DEEP NODE SETUP GUIDE
Run a UNATRARE Deep Node and help seed the Rare Pepe art archive permanently across the TRAC Hyperswarm P2P network. No technical background required — follow this guide step by step.
WHAT IS A DEEP NODE?
A Deep Node is a computer that stores a copy of the UNATRARE-certified art archive and stays connected to the network. The more nodes that run, the more copies of the art exist across the world — making the archive permanent, with no single server that can be shut down or lost.
Every hour your node is online, it sends an automatic “heartbeat” ping to the network. You don’t do anything — it happens automatically. Heartbeats are your proof of loyalty. When the NAT reward system launches, heartbeat count determines your share.
The first 100 nodes to register earn permanent GENESIS status — an on-chain record that cannot be faked or granted later. Genesis nodes receive 2× reward weight for their first year.
UNATPEPE holders who register a node with their TAP wallet address receive permanent 1.5× reward weight. This stacks with GENESIS status (a confirmed Genesis + UNATPEPE node earns 2× + 1.5×). To enable it, set your TAP_ADDRESS in .env before registering. UNATPEPE balance is verified automatically via the TAP protocol API.
IS THIS SAFE TO RUN?
✓ Your node stores only UNATRARE-certified Rare Pepe and Counterparty art — not random internet content.
✓ No financial data, passwords, or private keys pass through your node.
✓ The node software is fully open source — read it at github.com/joeatang/unatrare-intercom.
✓ No open ports required on your router — the network uses UDP hole-punching automatically.
✓ Your IP address is visible to other nodes on the subnet, the same as torrenting. Use a VPN if that concerns you.
⚠ Only download Pear from the official source: pear.runtime (made by Holepunch). Never run node software from untrusted sources.
⚠ If you run on a laptop, close-to-sleep = no heartbeats logged. A VPS or always-on desktop accumulates the best record.
REQUIREMENTS
| Operating System | Ubuntu 20.04 or newer ✓ macOS 12 Monterey or newer ✓ macOS 11 Big Sur / Catalina or older ✗ will not work Windows ✓ via Docker Desktop |
| RAM | 1 GB minimum · 2 GB+ recommended |
| Storage | 10 GB free minimum · 50 GB recommended for long-term |
| Internet | Always-on broadband · any residential connection works |
| Node.js | Version 22 or newer · Windows users: Docker Desktop replaces this requirement |
| Bitcoin wallet | Any wallet that shows your BTC address (Freewallet, Sparrow, etc.) |
Best hardware for a permanent node: a $35 Raspberry Pi 4 (2GB) with a 64GB SD card, running Ubuntu Server. Costs ~$1–2/month in electricity and runs 24/7 indefinitely. A $6/month DigitalOcean droplet is the cloud equivalent.
SETUP: LINUX VPS OR SERVER (RECOMMENDED)
This is the recommended path — always-on, no laptop sleep issues. Works on DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, Hetzner, or any Ubuntu 20.04+ server.
Step 1 — Install dependencies
Step 2 — Install Pear
Step 3 — Clone and install the node software
Step 4 — Start your node
Replace YOUR_BITCOIN_ADDRESS with your actual BTC address (any Bitcoin address you own — this is your identity on the network, not a payment address).
You will see the INTERCOM startup block followed by:
✓ If you see GENESIS — you are in the first 100. Congratulations.
Step 5 — Keep it running with PM2
PM2 keeps your node alive after reboots and if it crashes.
Pausing and resuming (travel, hardware changes, etc.)
⚠ Stopping your node pauses heartbeat accumulation. The 7-day genesis window keeps ticking while you are offline. See the FAQ below for what this means for your GENESIS slot.
SETUP: MAC (macOS 12 MONTEREY OR NEWER ONLY)
⚠ macOS 11 Big Sur, Catalina, or older will NOT work. Pear requires macOS 12+.
Step 1 — Install Node.js 22
Download from nodejs.org — choose version 22 LTS.
Step 2 — Install Pear and clone the node
Step 3 — Start your node
⚠ Keep this terminal window open. Closing it stops the node. For 24/7 operation, use a VPS or a Mac that never sleeps.
SETUP: WINDOWS (DOCKER DESKTOP)
Windows cannot run the Pear runtime natively, but Docker Desktop wraps everything inside a Linux container — no Pear install, no Node.js version management, no manual PATH setup. The node runs identically to a Linux server.
