`	In this subsection you could tune various parameters of Waves-NG protocol.

# UTX Pool Settings

The utx section allows to set unconfirmed transactions pool parameters.

Name	Description	Default value
`max-size`	Sets the size of unconfirmed transactions pool (both scripted and non-scripted).
`max-scripted-size`	Sets the size of unconfirmed transactions pool for scripted transactions. Prior to node version 1.1.6, the invoke script transactions were not counted (the counted were the transactions for the validation of which it is required to execute a smart contract).
`max-transaction-age`	Sets the maximum age of transactions allowed to UTX.

# Features Settings

The features section allows to set features parameters

Name	Description	Default Value
`auto-shutdown-on-unsupported-feature`	If this parameter is turned on, the node will be shut down on activation of a feature that is not implemented by node’s codebase.	yes
`supported`	This parameter contains the list of features IDs, supported by the node owner.	By default, the list is empty.

Example:

 features {
   auto-shutdown-on-unsupported-feature = yes
   supported = []
 }

# Rewards Settings

In this section, you can set the desired reward size using desired parameter. The setting value is specified in WAVELETs.

If the value is greater than the current reward size, then miner votes for the current reward size increase; if the value is smaller — for the decrease.

Example of the setting that has the desired value of 7 WAVES:

waves {
  rewards {
    desired = 700000000
  }
}

The value can be any integer in the range from 0 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807 inclusive. Negative value will be ignored.

See Mining reward for more information.