Run AvalancheGo with Docker

Note

For an easier way to set up and run a node, try the Avalanche Console Node Setup Tool.

Prerequisites

Docker installed and running

Verify your Docker installation:

docker --version

Quick Start

Pull and run the latest AvalancheGo release:

docker run -d \
  --name avalanchego \
  -p 9650:9650 \
  -p 9651:9651 \
  -v ~/.avalanchego:/root/.avalanchego \
  avaplatform/avalanchego:v1.15.1 \
  /avalanchego/build/avalanchego --http-host=0.0.0.0

This will start an AvalancheGo node and begin syncing with the Avalanche network.

Warning

Replace v1.15.1 with the latest release version from the AvalancheGo releases page. Helicon is active on Mainnet (since September 22, 2026) and on Fuji (since July 28, 2026). Nodes on these networks must run v1.15.0 or later.

What This Command Does

Flag	Purpose
`-d`	Runs the container in the background (detached mode)
`--name avalanchego`	Names the container for easy reference
`-p 9650:9650`	Exposes the HTTP API port
`-p 9651:9651`	Exposes the P2P staking port
`-v ~/.avalanchego:/root/.avalanchego`	Persists chain data and node configuration to your host machine

Note

The volume mount (-v) is important. Without it, chain data is lost when the container is removed and the node will need to re-sync from scratch.

Check Node Status

Once the container is running, check that the node is bootstrapping:

curl -X POST --data '{
    "jsonrpc":"2.0",
    "id"     :1,
    "method" :"info.isBootstrapped",
    "params": {
        "chain": "X"
    }
}' -H 'content-type:application/json;' 127.0.0.1:9650/ext/info

The response will show "isBootstrapped": true once the node has finished syncing.

View Logs

docker logs -f avalanchego

Stop and Restart

docker stop avalanchego
docker start avalanchego

Upgrade to a New Version

To upgrade AvalancheGo, stop the current container, remove it, and run the new version:

docker stop avalanchego
docker rm avalanchego
docker run -d \
  --name avalanchego \
  -p 9650:9650 \
  -p 9651:9651 \
  -v ~/.avalanchego:/root/.avalanchego \
  avaplatform/avalanchego:<NEW_VERSION> \
  /avalanchego/build/avalanchego --http-host=0.0.0.0

Your chain data is preserved in ~/.avalanchego on the host, so the node will resume from where it left off.

Pass Configuration Flags

You can pass any AvalancheGo configuration flags. The image has no entrypoint, so put the binary path /avalanchego/build/avalanchego after the image name, then the flags:

docker run -d \
  --name avalanchego \
  -p 9650:9650 \
  -p 9651:9651 \
  -v ~/.avalanchego:/root/.avalanchego \
  avaplatform/avalanchego:v1.15.1 \
  /avalanchego/build/avalanchego \
  --http-host=0.0.0.0 \
  --public-ip-resolution-service=opendns

Connect to Fuji Testnet

To run a node on the Fuji testnet instead of Mainnet:

docker run -d \
  --name avalanchego-fuji \
  -p 9650:9650 \
  -p 9651:9651 \
  -v ~/.avalanchego-fuji:/root/.avalanchego \
  avaplatform/avalanchego:v1.15.1 \
  /avalanchego/build/avalanchego \
  --http-host=0.0.0.0 \
  --network-id=fuji

Port Reference

Port	Protocol	Purpose
`9650`	TCP	HTTP API (RPC calls)
`9651`	TCP	P2P networking and staking

Ensure these ports are open in your firewall. Port 9651 must be reachable from the internet for your node to participate in the network.

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