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CLI Commands

This section details the present commands, command flags in the Polygon Edge, and how they're used.

JSON output support

The --json flag is supported on some commands. This flag instructs the command to print the output in JSON format

Startup Commands

CommandDescription
serverThe default command that starts the blockchain client, by bootstrapping all modules together
genesisGenerates a genesis.json file, which is used to set a predefined chain state before starting the client. The structure of the genesis file is described below

server flags

seal

server [--seal SHOULD_SEAL]

Sets the flag indicating that the client should seal blocks. Default: true.


data-dir

server [--data-dir DATA_DIRECTORY]

Used to specify the data directory used for storing Polygon Edge client data. Default: ./test-chain.


jsonrpc

server [--jsonrpc JSONRPC_ADDRESS]

Sets the address and port for the JSON-RPC service address:port.
If only port is defined :10001 it will bind to all interfaces 0.0.0.0:10001.
If omitted the service will bind to the default address:port.
Default address: 0.0.0.0:8545.


grpc

server [--grpc-address GRPC_ADDRESS]

Sets the address and port for the gRPC service address:port. Default address: 127.0.0.1:9632.


libp2p

server [--libp2p LIBP2P_ADDRESS]

Sets the address and port for the libp2p service address:port. Default address: 127.0.0.1:1478.


prometheus

server [--prometheus PROMETHEUS_ADDRESS]

Sets the address and port for the prometheus server address:port.
If only port is defined :5001 the service will bind to all interfaces 0.0.0.0:5001.
If omitted the service will not be started.


block-gas-target

server [--block-gas-target BLOCK_GAS_TARGET]

Sets the target block gas limit for the chain. Default (not enforced): 0.

A more detailed explanation on the block gas target can be found in the TxPool section.


max-peers

server [--max-peers PEER_COUNT]

Sets the client's maximum peer count. Default: 40.

Peer limit should be specified either by using max-peers or max-inbound/outbound-peers flag.


max-inbound-peers

server [--max-inbound-peers PEER_COUNT]

Sets the client's maximum inbound peer count. If max-peers is set, max-inbound-peer limit is calculated using the following formulae.

max-inbound-peer = InboundRatio * max-peers, where InboundRatio is 0.8.


max-outbound-peers

server [--max-outbound-peers PEER_COUNT]

Sets the client's maximum outbound peer count. If max-peers is set, max-outbound-peer count is calculated using the following formulae.

max-outbound-peer = OutboundRatio * max-peers, where OutboundRatio is 0.2.


log-level

server [--log-level LOG_LEVEL]

Sets the log level for console output. Default: INFO.


log-to

server [--log-to LOG_FILE]

Defines log file name that will hold all log output from the server command. By default, all server logs will be outputted to console (stdout), but if the flag is set, there will be no output to the console when running server command.


chain

server [--chain GENESIS_FILE]

Specifies the genesis file used for starting the chain. Default: ./genesis.json.


join

server [--join JOIN_ADDRESS]

Specifies the address of the peer that should be joined.


nat

server [--nat NAT_ADDRESS]

Sets the external IP address without the port, as it can be seen by peers.


dns

server [--dns DNS_ADDRESS]

Sets the host DNS address. This can be used to advertise an external DNS. Supports dns,dns4,dns6.


price-limit

server [--price-limit PRICE_LIMIT]

Sets minimum gas price limit to enforce for acceptance into the pool. Default: 1.


max-slots

server [--max-slots MAX_SLOTS]

Sets maximum slots in the pool. Default: 4096.


config

server [--config CLI_CONFIG_PATH]

Specifies the path to the CLI config. Supports .json.


secrets-config

server [--secrets-config SECRETS_CONFIG]

Sets the path to the SecretsManager config file. Used for Hashicorp Vault, AWS SSM and GCP Secrets Manager. If omitted, the local FS secrets manager is used.


dev

server [--dev DEV_MODE]

Sets the client to dev mode. Default: false.


dev-interval

server [--dev-interval DEV_INTERVAL]

Sets the client's dev notification interval in seconds. Default: 0.


no-discover

server [--no-discover NO_DISCOVER]

Prevents the client from discovering other peers. Default: false.


