# Step 3b: Start the Sentry Wallet (a.k.a Operator)

Starting the Sentry Wallet is required to be able to accrue node rewards.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Desktop App" %}
Starting the Sentry Wallet when using the desktop app is as easy as a click of a button.

When the Sentry Wallet is not started (it will said "Paused"), there are 3 buttons that say "Start Sentry" which you can click to turn it on (clicking only one of these buttons is sufficient).

{% hint style="info" %}
Few things to keep in mind:

* You do not need to wait for the wallet to be funded to click "Start Sentry". You can activate the Sentry Wallet at any point.
* If you purchase a Key after the Sentry has already started, you will need to pause the Sentry, then start it again. You should see the newly minted Key auto-populate (assuming you have [assigned](https://xai-foundation.gitbook.io/xai-network/kn/about-xai/sentry-key-purchase-and-setup/step-3-complete-requirements-to-accrue-esxai/step-3c-assign-keys-to-the-sentry-wallet) the wallet containing the Key to the Sentry Wallet).
* Once you start the Sentry, it can take anywhere from a few seconds up to 5 minutes depending on the number of Keys you own in your assigned wallets. During this bootup period, you will not be able to pause the Sentry. If you wish to pause the Sentry, you must wait until the full boot-up is complete.
  {% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/neke8a6D4Ybg9dkRA2GD/blobs/5A4oUoYZRsueQvXNnvs9/image.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="CLI (command line interface)" %}
When using the CLI, an Operator (a.k.a Sentry Wallet) must be booted for the Node to run. If you already have a wallet you want to designate as the Sentry Wallet, follow the steps below.

{% hint style="info" %}
If you do not already have a wallet and need to create a wallet to designate as the Operator, you can do so using [**these steps**](https://xai-foundation.gitbook.io/xai-network/kn/about-xai/sentry-key-purchase-and-setup/step-3-complete-requirements-to-accrue-esxai/step-3b-start-the-sentry-wallet-a.k.a-operator/how-to-create-a-wallet-using-the-cli).
{% endhint %}

1. Type in the command `boot-operator`. Then hit 'Enter'.
2. Type in the private key of the wallet you would like to designate as the Operator. Then hit 'Enter'.

It should look something like this in the CLI:

<figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/neke8a6D4Ybg9dkRA2GD/blobs/3W9u7KW521wPwM4bfXa8/image.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}


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