# Run A Libre Node

## Node Types in the Libre Ecosystem

The Libre network consists of three main types of nodes:

1. **API Nodes** - Basic nodes that provide API access to the blockchain and relay transactions
2. **Validator Nodes** - Produce and validate blocks on the Libre blockchain, requiring more resources and maintenance
3. **CrossLink Nodes** - Specialized nodes that validate cross-chain transactions between Bitcoin and Libre, typically operated alongside validator nodes

This guide focuses primarily on setting up a basic API node. For more information about validator nodes and CrossLink nodes, please see [Validators](/libre-docs/platform-docs/validators.md) and the [Libre CrossLink documentation](https://gitlab.com/libre-chain/libre-chain-gitbook/-/blob/main/legacy-docs/cross-chain-interoperability/crosslink-mpc-tss-bridge/README.md).

## Setting Up a Basic API Node

1. Install Libre node software:

   ```
   bash -c "$(curl -sSfL https://gitlab.com/libre-chain/libre-chain-nodes/-/raw/main/install.sh)"
   ```
2. Update your environment:

   ```
   source ~/.bashrc
   ```
3. Check logs:

   ```
   tail -f /opt/libre-chain-nodes/libreNode/stderr.txt
   ```

{% hint style="info" %}
*For more advanced configuration and usage - including running a mainnet node - please refer to the full documentation.*

*Hint: Check* [*mainnet dir*](https://gitlab.com/libre-chain/libre-chain-nodes/-/tree/main/libreNode/Producer/Mainnet) *for peers and* [*node.env*](https://gitlab.com/libre-chain/libre-chain-nodes/-/blob/main/libreNode/node.env) *for snapshot link.*
{% endhint %}

{% embed url="<https://gitlab.com/libre-chain/libre-chain-nodes/-/tree/main>" %}
Libre Nodes Git Repo
{% endembed %}


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