Diagnose a node that will not sync or connect to peers

A step-by-step troubleshooting path for a Malairte node that is stuck syncing, shows no peers, or refuses to make progress.

A node that will not sync or cannot find peers is almost always suffering from one of a small handful of fixable problems. Work through these steps in order and you will find the cause without guesswork. Stay calm; a stuck node rarely means lost data.

Step 1: Confirm the node is actually running

Check that the node process is alive and that you are reading current output, not a stale window. It sounds obvious, but a node that silently exited will of course make no progress. Restart it and watch the fresh startup messages.

Step 2: Check your internet connection

Verify the machine itself can reach the internet by loading any website or pinging a known host. If the machine has no connectivity, the node cannot find peers. Fix the underlying network before blaming the node.

Step 3: Look at the peer count

Inspect how many peers the node has. Zero peers points to a connectivity or discovery problem. A few peers but no progress points to something else. The peer count is your single most useful diagnostic.

Step 4: Rule out a firewall or blocked outbound

Some restrictive networks block the outbound connections a node needs. If you are on such a network, the node may fail to reach any peers. Test on a different network if you suspect this, or adjust the local firewall to allow the node outbound.

Step 5: Check free disk space

A drive with no free space halts the sync immediately. Confirm the data drive still has room. If it is full, free space or move the data directory to a larger drive, then restart.

Step 6: Verify the system clock

A badly wrong system clock can cause a node to reject blocks or behave oddly, since timestamps matter to validation. Make sure the machine time is accurate and syncing automatically.

Step 7: Restart from the last good state

If everything checks out, stop the node cleanly and start it again. It resumes from the last verified block. If the data directory is corrupted - usually from a power loss or a full disk - you may need to clear it and resync, which is a last resort, not a first move.

Published May 22, 2026

Frequently asked questions

Why would I run a Malairte node if it does not earn coins?

A node does not earn MLRT, but it makes the network stronger. By validating every block yourself you stop trusting third parties, you help relay valid data to other peers, and you make the chain harder to censor or attack. More independent nodes means a more decentralised, resilient network. Many people run a node on a machine that is on anyway, as a quiet contribution to the project they mine or hold.

Does running a Malairte node hold or store my coins?

No. The Malairte node software has no built-in wallet. It does not hold private keys, it does not sign transactions, and it does not custody any MLRT. A node downloads the blockchain, verifies every rule for itself, and relays valid blocks and transactions to other nodes. Key management and signing are handled by separate software entirely. This separation is deliberate and useful: because the node holds no funds, you can run it on a cheap always-on machine without it becoming a target. Running a node means you are providing verification and relay to the network, not custody.

What is the difference between a node and a miner?

A miner produces new blocks by doing proof-of-work with a CPU or GPU and competes for the block reward. A node validates and relays whatever miners produce: it checks every block against the consensus rules and rejects anything invalid. The two jobs are distinct. A node does no mining and earns no coins; it secures the network by enforcing the rules. Many miners run a node so they have a trusted local view of the chain, but you can run a node without ever mining a single hash. Miners propose blocks, nodes decide which ones count.

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Malairte (MLRT) is a CPU and GPU mineable coin — no ASICs, no specialized hardware. Download the official wallet and put this guide into practice on the computer you already own.

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Educational resource only — not financial advice.