# Basic node management (https://docs.axelar.dev/infrastructure/node/basic)



Start and stop your node, test whether your blockchain is downloaded. Backup your keys and chain data. Create an account, check your AXL balance, get AXL tokens from the faucet.

## Prerequisites [#prerequisites]

* Set up your node as per [Node setup](https://docs.axelar.dev/llms.mdx/infrastructure/node/setup/content.md).
* Install [lz4](https://lz4.github.io/lz4/)
* Ensure the `AXELARD_HOME` variable is set in your current session. See [Home directory](https://docs.axelar.dev/llms.mdx/infrastructure/node/setup/content.md#home-directory) (e.g. `AXELARD_HOME="$HOME/.axelar"`).

## Start your Axelar node [#start-your-axelar-node]

You may wish to redirect log output to a file (your command will be launched in background):

```bash
$AXELARD_HOME/bin/axelard start --home $AXELARD_HOME >> $AXELARD_HOME/logs/axelard.log 2>&1 &
```

View your logs in real time:

```bash
tail -f $AXELARD_HOME/logs/axelard.log
```

## Test whether your blockchain is downloaded [#test-whether-your-blockchain-is-downloaded]

Eventually your Axelar node will download the entire Axelar blockchain and exit `catching_up` mode. At that time your logs will show a new block added to the blockchain every 5 seconds.

You can test whether your Axelar node has exited `catching_up` mode:

```bash
$AXELARD_HOME/bin/axelard status
```

Look for the field `catching_up`:

* `true`: you are still downloading the blockchain.
* `false`: you have finished downloading the blockchain.

## Stop your Axelar node [#stop-your-axelar-node]

Stop your currently running Axelar node:

```bash
pkill -f "axelard start"
```

## Check your Axelar node status [#check-your-axelar-node-status]

```bash
ps aux | grep "axelard start"
```

No process should be running.

## Backup and restore your node and validator keys [#backup-and-restore-your-node-and-validator-keys]

Each time you start your Axelar node `axelard` will look for the following files in `$AXELARD_HOME/config`:

* `node_key.json` : The p2p identity of your node. Back this up if this is a seed node.
* `priv_validator_key.json` : Validator’s Tendermint consensus key. Back this up if this is a validator node.

These files will be created if they do not already exist. You can restore them from a backup simply by placing them in `$AXELARD_HOME/config` before starting your node.

## Backup your chain data [#backup-your-chain-data]

<Callout type="warning" emoji="⚠️">
  Caution: Your node must be stopped in order to properly backup chain data.
</Callout>

Backup your entire node's state simply by copying the `$AXELARD_HOME` directory:

```bash
cp -r $AXELARD_HOME ${AXELARD_HOME}_backup.$(date +"%Y%m%d_%H%M%S")
```

## Create an account [#create-an-account]

```bash
$AXELARD_HOME/bin/axelard keys add my_account --home $AXELARD_HOME
```

<Callout type="warning" emoji="⚠️">
  Caution: The above command will print a mnemonic to stdout. This mnemonic
  allows you to recover the secret key for your new account. Be sure to store a
  backup of the mnemonic in a safe place.
</Callout>

## Learn your address [#learn-your-address]

The public address of your account `my_account` was printed to stdout when you created it. You can display the address at any time:

```bash
$AXELARD_HOME/bin/axelard keys show validator -a --home $AXELARD_HOME
```

## Check your AXL balance [#check-your-axl-balance]

Let `{MY_ADDRESS}` denote the address of your `my_account` account.

<Callout emoji="💡">
  Tip: Your balance will appear only after you have downloaded the blockchain
  and exited `catching_up` mode.
</Callout>

```bash
$AXELARD_HOME/bin/axelard q bank balances {MY_ADDRESS}
```

If this is a new account then you should see no token balances.

## Get AXL tokens from the faucet [#get-axl-tokens-from-the-faucet]

**Testnets:**
Go to the Axelar testnet faucet and send some free AXL testnet tokens to `{MY_ADDRESS}`:

* [Testnet Faucet](https://faucet.testnet.axelar.dev/)


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All pages of these docs, as Markdown: https://docs.axelar.dev/llms.txt