Prerequisites¶

Before installing your Verdikta Arbiter Node, ensure your system meets all requirements and you have the necessary API keys and resources.

System Requirements¶

Operating System¶

The Verdikta Arbiter Node supports the following operating systems:

Hardware Requirements¶

Software Dependencies¶

The following software will be automatically installed if not present:

• Git (required for repository cloning)
• Node.js 18.17.0+ (for External Adapter and AI Node)
• Docker 24.0.0+ (for Chainlink Node and PostgreSQL)
• Docker Compose 2.20.0+ (for container orchestration)
• jq (for JSON processing in scripts)

API Keys and Services¶

Required API Keys¶

You'll need API keys from the following services:

OpenAI¶

• Purpose: GPT-4 access for AI-powered adjudication
• Plans: Pay-per-use or subscription plans with GPT-4 access
• Sign up: OpenAI Platform

:simple-anthropic: Anthropic¶

• Purpose: Claude access as backup/alternative AI provider
• Plans: Pay-per-use API access
• Sign up: Anthropic Console

Web3 Provider¶

Choose one of the following providers for Base network access (both testnet and mainnet):

IPFS Service¶

For document storage and retrieval:

Network Funds¶

You'll need tokens for contract deployment and operations. Choose your deployment network:

Base Sepolia (Testnet) - Recommended for Testing¶

Advantages: Free tokens, risk-free learning environment, fast iterations

Requirements:

• Base Sepolia ETH: ~0.1 ETH for gas fees and contract deployment
• Base Sepolia LINK: ~10 LINK tokens for oracle operations
• Faucets:
• Base Sepolia ETH Faucet
• Chainlink LINK Faucet
• Alchemy Base Sepolia Faucet

Base Mainnet - Production Ready¶

Advantages: Real network, actual value, production-ready

Requirements:

• Base Mainnet ETH: $50-100 USD worth for deployment and operations
• Base Mainnet LINK: ~10 LINK tokens (~$50-150 depending on price)
• Purchase: Buy ETH and LINK on exchanges, transfer to your deployment wallet

Cost Breakdown: - Contract deployment: ~\(5-15 in gas fees - Initial LINK funding: ~\)50-150 for oracle operations
- Reserve funds: ~$30-50 for ongoing operations

Pre-Installation Checklist¶

Before starting the installation, verify you have:

System Preparation¶

• Supported operating system (Ubuntu 20.04+, macOS 11+, or WSL2)
• Adequate hardware resources (see table above for your planned arbiter count)
• Stable internet connection with sufficient bandwidth
• Administrative/sudo access for software installation

API Keys and Credentials¶

• OpenAI API key with GPT-4 access and funded account
• Anthropic API key for Claude access (optional but recommended)
• Web3 provider API key (Infura/Alchemy/QuickNode) supporting Base network
• IPFS service credentials (Pinata/Infura IPFS)

Network Selection & Blockchain Resources¶

Choose one deployment option:

For Testnet Deployment (Recommended First)¶

• Wallet private key for a dedicated test wallet
• Base Sepolia ETH (~0.1 ETH from faucets)
• Base Sepolia LINK tokens (~10 LINK from faucets)

For Mainnet Deployment (Production)¶

• Wallet private key for a dedicated deployment wallet
• Base Mainnet ETH ($50-100 worth for deployment and operations)
• Base Mainnet LINK (~10 LINK tokens, $50-150 depending on price)

:material-settings: Multi-Arbiter Planning¶

• Decided on number of arbiters (1-10)
• Understood resource scaling (each arbiter adds ~1GB RAM, ~20GB storage)
• Planned for automatic key management (1 key per 2 arbiters)

Documentation Access¶

• Access to this documentation
• Repository clone or download completed
• Notepad for recording generated addresses and credentials

Security Considerations¶

Private Key Security¶

API Key Management¶

• Keep API keys secure and never share them
• Use environment variables for key storage
• Rotate keys periodically for security
• Monitor API usage for unexpected activity

Network Security¶

• Ensure your system is behind a firewall
• Keep software dependencies updated
• Use strong passwords for all accounts
• Enable two-factor authentication where available

Prerequisites Verification¶

The installer includes an automated prerequisites checker. You can run it independently:

cd verdikta-arbiter/installer
bash util/check-prerequisites.sh

Sample Output¶

Checking system prerequisites for Verdikta Arbiter Node...
✓ Ubuntu 22.04 detected.
✓ 8 CPU cores detected.
✓ 16 GB RAM detected.
✓ 250 GB available disk space detected.
✓ Git version 2.34.1 detected.
✓ Node.js version 18.19.0 detected.
✓ Docker version 24.0.7 detected.
✓ Docker daemon is running.
✓ Docker Compose plugin version 2.21.0 detected.
✓ Internet connectivity detected.
✓ jq version 1.6 detected.

=== Prerequisite Check Summary ===
All prerequisites met! Your system is ready for Verdikta Arbiter Node installation.

Next Steps¶

Once all prerequisites are met:

1. Quick Start: Follow the Quick Start Guide for automated installation
2. Detailed Installation: Use the Installation Guide for step-by-step instructions
3. Manual Setup: Advanced users can follow Manual Installation