Greetings all,

I am new to mining and have a few questions. I'm hoping that you fine folks will be able to help me get started with your vast amounts of experience.

1. Hardware -  How relevant does hardware stay? If I were to buy 10 Antminer S9i's would they continue to be profitable for years to come or would I need to continue buying new hardware periodically in order to stay relevant in the mining community?

2. Software - Are there any mining software that are any better than any others? Is there a list somewhere of software that can be fully trusted to not hijack my systems? Will I need any specialized software for different sized farms or is there a one-size-fits-all solution?

3. Pools - I have seen many pool lists and reviews seem to vary as far as trust worthiness and results. I would be fine with joining a pool to start with but I am more interested in starting my own pool. Does anyone have any advice for pros and cons with starting your own pool?

4. General Advice - Does anyone have any general advice for a new miner?