# Enable Auto Restart

Enabling this configuration allows your node to:

* **Automatically monitor and restart** services if they become unresponsive or disconnected from the cluster
* **Automatically check for and apply updates** via `nodectl` when new versions of Tessellation are available (based on your configuration preferences)

This ensures your node remains healthy, up-to-date, and engaged in network operations with minimal manual intervention.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Enter Configuration Edit Mode[​](https://docs-v1.constellationnetwork.io/validate/quick-start/autorestart-quickstart#-enter-configuration-edit-mode) <a href="#enter-configuration-edit-mode" id="enter-configuration-edit-mode"></a>

```
sudo nodectl configure -e -cb -d
```

{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Access Auto Restart Options[​](https://docs-v1.constellationnetwork.io/validate/quick-start/autorestart-quickstart#-access-auto-restart-options) <a href="#access-auto-restart-options" id="access-auto-restart-options"></a>

We will choose the <kbd>R</kbd> from the Edit Menu.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Enable All Options[​](https://docs-v1.constellationnetwork.io/validate/quick-start/autorestart-quickstart#-enable-all-options) <a href="#enable-all-options" id="enable-all-options"></a>

* Choose <kbd>y</kbd> to enable **auto\_restart**
* Choose <kbd>y</kbd> to enable **auto\_upgrade**
* Choose <kbd>y</kbd> to enable **on\_boot**
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Confirm Selections[​](https://docs-v1.constellationnetwork.io/validate/quick-start/autorestart-quickstart#-confirm-selections) <a href="#confirm-selections" id="confirm-selections"></a>

Choose <kbd>y</kbd> to confirm selections.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### ◽ Exit Configurator[​](https://docs-v1.constellationnetwork.io/validate/quick-start/autorestart-quickstart#-exit-configurator) <a href="#exit-configurator" id="exit-configurator"></a>

Choose <kbd>Q</kbd> to exit back to the command line interface.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Confirm Auto Restart is Enabled[​](https://docs-v1.constellationnetwork.io/validate/quick-start/autorestart-quickstart#-confirm-auto-restart-is-enabled) <a href="#confirm-auto-restart-is-enabled" id="confirm-auto-restart-is-enabled"></a>

```
sudo nodectl auto_restart status
```

{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## **Understanding the various auto restart options**

The `nodectl` utility includes several optional features designed to automate node recovery, version compliance, and startup behavior. These options help ensure your Validator node remains online, up-to-date, and resilient without requiring constant manual intervention.

***

### 🔁 auto\_restart

When `auto_restart` is **enabled**, `nodectl` continuously monitors the health and cluster status of your node.

**Key Functionality:**

* Detects if your node **drops off the cluster** due to issues such as network interruptions, process failures, or misconfigurations.
* Automatically attempts to **restart and rejoin** the node to the cluster without user involvement.
* Automatically attempts to return your node to consensus if it stops participating for a variety of reason.

This is especially helpful for maintaining high availability and reducing downtime.

***

### ⬆️ auto\_upgrade

Constellation Network requires all active Validator nodes to run the **same version** of Tessellation. If your node is not running the correct version during a cluster upgrade, it will be **rejected** from joining, regardless of its other credentials (e.g., collateral, seed list status).

#### **When `auto_upgrade` is enabled:**

* `nodectl` will **monitor the current cluster version**.
* If a version mismatch is detected, it will automatically **upgrade your node** to match the active cluster version.

This ensures version compliance and minimizes the risk of node rejection due to outdated software.

***

### 🔄 on\_boot

Enabling `on_boot` ensures that `nodectl`'s auto-recovery features are initialized **automatically when your VPS starts up**, such as after:

* A manual system reboot
* An unexpected crash
* Cloud maintenance or hardware restarts

#### **How it works:**

* On system boot, `nodectl` launches the `auto_restart` process.
* If necessary, `auto_upgrade` also activates to bring the node back in sync with the cluster version.
* This setup enables your node to **recover and reconnect unattended** after the VPS completes its boot sequence.

***

These automation features are highly recommended for production Validator nodes, as they enhance stability, uptime, and operational efficiency across the Constellation Network.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.constellationnetwork.io/run-a-node/validator-node-guides/enable-auto-restart.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.