How to Set Up a Block Explorer for an OP Stack Chain

What you need

• An Ethernal explorer for your L2 chain. Creating one needs the chain's RPC URL, reachable from the internet.
• The L1 OptimismPortal contract address (required).
• The L1 Batch Inbox address (required).
• Optional, depending on your chain: the L2OutputOracle address (legacy chains without fault proofs), the DisputeGameFactory address (chains with fault proofs) and the SystemConfig address.
• An L1 parent chain. Ethereum Mainnet is built in. For any other L1, you create a custom L1 with a name and an RPC URL that is reachable from the internet.

Steps

1. 1

   Create an explorer for your L2

   Sign up at app.tryethernal.com, choose Public Block Explorer, and enter your explorer name and the RPC URL of your OP Stack chain. The create-a-block-explorer guide covers this flow screen by screen.

2. 2

   Open the OP Stack tab

   Go to your explorer's page in the dashboard. Its settings have the tabs General, Faucet, Dex, Orbit Chain and OP Stack. Open OP Stack.

3. 3

   Choose the L1 parent chain

   Select the L1 Parent Chain (required). Ethereum Mainnet is preselected when available. To use another L1, choose Custom (Create New), then enter a Custom L1 Name and a Backend RPC Server, which Ethernal uses to sync L1 data. You cannot change the parent chain after the configuration is created.

4. 4

   Enter the L1 contract addresses

   Fill in OptimismPortal Address (it handles deposits and withdrawal proofs and finalizations) and Batch Inbox Address (the address that receives batch data, usually 0xff00... followed by the chain ID). Then add the optional ones that apply to your chain: L2OutputOracle for legacy chains without fault proofs, DisputeGameFactory for chains using fault proofs, and SystemConfig. Each address must be a valid 0x address of 40 hexadecimal characters.

5. 5

   Check the L2 contract and advanced settings

   The L2ToL1MessagePasser Address defaults to 0x4200000000000000000000000000000000000016, so you only change it if your chain differs. Under Advanced Settings, set Output Version to 0 (Legacy, L2OutputOracle) or 1 (Fault Proofs, DisputeGameFactory) to match your chain. Submission Interval is the number of L2 blocks between output submissions.

6. 6

   Create the configuration

   Click Create Configuration. A success message, "OP Stack configuration created.", confirms it. Later you can edit the addresses and click Save Configuration.

7. 7

   Check the L2 features in your explorer

   Once the configuration exists, your explorer's menu shows OP Deposits (L1 to L2), OP Withdrawals (L2 to L1), OP Batches and State Outputs.

Troubleshooting and FAQ

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