# Running a validator node

Validator nodes secure Tempo by validating blocks and participating in consensus.

:::info
The active validator set is currently permissioned. If you are interested in becoming a validator, please [get in touch](https://tempo.xyz/contact) with the Tempo team. See [Initial setup](https://tempo.xyz/developers/docs/guide/node/validator-setup) for technical details.
:::

* [Initial Setup](https://tempo.xyz/developers/docs/guide/node/validator-setup) — Register with the Tempo team, generate your signing key, download a snapshot, and start your validator for the first time
* [Checking Validator Status](https://tempo.xyz/developers/docs/guide/node/validator-status) — Understand state transitions, check participation via metrics, and query on-chain status
* [Controlling Validator Lifecycle](https://tempo.xyz/developers/docs/guide/node/validator-lifecycle) — Start, stop, register, rotate, deactivate, and transfer ownership of your validator
* [Managing Validator Keys](https://tempo.xyz/developers/docs/guide/node/validator-keys) — Key hierarchy, generation, rotation, and signing share recovery
* [Monitoring a Validator](https://tempo.xyz/developers/docs/guide/node/validator-monitoring) — Monitor consensus and execution health, metrics glossary, Grafana dashboards, and log management
* [Troubleshooting and FAQ](https://tempo.xyz/developers/docs/guide/node/validator-troubleshooting) — Common issues and solutions