# Download nodectl

{% hint style="warning" %}
**⚠️ DEPRECATED:** The `nodectl` utility is no longer supported. This guide is archived for reference only.

New and existing node operators should use the **Node Pilot** utility. **Click here to view the Node Pilot Setup Guide**
{% endhint %}

## Before Be Begin

<mark style="color:red;">From now on,</mark> <mark style="color:red;"></mark><mark style="color:red;">**all instructions**</mark> <mark style="color:red;"></mark><mark style="color:red;">will be executed on your</mark> <mark style="color:red;"></mark><mark style="color:red;">**remote VPS**</mark><mark style="color:red;">, not on your local system.</mark>&#x20;

Please make sure to **set up** and **connect** to your remote VPS before continuing.

{% content-ref url="../validator-node-guides/build-your-node" %}
[build-your-node](https://docs.constellationnetwork.io/run-a-node/validator-node-guides/build-your-node)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="../validator-node-guides/build-your-node/first-time-connection-guide" %}
[first-time-connection-guide](https://docs.constellationnetwork.io/run-a-node/validator-node-guides/build-your-node/first-time-connection-guide)
{% endcontent-ref %}

## Download the nodectl binary

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Navigate to to GitHub

From the web browser navigate to Constellation Network's Stardust Collective GitHub repository dedicated to the development **nodectl**.

### <https://github.com/StardustCollective/nodectl/releases>

{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Find the newest latest release ![](https://1221231704-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZrtHSqcmP0ydsdSnYXRM%2Fuploads%2FklkcRmgKU8tILcno3CVd%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=3e101689-8776-499b-8f34-415f54a0b59e)

{% hint style="danger" %}
It is not recommended to download a `pre-release` tagged release.  These releases are developmental and may contain bugs that can interfere with your node's operations.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Choose the right download link

On the Releases page you’ll see direct `wget` commands for various distros.&#x20;

For example, for **Ubuntu 22.04** and **Debian 12** or **Ubuntu 24.04**.  &#x20;

{% hint style="warning" %}
Please ensure you download the correct version for your Linux distribution. The background libraries required to compile and run `nodectl` differ between Ubuntu 22.04 and Ubuntu 24.04. Downloading the wrong version will result in an inoperable `nodectl` utility and numerous error messages.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Copy & Paste the wget command

On the right-most side of the code block showing the download `wget` command you should see a `clipboard copy` icon

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1221231704-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZrtHSqcmP0ydsdSnYXRM%2Fuploads%2FrFFF43AwObLKttRYaliN%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=946d64f8-5c4d-4b27-ad5b-0094c3e9dc22" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Paste into your Remote VPS

Paste the command into your remote VPS terminal session.   This command is a combination of several commands linked together with the Linux's bash `;` to indicate sequential commands that will be executed in order.

The commands executed will perform the following:

1. Attempt to disable **nodectl's** auto restart feature if **nodectl** may already be installed on the system to avoid conflicts when attempting to download the **nodectl** utility.  This command will produce an **expected** [error ](#sudo-nodectl-auto_restart-disable-error-explained)that we can <mark style="color:green;">**safely ignore**</mark>.
2. The next command will use [`wget`](#user-content-fn-1)[^1] to download the **nodectl** utility and place it in the appropriate directory for seamless execution.
3. Next, the permissions of the **nodectl** binary will be set to executable, allowing you to run the command.
4. Finally, the last command in the sequence will run the version check, allowing you to verify that **nodectl** was successfully downloaded, placed in the correct location, has the proper permissions, and is running the expected version.
   {% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Verify the installation

Once all the steps from **Step 5** are completed, the version of your **nodectl** utility should be displayed on your screen.

```
ubuntu@13.13.13.13:~# sudo nodectl version
  VERSION     MAJOR     MINOR     PATCH    CONFIG
  vX.XX.X     X         X         X        vX.X.X
```

{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

***

<details>

<summary>  <mark style="background-color:red;">auto_restart disable - Error Explained</mark>  </summary>

**From Step 5.1 from** :point\_up:

Since the `auto_restart` command is a background feature, if you're not downloading `nodectl` for the first time; but instead downloading a newer version manually, instead of using `nodectl`'s built-in upgrade feature, the `auto_restart` process may still be running.&#x20;

This can prevent you from overwriting the `nodectl` binary, as the Linux system will detect that the binary is in use.

To avoid this issue, you must disable the `auto_restart` feature before attempting to overwrite the binary.  The command to do this is provided on the releases page. It is safe to run, even if the `nodectl` binary is not present.  It will simply return a harmless error message.

</details>

[^1]: World Wide Web Get