# Simple Local Testnet These scripts allow for running a small local testnet with a default of 4 beacon nodes, 4 validator clients and 4 Geth execution clients using Kurtosis. This setup can be useful for testing and development. ## Installation 1. Install [Docker](https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/). Verify that Docker has been successfully installed by running `sudo docker run hello-world`. 1. Install [Kurtosis](https://docs.kurtosis.com/install/). Verify that Kurtosis has been successfully installed by running `kurtosis version` which should display the version. 1. Install [`yq`](https://github.com/mikefarah/yq). If you are on Ubuntu, you can install `yq` by running `snap install yq`. ## Starting the testnet To start a testnet, from the Lighthouse root repository: ```bash cd ./scripts/local_testnet ./start_local_testnet.sh ``` It will build a Lighthouse docker image from the root of the directory and will take an approximately 12 minutes to complete. Once built, the testing will be started automatically. You will see a list of services running and "Started!" at the end. You can also select your own Lighthouse docker image to use by specifying it in `network_params.yaml` under the `cl_image` key. Full configuration reference for Kurtosis is specified [here](https://github.com/ethpandaops/ethereum-package?tab=readme-ov-file#configuration). To view all running services: ```bash kurtosis enclave inspect local-testnet ``` To view the logs: ```bash kurtosis service logs local-testnet $SERVICE_NAME ``` where `$SERVICE_NAME` is obtained by inspecting the running services above. For example, to view the logs of the first beacon node, validator client and Geth: ```bash kurtosis service logs local-testnet -f cl-1-lighthouse-geth kurtosis service logs local-testnet -f vc-1-geth-lighthouse kurtosis service logs local-testnet -f el-1-geth-lighthouse ``` If you would like to save the logs, use the command: ```bash kurtosis dump $OUTPUT_DIRECTORY ``` This will create a folder named `$OUTPUT_DIRECTORY` in the present working directory that contains all logs and other information. If you want the logs for a particular service and saved to a file named `logs.txt`: ```bash kurtosis service logs local-testnet $SERVICE_NAME -a > logs.txt ``` where `$SERVICE_NAME` can be viewed by running `kurtosis enclave inspect local-testnet`. Kurtosis comes with a Dora explorer which can be opened with: ```bash open $(kurtosis port print local-testnet dora http) ``` Some testnet parameters can be varied by modifying the `network_params.yaml` file. Kurtosis also comes with a web UI which can be open with `kurtosis web`. ## Stopping the testnet To stop the testnet, from the Lighthouse root repository: ```bash cd ./scripts/local_testnet ./stop_local_testnet.sh ``` You will see "Local testnet stopped." at the end. ## CLI options The script comes with some CLI options, which can be viewed with `./start_local_testnet.sh --help`. One of the CLI options is to avoid rebuilding Lighthouse each time the testnet starts, which can be configured with the command: ```bash ./start_local_testnet.sh -b false ``` ## Further reading about Kurtosis You may refer to [this article](https://ethpandaops.io/posts/kurtosis-deep-dive/) for information about Kurtosis.