> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.celo.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Validator FAQ

Answers to frequently asked questions while troubleshooting issues as a Validator.

<Warning>
  This page describes the historical Celo Layer 1 blockchain. It is useful for understanding Celo’s history, but does not reflect the current state of the network. As of block height 31,056,500 (March 26, 2025, 3:00 AM UTC), Celo has transitioned to an Ethereum Layer 2.
</Warning>

***

## How do I reset my local Celo state?

You may desire to reset your local chain state when updating parameters or wishing to perform a clean reset. Note that this will cause the node to resync from the genesis block which will take a couple hours.

```bash theme={null}
# Remove the celo state directory
sudo rm -rf celo
```

## How do I backup a local Celo private key?

It's important that local accounts are properly backed up for disaster recovery. The local keystore files are encrypted with the specified account password and stored in the keystore directory. To copy this file to your local machine you may use ssh:

```bash theme={null}
ssh USERNAME@IPADDRESS "sudo cat /root/.celo/keystore/<KEYSTORE_FILE>" > ./nodeIdentity
```

You can then back this file up to a cloud storage for redundancy.

<Warning>
  It's important that you use a strong password to encrypt this file since it will be held in potentially insecure environments.
</Warning>

## How do I install and use celocli on my node?

To install celocli on a Linux machine, run the following:

```bash theme={null}
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install libusb-1.0-0 -y
sudo npm install -g @celo/celocli --unsafe-perm
```

To install celocli on a Mac/Windows machine, run the following:

```bash theme={null}
npm install @celo/celocli
```

You can then run celocli and point it to your local geth.ipc file:

```bash theme={null}
# Check if node is synced using celocli
sudo celocli node:synced --node geth.ipc
```