restore

server [--restore RESTORE]

Restore blocks from the specified archive file


block-time

server [--block-time BLOCK_TIME]

Sets block production time in seconds. Default: 2


ibft-base-timeout

server [--ibft-base-timeout IBFT_BASE_TIMEOUT]

Sets the base value of timeout on IBFT consensus.
IBFT consensus timeout is calculated by BaseTimeout + 2^(round), or BaseTimeout * 30 where round exceeds 8.
It needs to be larger than block time and BlockTime * 5 is set if it's not specified.


access-control-allow-origins

server [--access-control-allow-origins ACCESS_CONTROL_ALLOW_ORIGINS]

Sets the authorized domains to be able to share responses from JSON-RPC requests.
Add multiple flags --access-control-allow-origins "https://example1.com" --access-control-allow-origins "https://example2.com" to authorize multiple domains.
If omitted Access-Control-Allow-Origins header will be set to * and all domains will be authorized.


genesis flags

dir

genesis [--dir DIRECTORY]

Sets the directory for the Polygon Edge genesis data. Default: ./genesis.json.


name

genesis [--name NAME]

Sets the name for the chain. Default: polyton-edge.


pos

genesis [--pos IS_POS]

Sets the flag indicating that the client should use Proof of Stake IBFT. Defaults to Proof of Authority if flag is not provided or false.


epoch-size

genesis [--epoch-size EPOCH_SIZE]

Sets the epoch size for the chain. Default 100000.


premine

genesis [--premine ADDRESS:VALUE]

Sets the premined accounts and balances in the format address:amount. The amount can be in either decimal or hex. Default premined balance: 0x3635C9ADC5DEA00000.


chainid

genesis [--chain-id CHAIN_ID]

Sets the ID of the chain. Default: 100.


ibft-validators-prefix-path

genesis [--ibft-validators-prefix-path IBFT_VALIDATORS_PREFIX_PATH]

Prefix path for validator folder directory. Needs to be present if the flag ibft-validator is omitted.


ibft-validator

genesis [--ibft-validator IBFT_VALIDATOR_LIST]

Sets passed in addresses as IBFT validators. Needs to be present if the flag ibft-validators-prefix-path is omitted.


block-gas-limit

genesis [--block-gas-limit BLOCK_GAS_LIMIT]

Refers to the maximum amount of gas used by all operations in a block. Default: 5242880.


consensus

genesis [--consensus CONSENSUS_PROTOCOL]

Sets consensus protocol. Default: pow.


bootnode

genesis [--bootnode BOOTNODE_URL]

Multiaddr URL for p2p discovery bootstrap. This flag can be used multiple times. Instead of an IP address, the DNS address of the bootnode can be provided.


max-validator-count

genesis [--max-validator-count MAX_VALIDATOR_COUNT]

The maximum number of stakers able to join the validator set in a PoS consensus. This number cannot exceed the value of MAX_SAFE_INTEGER (2^53 - 2).


min-validator-count

genesis [--min-validator-count MIN_VALIDATOR_COUNT]

The minimum number of stakers needed to join the validator set in a PoS consensus. This number cannot exceed the value of max-validator-count. Defaults to 1.


Operator Commands

Peer Commands

CommandDescription
peers addAdds a new peer using their libp2p address
peers listLists all the peers the client is connected to through libp2p
peers statusReturns the status of a specific peer from the peers list, using the libp2p address

peers add flags

addr

peers add --addr PEER_ADDRESS

Peer's libp2p address in the multiaddr format.


grpc-address

peers add [--grpc-address GRPC_ADDRESS]

Address of the gRPC API. Default: 127.0.0.1:9632.

peers list flags

grpc-address

peers list [--grpc-address GRPC_ADDRESS]

Address of the gRPC API. Default: 127.0.0.1:9632.

peers status flags

peer-id

peers status --peer-id PEER_ID

Libp2p node ID of a specific peer within p2p network.


grpc-address

peers status [--grpc-address GRPC_ADDRESS]

Address of the gRPC API. Default: 127.0.0.1:9632.

