# Sentry Nodes User Guide (Legacy)

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The Sentry Node Open Beta has graduated. Season 0 and Season 1 are concluded.

Sentry Nodes do not receive rewards at the current moment.\
\
This section is for reference only.
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Sentry Nodes are privacy-preserving, lightweight (<1MB data usage per month), and efficient Chrome Extensions with intermittent liveliness. They map global connectivity and play an important role Lattica — the data communication protocol.&#x20;

## Get a Sentry Node

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Sign up on [gradient.network](https://gradient.network).
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{% step %}
Connect your X account and follow our official X account [@Gradient\_HQ](https://twitter.com/Gradient_HQ).
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Follow the instructions to download Sentry Node from the Chrome Web Store.
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{% endstepper %}

## Know your Sentry Node

### Taps

Peer-to-Peer connections are established periodically between two random, arbitrary Sentry Nodes to verify their connectivity. These ephemeral connections are called "Taps".  A Tap is successful when a Peer-to-Peer connection is successfully established.

The success rate of Taps depends on a range of network factors, such as your NAT type.

### **Rewards**

There are multiple ways to get rewards while contributing to Gradient’s pervasive global networking infrastructure.

In Season 1, Sentry Nodes will get:

* **Uptime Rewards** **(will be phased out later in the season)**
* **Tap Rewards (with a daily cap)**
* [**Referral Bonuses**](/user-products/sentry-node-open-beta-concluded/sentry-nodes-user-guide-legacy/rewards-concluded/referral-bonus.md)
* [**Account Boosts**](/user-products/sentry-node-open-beta-concluded/sentry-nodes-user-guide-legacy/rewards-concluded/account-boosts.md)

### **Node Status**

* **Good:** The node is successfully connected to the server.
* **Disconnected:** The node is offline. Please check your internet connection.
* **Unsupported:** Your location may be unsupported, or your IP address is unsupported (Proxies, Data Center IPs, IPv6 addresses, IPs with fraudulent risk, etc.)
* **Suspended:** The node is temporarily suspended due to unusual activities. Please refer to our [Community Guidelines](/user-products/sentry-node-open-beta-concluded/sentry-nodes-user-guide-legacy/rewards-concluded/community-guidelines.md) for more details.

## Manage your Sentry Node

The [Gradient Dashboard](https://app.gradient.network) is your all-in-one terminal for tracking, managing, and optimizing nodes and rewards on the Gradient Network.&#x20;

It offers intuitive visualizations of key account stats, including node status, different types of rewards,  and referral activity. In addition, you can also update your profile to make the Gradient experience a truly personal one.

You can track real-time node activity with key metrics like uptime and taps received, and data transmitted and use these insights to fine-tune your nodes for optimal performance. Rewards are organized into categories—Network, Boosts, and Referrals—so you can easily see how each activity impacts your earnings.

As you advance through account tiers, you'll unlock additional boosts, increasing your reward potential. The referral system allows you to generate and share personal referral codes, and follow up on your referrals.

## Dos and Don'ts

Gradient Network is dedicated to building a network where users can benefit from its **long-term, sustainable growth**. To protect the interests of genuine users, we are committed to implementing the **strictest measures** against harmful actions and fostering a transparent, equitable ecosystem.

### How Sentry Nodes are designed to work:

• Run on personal devices with minimal resource impact\
• No 24/7 attention needed\
• Generate valuable insights into our global network infrastructure.

### What not to do:

Batch account creation, running multiple Sentry Nodes on the same device, using scripts or third-party tools, or other actions that violate our [Community Guidelines](/user-products/sentry-node-open-beta-concluded/sentry-nodes-user-guide-legacy/rewards-concluded/community-guidelines.md) will result in account restrictions. Please check relevant guidelines regularly and use your Sentry Node in intended ways.


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