> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.autheo.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Prerequisites

> Hardware, operating system, firewall, and NFT license requirements before setting up an Autheo Chain validator node.

Before setting up an Autheo Chain validator, ensure your environment meets all of the following requirements.

## 1. Hardware requirements

| Resource | Minimum          | Recommended             |
| -------- | ---------------- | ----------------------- |
| CPU      | 16 vCPU          | 32 vCPU                 |
| RAM      | 32 GB            | 64 GB                   |
| Storage  | 1 TB NVMe SSD    | 2 TB NVMe SSD (RAID 10) |
| Network  | 1 Gbps           | 10 Gbps                 |
| OS       | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS        |

<Warning>
  MemIAVL requires an additional 8–16 GB of RAM above your process baseline. NVMe SSDs are mandatory — spinning disks and SATA SSDs are not supported.
</Warning>

## 2. Operating system

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (64-bit) is the only officially supported production OS.

```bash theme={null}
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade -y
sudo apt-get install -y \
  curl wget jq git build-essential \
  unattended-upgrades fail2ban ufw
```

Increase file descriptor limits:

```bash theme={null}
echo "* soft nofile 65535" | sudo tee -a /etc/security/limits.conf
echo "* hard nofile 65535" | sudo tee -a /etc/security/limits.conf
```

## 3. Firewall configuration

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Validator (no sentries)">
    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo ufw default deny incoming
    sudo ufw default allow outgoing
    sudo ufw allow 22/tcp
    sudo ufw allow 26656/tcp
    sudo ufw enable
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Validator (behind sentries)">
    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo ufw default deny incoming
    sudo ufw default allow outgoing
    sudo ufw allow 22/tcp
    sudo ufw enable
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Sentry / RPC node">
    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo ufw default deny incoming
    sudo ufw default allow outgoing
    sudo ufw allow 22/tcp
    sudo ufw allow 26656/tcp
    sudo ufw enable
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## 4. NFT license requirement

<Warning>
  A Sovereign NFT license in `BOUND` status is protocol-enforced before validator creation. You cannot submit `MsgCreateValidator` without it.
</Warning>

See [License setup](/nodes/node-setup/license-setup) for a full walkthrough.

License tiers:

| Tier      | Purpose                        | Annual THEO emission |
| --------- | ------------------------------ | -------------------- |
| Sovereign | Create and operate a validator | \~187,969            |
| Prime     | External delegation            | \~18,797             |
| Core      | External delegation            | \~1,880              |

## 5. Funded operator account

Check your balance:

```bash theme={null}
autheod q bank balances <cosmos-address> -o json | jq
```

Token conversion:

| THEO  | aauth                         |
| ----- | ----------------------------- |
| 1     | 1,000,000,000,000,000,000     |
| 10    | 10,000,000,000,000,000,000    |
| 1,000 | 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 |

## 6. Synchronized full node

```bash theme={null}
autheod status | jq '.SyncInfo.catching_up'
```

* `true` — still syncing; do not proceed
* `false` — fully synced; safe to continue

## Pre-launch checklist

* [ ] Hardware meets minimums (16 vCPU, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe)
* [ ] Ubuntu 22.04 LTS installed and up to date
* [ ] System packages installed
* [ ] File descriptor limit increased to 65535
* [ ] Firewall configured
* [ ] SSH hardened (root login disabled, password auth disabled, fail2ban running)
* [ ] Sovereign NFT license acquired on Arbitrum
* [ ] Operator account funded with `aauth`
* [ ] Node fully synchronized (`catching_up: false`)