IBFT Commands

CommandDescription
ibft snapshotReturns the IBFT snapshot
ibft candidatesQueries the current set of proposed candidates, as well as candidates that have not been included yet
ibft proposeProposes a new candidate to be added/removed from the validator set
ibft statusReturns the overall status of the IBFT client
ibft switchAdd fork configurations into genesis.json file to switch IBFT type

ibft snapshot flags

number

ibft snapshot [--number BLOCK_NUMBER]

The block height (number) for the snapshot.


grpc-address

ibft snapshot [--grpc-address GRPC_ADDRESS]

Address of the gRPC API. Default: 127.0.0.1:9632.

ibft candidates flags

grpc-address

ibft candidates [--grpc-address GRPC_ADDRESS]

Address of the gRPC API. Default: 127.0.0.1:9632.

ibft propose flags

vote

ibft propose --vote VOTE

Proposes a change to the validator set. Possible values: [auth, drop].


addr

ibft propose --addr ETH_ADDRESS

Address of the account to be voted for.


grpc-address

ibft candidates [--grpc-address GRPC_ADDRESS]

Address of the gRPC API. Default: 127.0.0.1:9632.

ibft status flags

grpc-address

ibft status [--grpc-address GRPC_ADDRESS]

Address of the gRPC API. Default: 127.0.0.1:9632.

ibft switch flags

chain

ibft switch [--chain GENESIS_FILE]

Specifies the genesis file to update. Default: test.


type

ibft switch [--type TYPE]

Specifies the IBFT type to switch. Possible values: [PoA, PoS].


deployment

ibft switch [--deployment DEPLOYMENT]

Specifies the height of contract deployment. Only available with PoS.


from

ibft switch [--from FROM]

max-validator-count

ibft switch [--max-validator-count MAX_VALIDATOR_COUNT]

The maximum number of stakers able to join the validator set in a PoS consensus. This number cannot exceed the value of MAX_SAFE_INTEGER (2^53 - 2).


min-validator-count

ibft switch [--min-validator-count MIN_VALIDATOR_COUNT]

The minimum number of stakers needed to join the validator set in a PoS consensus. This number cannot exceed the value of max-validator-count. Defaults to 1.

Specifies the beginning height of the fork.

Transaction Pool Commands

CommandDescription
txpool statusReturns the number of transactions in the pool
txpool subscribeSubscribes for events in the transaction pool

txpool status flags

grpc-address

txpool status [--grpc-address GRPC_ADDRESS]

Address of the gRPC API. Default: 127.0.0.1:9632.

txpool subscribe flags

grpc-address

txpool subscribe [--grpc-address GRPC_ADDRESS]

Address of the gRPC API. Default: 127.0.0.1:9632.


promoted

txpool subscribe [--promoted LISTEN_PROMOTED]

Subscribes for promoted tx events in the TxPool.


dropped

txpool subscribe [--dropped LISTEN_DROPPED]

Subscribes for dropped tx events in the TxPool.


demoted

txpool subscribe [--demoted LISTEN_DEMOTED]

Subscribes for demoted tx events in the TxPool.


added

txpool subscribe [--added LISTEN_ADDED]

Subscribes for added tx events to the TxPool.


enqueued

txpool subscribe [--enqueued LISTEN_ENQUEUED]

Subscribes for enqueued tx events in the account queues.


Blockchain commands

CommandDescription
statusReturns the status of the client. The detailed response can be found below
monitorSubscribes to a blockchain event stream. The detailed response can be found below
versionReturns the current version of the client

status flags

grpc-address

status [--grpc-address GRPC_ADDRESS]

Address of the gRPC API. Default: 127.0.0.1:9632.

monitor flags

grpc-address

monitor [--grpc-address GRPC_ADDRESS]

Address of the gRPC API. Default: 127.0.0.1:9632.


