--- title: Validator Commands slug: run-a-validator/validator-commands description: Learn how to efficiently use the Xandeum validator software with this comprehensive document. Discover a range of useful commands such as checking connected machines, sorting validators by skip-rate, accessing log files, shutting down properly, and obtain docTags: createdAt: 2023-08-21T02:39:22.358Z --- # Help Check the help file. Add `--help` behind ANY validator command to get help on that command or subcommand (ie `xandeum validators --help`) :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux xandeum --help ``` ::: # # Gossip Check the machines connected to the cluster :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux xandeum gossip ``` ::: # # Validators Check the current and delinquent validators, stake and software version. :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux xandeum validators ``` ::: This will sort by highest skip-rate. :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux xandeum validators --sort skip-rate --reverse ``` ::: # # Delinquent Validators Show only delinquent validators by grep for the ⚠️ symbol :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux xandeum validators | grep -P '\x{26A0}' ``` CLI ```linux solana validators | grep ⚠️ ``` ::: # # LOGS Follow the log file (it moves fast, can be combined with options such as pipe to grep) :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux tail -f xand-validator.log ``` ::: :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux tail -f xand-validator.log | grep "search terms" ``` ::: # # EXIT To properly shut down a validator Use exit command to: - Check for upcoming leader slots - Note: with our cluster size, we will almost always be missing leader slots by shutting down so we need to bypass this check with `--min-idle-time` - Check cluster for delinquent stake - Take local snapshot - Stop your validator :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux xandeum-validator --ledger ~/ledger exit --max-delinquent-stake 10 --min-idle-time 0 --monitor ``` ::: ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/ePevXmvzgG-7aqJ72Gpg_/Yfk--p-f7d2S50x_VMsSA_screenshot-2023-08-20-215530.png "Exit is holding for upcoming leader slot") ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/ePevXmvzgG-7aqJ72Gpg_/Y9W6cuiUzqlgbxnKBuEFs_screenshot-2023-08-20-220527.png) :::hint{type="warning"} NOTE: If you have a system service set up on the machine, then you also need to `stop` the service or it will auto-restart! ::: :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux sudo systemctl stop xand.service ``` ::: :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux sudo systemctl status xand.service ``` ::: # # Get Config :::CodeblockTabs CLI ```linux xandeum config get ``` :::