> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.seda.xyz/home/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.seda.xyz/home/for-chain-operators/seda-overlay-node-quick-start-guide/phase-2-running-the-overlay-node.md).

# Phase 2: Running the Overlay Node

### Step 1: Stake SEDA Tokens

```bash
./seda-overlay identities stake 10000 --network <testnet | mainnet>
```

{% hint style="info" %}
No slashing is active but there is a minimum staking amount of 10,000 SEDA tokens.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %}
🤝 Feel free to either utilize the SEDA [Testnet Faucet ](https://testnet.explorer.seda.xyz/faucet) ( 500 SEDA tokens / query ) for gas, or reach out to our team on Discord and we can fund your account with the necessary tokens for staking.&#x20;

For details about mainnet, please see [this section](/home/token-overview/seda-token-information.md).
{% endhint %}

Example output:

```bash
Config file: /home/ec2-user/.seda/testnet/config.jsonc
2025-05-07 09:14:34.877 info: Identity 020c4fe9e5063e7b5051284423089682082cf085a3b8f9e86bdb30407d761efc49 already registered (staked: 10000.00 SEDA, pending_withdrawal: 0 SEDA).
2025-05-07 09:14:34.881 info: Staking on identity 020c4fe9e5063e7b5051284423089682082cf085a3b8f9e86bdb30407d761efc49 with 10000 SEDA (or 10000000000000000000000 aSEDA)
2025-05-07 09:14:37.233 debug: [93A080B1185DFA7D5CD46007D4703FC6A1FA41EAE0EC06B74CAD9283B0C1313C] No tx result found yet
2025-05-07 09:14:39.232 debug: [93A080B1185DFA7D5CD46007D4703FC6A1FA41EAE0EC06B74CAD9283B0C1313C] No tx result found yet
2025-05-07 09:14:41.236 debug: [93A080B1185DFA7D5CD46007D4703FC6A1FA41EAE0EC06B74CAD9283B0C1313C] Tx result found
2025-05-07 09:14:41.236 info: Successfully staked
```

### Step 2: Run the Overlay node

```bash
./seda-overlay run --network <testnet | mainnet>
```

Example output:

```bash
Config file: /home/ec2-user/.seda/testnet/config.jsonc
Overlay Node v1.0.0-rc.7 is starting..
2025-05-07 10:19:36.905 info: Running on Node.js v22.15.0
2025-05-07 10:19:36.905 info: Talking to RPC: <https://rpc.testnet.seda.xyz/>
2025-05-07 10:19:36.905 info: Using chain ID: seda-1-testnet
2025-05-07 10:19:36.906 info: Using SEDA address: seda1uea9km4nup9q7qu96ak683kc67x9jf7ste45z5
2025-05-07 10:19:36.934 debug: Synchronous execution mode activated. Threads available: 2). Terminate after completion: false
2025-05-07 10:19:36.943 info: IPv6 HTTP server started on ::3000
2025-05-07 10:19:36.971 info: [identity_020c4fe9e5063e7b5051284423089682082cf085a3b8f9e86bdb30407d761efc49] 🟢 Identity active - Stake requirement met
2025-05-07 10:19:37.972 info: 🔎 Looking for Data Requests...
2025-05-07 10:19:37.986 debug: Fetched 0 Data Requests in committing status (total: 0)
```

### Step 3 (Optional, but recommended): Run as a `systemd` Service

Create a systemd service file:

```bash
sudo vim /etc/systemd/system/seda-overlay.service
```

Example content:

```bash
[Unit]
Description=SEDA Overlay
Documentation=https://github.com/sedaprotocol/seda-overlay
After=network-online.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=ec2-user
ExecStart=/home/ec2-user/seda-overlay run --network <testnet | mainnet>
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=10

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
```

Enable and start the service:

```bash
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl start seda-overlay.service
sudo systemctl enable seda-overlay.service  # optional: run on boot
```


---

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```
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```

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