# Swan Node Snapshots

This guide provides an advanced optimization method for SWAN Node operators looking to expedite their node initialization process. As a complementary resource to the [Node Operator](/bulders/swan-node.md) guide, snapshots offer a time-saving alternative to full chain synchronization.

### Key Components

**Hardware Requirements**

* 8-Core CPU
* Minimum 16 GB RAM
* Locally attached NVMe SSD
* Sufficient storage (recommended: 2 \* current chain size + snapshot size + 20% buffer)

**Prerequisite**

* This tutorial assumes you are familiar with [Docker](https://www.docker.com/) and have it running on your machine.

#### Running a Swan Node

This tutorial will walk you through setting up your own Swan Node, you can see here: <https://docs.swanchain.io/bulders/swan-node>

#### Snapshots

If you're a prospective or current SWAN Node operator and would like to restore from a snapshot to save time on the initial sync, it's possible to always get the latest available snapshot of the Swan chain on mainnet by using the following CLI commands. The snapshots are updated every two weeks.

***

## Snapshot Restoration Process

In the home directory of your SWAN Node, create a folder(`$SWAN_NODE_DATA`). If you already have this folder, remove it to clear the existing state and recreate it. Next, run the following code and wait for the operation to complete.

#### Init Swan Node configuration

```
docker run --rm -v $SWAN_NODE_DATA:/opt/swan swanchain254/swan-node-mainnet:latest init

```

#### Download the snapshot and untar it

* Swan Mainnet Snapshot:
  * [swanchain\_snapshot\_2025\_02\_17\_height\_4226078.tar.gz](https://6ba96e4b2881.acl.swanipfs.com/ipfs/QmPmWtiABBmZP5rtV9sX36K8Y8gA74udXKnqqy5KgKqi5z)

```
wget https://6ba96e4b2881.acl.swanipfs.com/ipfs/QmUgXvTLggufGisAYgjTEBt3AoJANRFjWdSfCQrpC9gsti -O swanchain_snapshot_2024_11_29_height_2845579.tar.gz
```

You'll then need to untar the downloaded snapshot and place the `$SWAN_NODE_DATA/data/geth/` subfolder

```
tar -zxvf ​swanchain_snapshot_2025_02_17_height_4226078.tar.gz -C $SWAN_NODE_DATA/data/geth/
```

#### Start Swan node

* `L1RPC` URL and `L1BEACON`

You'll need your own `L1RPC` URL and `L1BEACON` URL. This can be one that you run yourself.

* Run the docker command

```
docker run -dit --name swan-node --restart=always -v $SWAN_NODE_DATA:/opt/swan -p 8545:8545 -e L1RPC=$L1RPC -e  L1BEACON=$L1BEACON swanchain254/swan-node-mainnet:latest

```

#### Confirm you get a response from:

```
curl -d '{"id":0,"jsonrpc":"2.0","method":"eth_getBlockByNumber","params":["latest",false]}' \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" http://localhost:8545
```

#### Check the node sync status

```
tail -f $SWAN_NODE_DATA/log/geth.log
```


---

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