# Manage a Validator Running a validator is an ongoing responsibility. This guide covers monitoring, updates, staking, and governance. Everything you need after your node is live. ## Monitor Your Validator Check connectivity and sync status: ``` soma status ``` View your current validator configuration and metadata: ``` soma validator display-metadata ``` To inspect a specific validator, pass its address: ``` soma validator display-metadata ``` Key metrics to watch: - **Sync lag**: how far behind the chain tip - **Missed proposals**: sign of instability - **Uptime**: validators with poor uptime earn fewer rewards ## Update Metadata Validator metadata includes network addresses and public keys. Update individual fields with the `update-metadata` subcommand: ``` soma validator update-metadata network-address soma validator update-metadata primary-address soma validator update-metadata p2p-address soma validator update-metadata network-pubkey soma validator update-metadata worker-pubkey soma validator update-metadata protocol-pubkey ``` All metadata changes take effect at the start of the next epoch. ## Commission Rate Set your commission rate in basis points. 100 basis points equals 1%. ``` soma validator set-commission-rate ``` Commission determines what percentage of delegator rewards your validator keeps. A rate of `500` means you take 5% of the rewards earned by SOMA delegated to you. The remaining 95% goes to delegators. ## Software Updates 1. Watch for new releases and protocol upgrade announcements from the SOMA team. 2. Install the new version: ``` sup update soma ``` 3. Restart your validator node to pick up the new binary. **Caution:** Coordinate update timing with epoch boundaries. Restarting mid-epoch means your validator misses proposals until it comes back online, which affects rewards and reputation. ## Staking and Rewards ### Delegation SOMA holders can delegate to your validator: ``` soma stake --validator
--amount ``` ### Self-Stake Validators stake with themselves using the same command and their own address. ### Unstaking To withdraw staked SOMA: ``` soma unstake ``` Unstaked SOMA is subject to an unbonding period before it becomes available for withdrawal. ### Reward Distribution Each epoch, the rewards pool is distributed as follows: - **20%** goes to validators, split proportionally by stake - **80%** goes to target winners (submitters and models) Validators take their commission rate from the rewards earned by delegated stake. Self-staked rewards are not subject to commission. For full details on emissions, fees, and incentive design, see [Economics](https://docs.soma.org/concepts/economics/). ## Reporting and Governance Validators are responsible for reporting bad actors on the network. **Report a misbehaving validator:** ``` soma validator report-validator ``` **Report a misbehaving model:** ``` soma validator report-model ``` **Undo a report** if the issue is resolved: ``` soma validator report-validator
--undo-report soma validator report-model --undo-report ``` ## Leave the Committee To stop validating and leave the active committee: ``` soma validator leave-committee ``` Deactivation takes effect at the start of the next epoch. Your node continues participating in consensus until then. Staked SOMA enters an unbonding period before it can be withdrawn.