Run a Node

Run a Conceal node on a host where you control storage, network access, backups, and updates. This guide covers Core 6.7.6 and Guardian 0.7.11. Check both release pages before installation.

Choose and verify a Core packageCopy Anchor Link

On Ubuntu, install the conceal-core package from the Conceal Core PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:concealnetwork/conceal-core
sudo apt update
sudo apt install conceal-core

That page publishes conceal-core 6.7.6 for Ubuntu 22.04 (jammy), 24.04 (noble), and 26.04 (resolute). Confirm the series list there before you install. Apt trust is the Launchpad archive.

Remove the package with:

sudo apt remove conceal-core

That removal deletes only the packaged files. It does not delete ~/.conceal. Wallet keys and the blockchain live there.

Core 6.7.6 also provides these platform archives on its official release page. Use an archive for Windows, macOS, or an Ubuntu install from a tarball.

Download an archive only from the official release. Verify any checksum or signature the release publishes before executing the archive. If the release provides no integrity value you can independently validate, record that gap and assess the risk. Never run a binary received through chat, email, a mirror, or an unverified download link.

Keep a copy of your configuration and a tested wallet backup outside the node's data directory. A blockchain copy is replaceable; wallet recovery material is not.

Raspberry PiCopy Anchor Link

Build Core 6.7.6 on the Pi. The Core README records a successful build on a Raspberry Pi 4 running Raspberry Pi OS, 32-bit and 64-bit. Other ARM boards need a CPU with Neon and AES.

Install the Linux build dependencies and compile:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y build-essential python3-dev git cmake libboost-all-dev
git clone https://github.com/ConcealNetwork/conceal-core
cd conceal-core
mkdir build
cd build
cmake ..
make

The binaries are in the src directory of that build tree: conceal-daemon, conceal-wallet, conceal-walletd, and conceal-optimizer.

The Core README says this compile can use up to 13GB of memory. On Raspberry Pi OS, raise swap to 5120 MB before building. Those steps are in Compiling Conceal from source.

Programs and logsCopy Anchor Link

Core 6.7.6 provides conceal-daemon, conceal-wallet, conceal-walletd, and conceal-optimizer. The Ubuntu package installs those names in /usr/bin and does not add the previous command names.

The data directory is ~/.conceal. With --testnet, it is ~/.conceal/testnet.

First start and synchronizationCopy Anchor Link

1. Read the Core documentation for the release and platform you selected.
2. Run conceal-daemon as a dedicated, unprivileged operating-system account. Keep its data and logs out of publicly served directories.
3. Start with the default network unless you intentionally need another network. Record the binary version and configuration path.
4. Allow the daemon to discover peers and synchronize. Watch the local height, peer count, disk space, and logs.
5. Compare the local height with the live explorer. Small differences can occur while a block propagates; a persistent or growing gap needs investigation.
6. Restart the host or service once under controlled conditions and confirm that the daemon returns, reconnects, and resumes synchronization.

Do not use a node for wallet or application traffic until it reports a healthy status and remains close to the network height.

RPC and host boundariesCopy Anchor Link

Treat daemon and wallet RPC as private administration interfaces. Never publish an unauthenticated RPC endpoint. If a remote application needs access, add authentication, network filtering, encryption, rate limits, logs, and a way to revoke access. Check the Core documentation for your installed version before enabling a method.

Ports can be changed by configuration. These are Core defaults, not instructions to open every port. Exposing P2P does not require exposing RPC.

Routine operationsCopy Anchor Link

Use a small, repeatable checklist instead of waiting for a wallet failure:

Before an upgrade, read the release notes, capture the current version and height, back up configuration, and confirm there is enough free space. Stop cleanly, change one component at a time, then verify version, peer recovery, height progress, logs, and private RPC boundaries. Keep the prior package available for a planned rollback, but do not roll back across incompatible data changes without release-specific guidance.

Guardian monitoringCopy Anchor Link

Conceal Guardian monitors conceal-daemon, checks block progress, can restart the daemon, and can send Discord or email notifications. This guide covers Guardian 0.7.11.

Treat Guardian as a separate privileged service:

• Run it with only the permissions needed to inspect and restart the daemon.
• Store webhook and SMTP credentials outside source control, and restrict access to the configuration file.
• Begin with notifications enabled but automated restart disabled or carefully observed, then test a planned failure.
• Alert on repeated restart attempts so a bad configuration, damaged disk, or incompatible binary does not become an endless loop.
• Enable pool-listing or remote-node features only when you intend to operate those public services and understand their exposure.

Monitoring flags conditions to investigate. It does not prove node correctness, availability, wallet safety, or a network service level.

Incident checklistCopy Anchor Link

If the daemon falls behind or becomes unavailable:

1. Preserve the current logs, version, configuration, height, and disk state before restarting.
2. Check host time, storage, memory pressure, peer connectivity, and recent changes.
3. Confirm whether the explorer and other independent nodes are advancing.
4. Restart once through the normal service manager, then observe whether height and peers recover.
5. If the fault repeats, stop the restart loop and diagnose the first error. Do not delete the data directory or restore wallet files as a generic fix.
6. When asking for help, remove credentials, private addresses, wallet paths, and recovery material from logs and screenshots.

ResourcesCopy Anchor Link

• Conceal Core PPA
• Conceal Core 6.7.6 release
• Conceal Core documentation
• Conceal Core compile instructions
• Conceal Core RPC documentation
• Conceal Guardian repository
• Conceal Guardian releases
• Conceal Network block explorer