# Snapshots

A GIWA node snapshot is a compressed archive of recent node data. By starting from a snapshot and syncing from that point, you can set up a node much faster than syncing from genesis.

Snapshot data is updated **once per week**.

{% hint style="info" %}
A snapshot does not contain the chain tip (the latest block).

After restoring from a snapshot, your node must catch up by syncing the blocks produced after the snapshot was created until it reaches the latest tip.
{% endhint %}

### Set up a node using a snapshot

This guide assumes you are running a node using the Docker-based setup provided in the [giwa-io/node](https://github.com/giwa-io/node) repository.

#### 1. Clean up existing resources

Stop your existing node and remove (or back up) the node data directory.

Geth:

```zsh
docker compose down && rm -rf ./geth_data
```

Reth:

```zsh
docker compose down && rm -rf ./reth_data
```

#### 2. Prepare the node data directory

Geth:

```zsh
mkdir ./geth_data
```

Reth:

```zsh
mkdir ./reth_data
```

#### 3. Download the snapshot

Depending on the execution client and pruning mode you plan to run, execute one of the commands below.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Before downloading, make sure you have sufficient disk space available.
{% endhint %}

<table><thead><tr><th width="145.967041015625">Network</th><th width="112.8428955078125">Client</th><th width="104.3818359375">Pruning</th><th>Command</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>GIWA Sepolia</td><td>Geth</td><td>Full</td><td><pre class="language-zsh"><code class="lang-zsh">curl -sL https://sepolia-snapshot.giwa.io/download.sh | sh -s -- -c geth -p full -o ./geth_data
</code></pre></td></tr><tr><td>GIWA Sepolia</td><td>Geth</td><td>Archive</td><td><pre class="language-zsh"><code class="lang-zsh">curl -sL https://sepolia-snapshot.giwa.io/download.sh | sh -s -- -c geth -p archive -o ./geth_data
</code></pre></td></tr><tr><td>GIWA Sepolia</td><td>Reth</td><td>Full</td><td><pre class="language-zsh"><code class="lang-zsh">curl -sL https://sepolia-snapshot.giwa.io/download.sh | sh -s -- -c reth -p full -o ./reth_data
</code></pre></td></tr><tr><td>GIWA Sepolia</td><td>Reth</td><td>Archive</td><td><pre class="language-zsh"><code class="lang-zsh">curl -sL https://sepolia-snapshot.giwa.io/download.sh | sh -s -- -c reth -p archive -o ./reth_data
</code></pre></td></tr></tbody></table>

#### 4. Extract the snapshot

Extract the downloaded snapshot archive into your data directory.

Geth:

```zsh
tar --zstd -xf <snapshot-file.tar.zst> -C ./geth_data​
```

Reth:

```zsh
tar --zstd -xf <snapshot-file.tar.zst> -C ./reth_data
```

#### 5. Start your GIWA node

Follow the instructions in the [giwa-io/node](https://github.com/giwa-io/node) repository and start your node using `docker compose`.


---

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