Arbitrum Local Testnode Deployment

The nitro-testnode provides a complete environment for local Arbitrum testing, including a dev-mode Geth L1 and multiple Nitro instances with different roles. This setup supports the latest Arbitrum features including Stylus smart contracts.

Prerequisites

Before running the testnode, ensure you have the following installed:

bash shell
docker and docker-compose

All tools must be available in your PATH.

Quick Start

1️⃣ Clone the Repository

git clone -b release --recurse-submodules https://github.com/OffchainLabs/nitro-testnode.git
cd nitro-testnode

2️⃣ Initialize and Start the Node

./test-node.bash --init

This command will:

Download and set up the necessary Docker images
Initialize the blockchain state
Start the local Arbitrum testnode

3️⃣ Access the Testnode

Once running, the sequencer container provides access to the testchain:

HTTP RPC: http://localhost:8547
WebSocket RPC: ws://localhost:8548

Available Options

To see all available configuration options:

./test-node.bash --help

Important Notes

The testnode runs with a local L1 (Geth) in development mode
All accounts and contracts are pre-funded for testing
The blockchain state resets each time the testnode is restarted
This is intended for local development and testing only

Node Data and Configuration

For detailed information about accounts, contracts, and network configuration, see the Test Node Data section.