Secrets Commands

CommandDescription
secrets initInitializes the private keys to the corresponding secrets manager
secrets generateGenerates a secrets manager configuration file which can be parsed by the Polygon Edge

secrets init flags

config

secrets init [--config SECRETS_CONFIG]

Sets the path to the SecretsManager config file. Used for Hashicorp Vault. If omitted, the local FS secrets manager is used.


data-dir

secrets init [--data-dir DATA_DIRECTORY]

Sets the directory for the Polygon Edge data if the local FS is used.

secrets generate flags

dir

secrets generate [--dir DATA_DIRECTORY]

Sets the directory for the secrets manager configuration file Default: ./secretsManagerConfig.json


type

secrets generate [--type TYPE]

Specifies the type of the secrets manager [hashicorp-vault]. Default: hashicorp-vault


token

secrets generate [--token TOKEN]

Specifies the access token for the service


server-url

secrets generate [--server-url SERVER_URL]

Specifies the server URL for the service


name

secrets generate [--name NODE_NAME]

Specifies the name of the node for on-service record keeping. Default: polygon-edge-node


namespace

secrets generate [--namespace NAMESPACE]

Specifies the namespace used for the Hashicorp Vault secrets manager. Default: admin


Responses

Status Response

The response object is defined using Protocol Buffers.

minimal/proto/system.proto
message ServerStatus {
int64 network = 1;

string genesis = 2;

Block current = 3;

string p2pAddr = 4;

message Block {
int64 number = 1;
string hash = 2;
}
}

Monitor Response

minimal/proto/system.proto
message BlockchainEvent {
// The "repeated" keyword indicates an array
repeated Header added = 1;
repeated Header removed = 2;

message Header {
int64 number = 1;
string hash = 2;
}
}

Utilities

loadbot flags

tps

loadbot [--tps NUMBER_OF_TXNS_PER_SECOND]

The number of transactions per second to send. Default: 100.


mode

loadbot [--mode MODE]

Sets the loadbot run mode [transfer, deploy]. Default: transfer.


chain-id

loadbot [--chain-id CHAIN_ID]

Sets the network chain ID for transactions. Default: 100.


gas-price

loadbot [--gas-price GAS_PRICE]

The gas price that should be used for the transactions. If omitted, the average gas price is fetched from the network.


gas-limit

loadbot [--gas-limit GAS_LIMIT]

The gas limit that should be used for the transactions. If omitted, the gas limit is estimated before starting the loadbot.


grpc-address

loadbot --grpc-address GRPC_ADDRESS

The GRPC endpoint used to send transactions


detailed

loadbot [--detailed DETAILED]

Flag indicating if the error logs should be shown. Default: false.


contract

loadbot [--contract CONTRACT_PATH]

The path to the contract JSON artifact containing the bytecode. If omitted, a default contract is used.


sender

loadbot [--sender ADDRESS]

Address of the sender account.


receiver

loadbot [--receiver ADDRESS]

Address of the receiver account.


jsonrpc

loadbot [--jsonrpc ENDPOINT]

A JSON RPC endpoint used to send transactions.


count

loadbot [--count COUNT]

The total number of transactions to send. Default: 1000.


value

loadbot [--value VALUE]

The value to send in each transaction.


max-conns

loadbot [--max-conns MAX_CONNECTIONS_COUNT]

Sets the maximum no.of connections allowed per host. Default: 2*tps.


backup flags

grpc-address

backup [--grpc-address GRPC_ADDRESS]

Address of the gRPC API. Default: 127.0.0.1:9632.


out

backup [--out OUT]

Path of archive file to save.


from

from [--from FROM]

The beginning height of blocks in archive. Default: 0.


to

to [--to TO]

The end height of blocks in archive.


Genesis Template

The genesis file should be used to set the initial state of the blockchain (ex. if some accounts should have a starting balance).

The following ./genesis.json file is generated:

{
"name": "example",
"genesis": {
"nonce": "0x0000000000000000",
"gasLimit": "0x0000000000001388",
"difficulty": "0x0000000000000001",
"mixHash": "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
"coinbase": "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
"parentHash": "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000"
},
"params": {
"forks": {},
"chainID": 100,
"engine": {
"pow": {}
}
},
"bootnodes": []
}

Data Directory

When executing the data-dir flag, a test-chain folder is generated. The folder structure consists of the following sub-folders:

  • blockchain - Stores the LevelDB for blockchain objects
  • trie - Stores the LevelDB for the Merkle tries
  • keystore - Stores private keys for the client. This includes the libp2p private key and the sealing/validator private key
  • consensus - Stores any consensus information that the client might need while working

Resources