Step 1 — Install Docker Desktop
Download from docker.com/get-docker and install. Accept the default settings. Docker Desktop uses WSL2 or Hyper-V to run a real Linux environment inside Windows. Restart when prompted.
✓ After install, open Docker Desktop and confirm it shows “Engine running” in the bottom-left.
Step 2 — Clone the node software
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal:
Step 3 — Set your addresses
⚠ BTC_ADDRESS is required. XCP_ADDRESS is optional but recommended — it shows on your node card and qualifies you for future rewards.
Step 4 — Start the node
✓ The first start downloads the Pear platform from the network (~30–60 seconds). Subsequent starts are instant.
✓ The node runs in the background. Close your terminal — it keeps running. It will auto-restart if Docker restarts.
Stopping and updating
⚠ Your art archive and peer identity are stored in Docker volumes (not inside the container) — they survive updates and rebuilds.
SETUP: RASPBERRY PI (BEST VALUE)
A Raspberry Pi 4 (2GB RAM, ~$35) with a 64GB SD card (~$10) running Ubuntu Server 22.04 is the ideal community node. Costs about $1–2/month in electricity. Runs silently 24/7.
Follow the Linux VPS steps above exactly — Ubuntu on a Pi is identical to Ubuntu on a cloud server. Flash Ubuntu Server 22.04 ARM to your SD card using the Raspberry Pi Imager tool.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Can I run this on Windows?
Yes, via Docker Desktop. The Pear runtime that powers the node doesn’t run natively on Windows, but Docker Desktop wraps it in a Linux container so it works identically to a Linux server. Follow the Windows setup section above. You do not need to install Node.js or Pear separately — Docker handles all of that.
What is a heartbeat?
Every hour, your node automatically sends a small “I’m still here” ping to the UNATRARE registry. You do nothing — it’s automatic. Your total heartbeat count over time is your proof of loyal participation and will determine your share of future NAT rewards.
What is my BTC address used for?
It is your identity on the network — not a payment address. UNATRARE doesn’t charge you anything to run a node. Your BTC address ties your node to a real identity and will be used for reward distribution when NAT rewards launch.
What files does my node store?
Only UNATRARE-certified Rare Pepe and Counterparty art — images that passed the AI judge panel. The full archive is currently a few gigabytes and grows slowly. A 64GB SD card or 25GB VPS disk is safe for many years.
Can I close my terminal and have it keep running?
If you followed Step 5 (PM2), yes — PM2 keeps it running in the background even if you close the terminal or reboot. Without PM2, closing the terminal stops the node.
Does saving unatrare.wtf to my homescreen make me a node?
No. That is just a bookmark shortcut. A node means your computer is actively storing and serving files. They are completely different things.
What if I need to pause my node? (travel, hardware swap, etc.)
You can stop your node any time — just run pm2 stop unatrare-node && pm2 save on Linux, or docker compose down on Windows. On macOS, press Ctrl+C in the terminal. To resume, run pm2 start unatrare-node && pm2 save (or docker compose up -d). Your node picks up exactly where it left off — same pubkey, same heartbeat count, same identity.
Genesis window note: The 7-day genesis confirmation clock starts when you first register and does not pause while you are offline. You need 140 total heartbeats (≈ 83% uptime over 7 days) to confirm your slot. If you are offline for more than ~40 hours during that first week, you will not hit 140 beats by day 7 — but your slot stays reserved. Just keep running once you are back and your beat count will catch up. Genesis confirms automatically on the next heartbeat after you cross 140 beats, even if that happens well after day 7.
If you are already confirmed genesis (the 7-day window is done), stopping has no effect on your status — it is permanent. You will simply miss heartbeats while offline, which reduces your share of future rewards for that period.
What happens when TRAC updates?
You would need to pull the updated node software and restart — similar to updating any app. Updates will be announced on the UNATRARE and TRAC community channels. We are working on an auto-update mechanism.
Who makes Pear? Can I trust it?
Pear is made by Holepunch (holepunch.to) — an open source company, code auditable on GitHub. TRAC is built on top of Holepunch’s Hypercore protocol by the Trac Network team. UNATRARE is built on top of TRAC. All layers are open source and readable. Only download Pear from the official site.