Bitcoin Forum

So what happens as the protocol changes?  Seems to me we end up in one or more of these positions:

• These units continue to support the old rules, and the more of them there are, the more likely they are to disrupt the network
• These units require the users to make a decision and download an update, and the more of them there are, the more likely there are to be enough of them not updated to disrupt the network if users think they can set it and forget it
• These units are automatically updated and therefore effectively controlled by Ubuntu (or some other centralized entity who takes over said control legitimately or otherwise) who suddenly gains say over future protocol changes as adoption increases

None of these positions seem incredibly good to me, especially since Ubuntu's bitcoin core distribution has been different than others more than once due to changes being submitted by one highly-opinionated sometimes holier-than-thou pool operator.

Those are all protocol/security concerns that point out more nodes isn't necessarily better.  There may also be technical concerns, for instance, how long it will really be before they become paper weights due to storage constraints or other problems if they aren't upgradeable / user serviceable, because 160GiB may sound like a lot, but who is to say what the block limit and/or block usage will be two years from now?  Presumably they are upgradeable and user serviceable, but suddenly they're that much more expensive and users have to have that much more knowledge to transfer data from one HD to another unless Ubuntu runs on the flash and will automatically partition and make use of a newly replaced drive.

Don't get me wrong, it's certainly a potentially useful device for power users who know Linux if it's fully user-controllable, but I'd disagree with anyone stating that it's a great way for Joe-Schmoe to contribute to the network.

According to their official description, it runs the official Bitcoin Core open source client so I would assume that it would be possible to update it just like any other installation of Bitcoin Core in the event of a hard fork. If you're feeling extra paranoid, you could download the source files and compile them manually yourself.

Don't get me wrong, it's certainly a potentially useful device for power users who know Linux if it's fully user-controllable, but I'd disagree with anyone stating that it's a great way for Joe-Schmoe to contribute to the network.

It is a neat idea and some people pay for monthly computers online to run full nodes and if they're looking for the easiest solution it is probably this.

The Bitcoin Core can only connect to 8 nodes without portforwarding right?

So does this device demands the Bitcoin network rather than contributing to it?

Hi everyone, I am working with the team that developed these units. We are happily surprised by the attention this is getting from the /r/bitcoin community, thanks to everyone for the great feedback. As you can probably tell by our incomplete website, we're not 100% ready for prime-time, but we're working overtime to get everything up-to-date.
To answer some of the common questions:

1. Do you accept bitcoin?

Yes! There are links on the product page to BitPay checkouts for both U.S. and International orders. We are currently working on a more seamless integration into the checkout system, it's just taking longer than expected.

2. Who is this for?

Right now, this is great for people who either develop bitcoin applications and want to have access to their own full node, or people who just want to support the network.

3. Do you have instructions?

While the unit is "plug and play," meaning that if you plug it into a power outlet and your router, it should work automatically, we are also including instructions with each unit that cover some edge cases that might cause people issues. Also included will be instructions for getting the device to work with the Bitnodes Incentive Program (though we do not have the manpower to provide support for every edge case there, as that program does add some complexity).

4. Can I build from source?

How do I update? This box is just a generic Linux server with some custom scripts to automate the provisioning of bitcoind. You are welcome to uninstall what's on it and install whatever you want, at your own risk of course. As far as updating goes, the plan is to build a new bitcoind binary for major updates. Users will just replace the old bitcoind & run the new binary. We're open to suggestions for how this can be improved.

5. What about people who are scared of the command line? Anything for the muggles?

I am one of those people, and while this unit is very straightforward to use on the command-line, we also understand that a nice GUI goes a long way. We're going to be doing a crowdfunding campaign for the next-gen version of the box that will have a more attractive case as well as a Web UI for local or remote administration. Follow us on Twitter @BitseedOrg or stay tuned here on /r/bitcoin for our crowdfunding announcement.
If anyone has any other questions or feedback, feel free to DM me here.
Cheers!

I understand how mining supports the network. Each device hashing away incrementally adds to the total number of hashes executed per second.

But how does a node such as this support the network. Especially when it runs on such underpowered hardware?

good idea but it's still too expensive.....150 USD is too much IMHO

Supposing the blockchain is 30-ish GB; how many copies of the blockchain are in existence, and need to be in existance, in order to make sure the transactions in the block chain are secure?

Is this the most redundant system ever built?

I don't know. I personally think the current nodes are more than enough, but I don't have any basis for that claim.

Dam it!  I've been working on a similar project, which i was calling the 10,000 node project.  www.10000nodes.com

Been interested in seeing how this product does.

It looks pretty neat! I would like to buy one since I always wanted to have a full node.


I don't think 150$ is too expensive if you don't live in a 3rd world country. It's reasonable amount to have a plug-n-play full node. Definitely worth it!

You are suggesting we need a reward for nodes to keep people running them?

It's not so easy to run a node on raspberry pi since it requires a good setup (move partitions to usb, use an external HDD and at least raspberry pi 2 to have a decent node).

32gb is only 11$ and the 64 is like 28 by the time the 64gb is required it'll probably be 20$

I have created a Full Bitcoin Node on the Raspberry pi 2 with a power usage of only 5 watts.
It is fully plug and play only thing you have to do is forward port 8333 in your router settings.
The node runs Bitcoin Core 0.10, a script will start bitcoind as soon as the device is powered up, hassle free node :)

My full Node includes:
Raspberry pi 2 in case (quad core 900mhz ARM7 with 1Gb of RAM)
64 GB micro SD card with Bitcoin Core 0.10 and the complete Blockchain on it (compiled on Raspbian weezy)
5v 2A power adapter

This node is for sale for 105€ excl shipping.

