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Bitcoin => Development & Technical Discussion => Topic started by: Sage on September 15, 2012, 12:49:59 AM



Title: Changing Wallet.dat location (MAC)
Post by: Sage on September 15, 2012, 12:49:59 AM
I would like to create a Truecrypt vault, and have the wallet.dat file stored in that vault instead of in its default location.

I'm using bitcoin-qt.app on a MAC.

I can't find anywhere where to set the parameters for the location of the files it uses.  Am I missing something?

Is there a simple solution for this?

thanks


Title: Re: Changing Wallet.dat location (MAC)
Post by: Stephen Gornick on September 15, 2012, 03:37:06 AM
I would like to create a Truecrypt vault, and have the wallet.dat file stored in that vault instead of in its default location.

I'm using bitcoin-qt.app on a MAC.

I can't find anywhere where to set the parameters for the location of the files it uses.  Am I missing something?

Is there a simple solution for this?

The Bitcoin-Qt client will look in the default directory unless it is started using the -datadir parameter.

The default directory:
 - http://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Data_directory

Datadir parameter:

 - http://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Running_Bitcoin#Command-line_arguments

Now, presumably you want just wallet.dat and not the blockchain and the rest in TrueCrypt.  For that you'll want to use a symlink for the wallet.dat

An example of this is in the Bitcoin wiki article on wallet security:

 - http://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Securing_your_wallet#Mac



Title: Re: Changing Wallet.dat location (MAC)
Post by: Sage on September 15, 2012, 03:59:59 AM
Thanks Stephen.

Still very new to this side of things...

I just downloaded Multibit. 

It allows me to specify where to save the wallet without using symlink.

Am I correct in assuming that if I save just the Multibiti wallet file in a truecrypt vault I'm protected so long as the Truecrypt vault isn't breached? And it would be safe to upload that Truecrypt vault to Dropbox as a backup?

...or are there traces left elsewhere in the Multibit files?


Title: Re: Changing Wallet.dat location (MAC)
Post by: Stephen Gornick on September 15, 2012, 05:15:56 AM
Thanks Stephen.

Still very new to this side of things...

I just downloaded Multibit. 

It allows me to specify where to save the wallet without using symlink.

Am I correct in assuming that if I save just the Multibiti wallet file in a truecrypt vault I'm protected so long as the Truecrypt vault isn't breached? And it would be safe to upload that Truecrypt vault to Dropbox as a backup?

...or are there traces left elsewhere in the Multibit files?

I don't know Multibit yet to be able to answer if about what that client stores locally.  For traces, are you describing transaction residue (e.g., included in logs), or just the security of your private keys.?)


Title: Re: Changing Wallet.dat location (MAC)
Post by: Sage on September 16, 2012, 06:44:56 PM
Thanks Stephen.

Still very new to this side of things...

I just downloaded Multibit. 

It allows me to specify where to save the wallet without using symlink.

Am I correct in assuming that if I save just the Multibiti wallet file in a truecrypt vault I'm protected so long as the Truecrypt vault isn't breached? And it would be safe to upload that Truecrypt vault to Dropbox as a backup?

...or are there traces left elsewhere in the Multibit files?

I don't know Multibit yet to be able to answer if about what that client stores locally.  For traces, are you describing transaction residue (e.g., included in logs), or just the security of your private keys.?)

Just security of the keys right now.  I'm assuming they aren't held in any cache or temp files right?