# SSV Holesky Setup

To participate in an SSV cluster you'll need to first create an SSV Operator. After that you'll be able run an SSV node as part of our testnet clusters.

### Step 1: Create an SSV Operator

Go to the [SSV webapp](https://app.ssv.network/join/operator), connect the wallet you want to use and select Holesky. 

Then click on Register Operator.

<figure><img src="/files/ibsbYpMdYmf7RWuDmmAR" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The next screen will ask you for an [Operator public key](https://docs.ssv.network/operator-user-guides/operator-node/installation#generate-operator-keys-encrypted).

<figure><img src="/files/G9Wjl0eeZ47xsWyz4vb2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

&#x20;You need to generate this on your machine. The first step is to create a file called password with a secure password in it.

Open your terminal.

Pick anything you like or generate a password with ssl (OPTIONAL):

```
openssl rand -hex 32
```

Copy the value and navigate to the directory where you want to create your SSV operator keys. Run this command with your password pasted in:

```
echo "<MY_OPERATOR_PASSWORD>" >> password
```

Make sure Docker is running to run the next command.

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
docker run --name ssv-node-key-generation -v ./password:/password -it "bloxstaking/ssv-node:latest" /go/bin/ssvnode generate-operator-keys --password-file=password && docker cp ssv-node-key-generation:/encrypted_private_key.json ./encrypted_private_key.json && docker rm ssv-node-key-generation
```

{% endcode %}

This command will pull a docker image to create your keys. It may fail for some reason. In that case just read the error description to solve it as it is usually descriptive enough.&#x20;

If successful, your key file should be created now. Open it in any way you prefer, for example with VSCode and read the contents. They should have this structure (example from SSV):

```json
{
  "checksum": {
    "function": "sha256",
    "message": "affa5deb755d8ad13a039117dc6850d2a25ad62a870a1e1f8d4ef...",
    "params": {}
  },
  "cipher": {
    "function": "aes-128-ctr",
    "message": "3022f3b5043b77eda7f336dd0218e6b7e633a3f42f7ae92ed9...",
    "params": { "iv": "12e787716b0e3c30f2d68ed05464c16f" }
  },
  "kdf": {
    "function": "pbkdf2",
    "message": "",
    "params": {
      "c": 262144,
      "dklen": 32,
      "prf": "hmac-sha256",
      "salt": "bc71d3213fe17f15879e6bc468b30eeeb2d0969176491d87f9b00a37bf314a4c"
    }
  },
  "pubKey": "LS0tLS1CRUdJTiBSU0EgUFVCTElDIEtFWS0tLS0tCk1JSUJJak..."
}
```

Copy the value of the pubKey and go back to the SSV webapp. Enter the pubkey in the form:

<figure><img src="/files/kFEEgUKUiVuAyiMjDLwb" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Make sure you set the operator to private.

On the next screen, set your operator fee to 0 and click on Next:

<figure><img src="/files/G6otQJDPJ6TdDe9mlC45" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Finish the setup on the next page with clicking on Register Operator and signing the transaction. If succesful, the page should look like this:

<figure><img src="/files/TynZjcmXQWSGEQT8SvqI" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

You are almost there! You successfully created your SSV Operator.

### Step 2: Authorize Etherfi to add your Operator

Click on Manage Operators now.  Click on the operator you just created:

<figure><img src="/files/gASiDrTpw0a4zUWhmUiu" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

In the next screen, click on the menu on the top right and then on permission settings:&#x20;

<figure><img src="/files/LB44llNd38MU1MdoJega" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Click on Authorized Addresses and "Add Authorized Address".

We use this address for the Holesky testnet clusters:

```
0x052F66698F0f23B6d568311b130a827729b57C5d
```

Add it in the field, click on "Add and Save" and sign the transaction.

<figure><img src="/files/2CfAUOp2Ud5rEKRRsGEp" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

That's it! You registered your SSV Operator and authorized Etherfi to add you to a cluster on Holesky!


---

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