I will setup a order website soon, in the mean time PM me if you want a fast, open source Bitcoin Node with NO NSA backdoors ;)

Kind regards,
PB

In other words, 114$.
I can do it cheaper... Muahahhahahahahahhaha xD

Cheaper maybe, but not easier. This is literally plug-and-play :)

Ehhm... I just dont take as high a profit like you do.. That is the only difference.

My "profit" is a measly 10€, which is in no way in comparison with the work and time invested ;)

Dam it!  I've been working on a similar project, which i was calling the 10,000 node project.  www.10000nodes.com

Been interested in seeing how this product does.

Ehhm... I just dont take as high a profit like you do.. That is the only difference.

You really think <7000 nodes is more than enough?

I don't.
The more, the better.
With a couple of million users we should see some more than just a couple of thousand full nodes.

Sad enough that there's only one single entity (that i know of), which is BitNodes, creating an incentive for people to run full-nodes.
Hopefully others will follow that example and create (donation supported) full node incentive lotteries like that.

iam pretty sure that this will happen.  :)

Eh I don't think so.

Anyone heavily involved financially in bitcoin would be brainlessly retarded to not run a full node.

I have created a Full Bitcoin Node on the Raspberry pi 2 with a power usage of only 5 watts.
It is fully plug and play only thing you have to do is forward port 8333 in your router settings.
The node runs Bitcoin Core 0.10, a script will start bitcoind as soon as the device is powered up, hassle free node :)

My full Node includes:
Raspberry pi 2 in case (quad core 900mhz ARM7 with 1Gb of RAM)
64 GB micro SD card with Bitcoin Core 0.10 and the complete Blockchain on it (compiled on Raspbian weezy)
5v 2A power adapter

This node is for sale for 105€ excl shipping.

I will setup a order website soon, in the mean time PM me if you want a fast, open source Bitcoin Node with NO NSA backdoors ;)

Kind regards,
PB

Would you be ok releasing the ISO for that installation? Got 3 RPi's laying around after I powered down my gridseeds, could very well put one of them to good use :)

Ok I know zip about bitcoin nodes ...I do...with a raspberry B+ Pi laying about and the rest have enough to put up a bitcoin node..heck I can afford the
10 watts of electric...or I may simply buy one of these bitseed devices instead (more likely)


BUT


I was told by someone I think is more knowledgeable then myself that these nodes are MAJOR MAJOR bandwidth hogs....which if that is indeed the case
I will be shocked if it could effect performance on my Charter Biz line at 60mbps static ip setup..but have no idea....be dumb to get the device and it be a no go
cause it messes with home internet use or my miners

but I was assured that it would lag the works big big time.......and would be a pain in the a*s for my Internet home use for the odd once in awhile movie download ..eve update..
hulu or whatever

so is this the case? ...or with the above pipe I have enough not to worry about such with a 60mbps static ip setup that tests out below at:




Charter Speed Test

Last Result:
Download Speed: 64.6 Mbps (8.08 MB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 4.31 Mbps (0.54 MB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 16 ms
Jitter: 3 ms


Well hopefully such bandwidth hogging was a few years past and the above speeds etc are fine for a bitcoin node with my home use etc

But kinda need to get a realistic take on this before I jump into this idea

so whatcha think?

Ok I know zip about bitcoin nodes ...I do...with a raspberry B+ Pi laying about and the rest have enough to put up a bitcoin node..heck I can afford the
10 watts of electric...or I may simply buy one of these bitseed devices instead (more likely)


BUT


I was told by someone I think is more knowledgeable then myself that these nodes are MAJOR MAJOR bandwidth hogs....which if that is indeed the case
I will be shocked if it could effect performance on my Charter Biz line at 60mbps static ip setup..but have no idea....be dumb to get the device and it be a no go
cause it messes with home internet use or my miners

but I was assured that it would lag the works big big time.......and would be a pain in the a*s for my Internet home use for the odd once in awhile movie download ..eve update..
hulu or whatever

so is this the case? ...or with the above pipe I have enough not to worry about such with a 60mbps static ip setup that tests out below at:




Charter Speed Test

Last Result:
Download Speed: 64.6 Mbps (8.08 MB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 4.31 Mbps (0.54 MB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 16 ms
Jitter: 3 ms


Well hopefully such bandwidth hogging was a few years past and the above speeds etc are fine for a bitcoin node with my home use etc

But kinda need to get a realistic take on this before I jump into this idea

so whatcha think?

I don't know who told you that. From my experience, when I was running a bitcoin node (~2 months ago), it was fine. I have 1 mb/s up, 3 mb/s down, and no lag / interference was noticeable on netflix etc. (also running a BTC miner, some XMR miners, and a XMR node) Once your node is synchronized its generally minimal. Its the first sync (if you sync from scratch) that can be the most intrusive. Once you are synced though the amount of data is relatively small.

To mitigate any possible interference with general home use, you can use QOS (quality of service) features on your router. Basically, you can tell your router that anything going to the bitcoind port should be limited to 400 kb/s up/down or whatever. And most routers have a feature that gives precedence to media streams - netflix etc.

Hooray manuals!

well .....good to know....if i can get around to doing this in some manner will try it out...(or perhaps the owners of this thread can tell us their units here are configurable for this kinda thing...seems like something they could setup for setting it up as options)

if i get around in pursuing this i'll yell for help (or another project that never comes to pass) my life is full with imagined projects and dashed hopes

Have you made an announcement on your own? So that I don't go off topic here.

No, Ive had some challenges.  I didn't want to announce until I was 100% sure I could ship.  I don't want to be another butterfly labs.

Thanks for the feedback. It's nice they're able to ship a first batch.

anyone on this thread actually have one of the first v1 full node units?.....how is it working out?