FAQ - Testnet Validator Operational Notes
Q. What is the purpose of this page?
Testnet is not only a verification environment but also part of the prerequisites for participation programs such as SFDP.
This FAQ summarizes the key operational notes for running testnet validators.
This FAQ summarizes the key operational notes for running testnet validators.
Q. What is required for SFDP validators?
For validators participating in the SFDP program, testnet validators must match the mainnet validator type.
SLV supports:
- Agave
- Firedancer
- BAM
Please keep your testnet setup consistent with your mainnet configuration.
Q. What should I know about BAM Testnet?
According to the Jito team (Discord, 2026-01-27), BAM connectivity requires ping under 35ms, and testnet validators outside the US are unlikely to connect or stay connected.
As of January 2026, the public BAM Testnet nodes are available only in these three regions:
- Dallas
- New York
- Salt Lake City
Check the latest list on the official BAM page:
https://bam.dev/validators/
If you plan to use BAM testnet, deploy your testnet node in these regions or nearby US regions (e.g., Chicago or Los Angeles).
Q. What if testnet vote performance does not improve?
If you face an issue where testnet vote performance does not improve, first verify whether stake is applied to the validator.
In Solana, stake amount affects data propagation priority. With zero stake, priority becomes the lowest, and votes can consistently miss deadlines. Even when the validator appears to be running normally, roughly half of votes can fail.
In Solana, stake amount affects data propagation priority. With zero stake, priority becomes the lowest, and votes can consistently miss deadlines. Even when the validator appears to be running normally, roughly half of votes can fail.
You can check invalid votes in the explorer, or confirm vote status with:
If votes are not succeeding as expected, check the stake amount with:
More stake increases priority, but even a few hundred to a few thousand can help. A zero-stake state is likely to be treated as a penalty condition, so extra caution is required.