erigon-datadir

Duplicates Erigon datadirs using APFS copy-on-write clones or full filesystem copies.

3.6k|1.5k|Updated May 27, 2019
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/erigontech/erigon --skill erigon-datadir
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: erigon-datadir
Source: https://github.com/erigontech/erigon/tree/main/.claude/skills/erigon-datadir
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/erigontech/erigon --skill erigon-datadir

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Duplicating an Erigon node datadir is risky and slow: datadirs can be hundreds of gigabytes, copies can fail due to insufficient disk space, and naive copying wastes storage when the filesystem supports copy-on-write. This Skill provides a safe, validated procedure for cloning Erigon datadirs.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Precondition Validation: Verifies the source is a valid Erigon datadir (nodekey, snapshots/, chaindata/), the destination does not exist, and the destination parent is writable before copying.
  • APFS Copy-on-Write Cloning: Detects APFS mounts and uses cp -ac for near-instant clones that consume no extra disk space, then removes chaindata from the clone.
  • Full-Copy Fallback with Space Checks: On non-APFS filesystems, compares available disk space against source size and aborts before starting a doomed copy.
  • Use Case: You want to spin up a second Erigon node or test a risky operation on a copy of your node data. The Skill clones your existing datadir safely, choosing the fastest method for your filesystem.

Quick Start

Duplicate my Erigon datadir from /data/erigon to /backup/erigon-copy using the appropriate copy method for my filesystem.

Frequently Asked Questions about erigon-datadir

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I duplicate an Erigon datadir safely?▼

Verify the source contains nodekey, snapshots/, and chaindata/, confirm the destination does not exist, then copy with cp -a. On APFS volumes, cp -ac creates an instant copy-on-write clone; otherwise check free disk space against the source size first.

How to copy an Erigon datadir on macOS APFS without using extra disk space?▼

Use cp -ac on APFS to create a copy-on-write clone that shares storage blocks with the source and completes near-instantly. No disk space check is needed since the clone consumes no additional space until files diverge.

What makes a directory a valid Erigon datadir?▼

A valid Erigon datadir contains a nodekey file, a snapshots/ directory, and a chaindata/ directory. All three must exist before the directory should be treated as a duplicable Erigon datadir.

Why does copying an Erigon datadir fail partway through?▼

Copies typically fail because available disk space is smaller than the source datadir, which can be hundreds of gigabytes. Run df -h on the destination parent and du -sh on the source, and abort if free space is insufficient.

Can I delete chaindata from a cloned Erigon datadir?▼

Yes, chaindata can be removed from a clone since Erigon3 stores most data in immutable snapshot files and chaindata stays small. The APFS procedure deletes chaindata from the destination after cloning.