Best OS to run a node? (not sure if correct board)

[dothebeats]

I've been trying to find some answers regarding what OS would be the best to run a full bitcoin node. Because I experienced some shitty events on a Windows update (I'm currently running Win7) that wiped all the data stored in my c drive (except the system files, of course), running core in Windows wouldn't probably be the safest option, for me at least. For those who runs a full node, I guess running Linux on your machine is the best way to go. If so, what distro of Linux would you recommend me to use? Since I don't use this machine for everyday things, I might as well leave it running with core to help the network.

[Brewins]

I will recommand Linux OS for running node, easy,better,secure and faster then windows
you can work on both commandline and GUI interface

[dothebeats]

I will recommand Linux OS for running node, easy,better,secure and faster then windows
you can work on both commandline and GUI interface

I see that Linux is the most preferred OS to run a full node, but what distro would that be? The most secure and easy to use, of course. I'm looking into Tails or Ubuntu, but I don't know if those distros are good for the task.

[cr1776]

I will recommand Linux OS for running node, easy,better,secure and faster then windows
you can work on both commandline and GUI interface

I see that Linux is the most preferred OS to run a full node, but what distro would that be? The most secure and easy to use, of course. I'm looking into Tails or Ubuntu, but I don't know if those distros are good for the task.

Personally, I like Ubuntu for it.

[EmilyJenners]

I will recommand Linux OS for running node, easy,better,secure and faster then windows
you can work on both commandline and GUI interface

I see that Linux is the most preferred OS to run a full node, but what distro would that be? The most secure and easy to use, of course. I'm looking into Tails or Ubuntu, but I don't know if those distros are good for the task.

Personally, I like Ubuntu for it.

There is more people running ubuntu linux with bitcoin nodes than any other distro I imagine.

Personal preference for me would be Arch x64, But if your a first timer with Linux, go with Ubuntu, CentOS or Debian.

there is a bitcoin PPA for ubuntu also, ppa:bitcoin/bitcoin (https://launchpad.net/~bitcoin/+archive/ubuntu/bitcoin), This makes upgrading and installing easier basically.

[mallard]

Personal preference for me would be Arch x64

Arch as a server? Well, to each his own.

[achow101]

I will recommand Linux OS for running node, easy,better,secure and faster then windows
you can work on both commandline and GUI interface

I see that Linux is the most preferred OS to run a full node, but what distro would that be? The most secure and easy to use, of course. I'm looking into Tails or Ubuntu, but I don't know if those distros are good for the task.

The most popular ones are Ubuntu or Debian. You shouldn't use Tails since Tails is for live CDs/USBs and it does not keep persistent data.

[MCHouston]

I use Ubuntu, its reliable and works. Very easy to setup.

[unholycactus]

You'll have easier time to set it up on Ubuntu compared to Debian.

Like mentioned above, it doesn't make much sense to run a node on Tails. Tails uses your RAM as storage, so unless you have 50GB of RAM that wouldn't even be possible.

[dothebeats]

So Tails is out of the question, and most of the answers here prefer Ubuntu as an OS for their node. So I got Xubuntu 14.04 now in this laptop, and I'm currently synchronizing the blockchain (at 164851 atm). How do I make myself secure? I'm not that much familiar with Linux but I have setup my own node in Windows back then.

[Xialla]

If so, what distro of Linux would you recommend me to use?

debian for running a node, because there is lot of documentation and FAQ in place and you don't need to play with repos

centos for learning/playing. (centos 6.7 - it is without systemd)

ubuntu is for...well, nevermind.)

[dothebeats]

If so, what distro of Linux would you recommend me to use?

debian for running a node, because there is lot of documentation and FAQ in place and you don't need to play with repos

centos for learning/playing. (centos 6.7 - it is without systemd)

ubuntu is for...well, nevermind.)

On what I've read regarding linux, I can still those distros side-by-side with each other, right? Why haven't you discussed something about ubuntu? Am I missing something here?

[mallard]

If so, what distro of Linux would you recommend me to use?

debian for running a node, because there is lot of documentation and FAQ in place and you don't need to play with repos

centos for learning/playing. (centos 6.7 - it is without systemd)

ubuntu is for...well, nevermind.)

On what I've read regarding linux, I can still those distros side-by-side with each other, right? Why haven't you discussed something about ubuntu? Am I missing something here?

Ubuntu is almost the same as Debian. The biggest difference is that you can pay Canonical for support, while Debian is more of a community effort.

[dothebeats]

If so, what distro of Linux would you recommend me to use?

debian for running a node, because there is lot of documentation and FAQ in place and you don't need to play with repos

centos for learning/playing. (centos 6.7 - it is without systemd)

ubuntu is for...well, nevermind.)

On what I've read regarding linux, I can still those distros side-by-side with each other, right? Why haven't you discussed something about ubuntu? Am I missing something here?

Ubuntu is almost the same as Debian. The biggest difference is that you can pay Canonical for support, while Debian is more of a community effort.

So from what I've understand here, I have to pay something in ubuntu to make it more functional, right? Well I'll just run a node and that's all that I want to do on this laptop, and from the replies that I've been receiving here, Ubuntu is the most ideal linux distro to run a node, so I guess i'll take those words as an advice. Thanks all for replying!

[mallard]

So from what I've understand here, I have to pay something in ubuntu to make it more functional, right?

No, you get the same functionality. It's just that if something breaks you can (provided you pay for a support plan) just pick up the phone and immediately get support.

[Xialla]

On what I've read regarding linux, I can still those distros side-by-side with each other, right? Why haven't you discussed something about ubuntu? Am I missing something here?

because there is Canonical behind ubuntu - commercial company which needs to generate profit to survive. ubuntu is also filled by adware, spyware, reporting tools and user tracking suite. search strings are being send to Canonical servers. their software center is another disaster promoting proprietary programs..uhh

if you are more interested, read this core article about ubuntu facts from on of the most important person in whole open-source world: https://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/ubuntu-spyware-what-to-do

[Newar]

So from what I've understand here, I have to pay something in ubuntu to make it more functional, right?

No, you get the same functionality. It's just that if something breaks you can (provided you pay for a support plan) just pick up the phone and immediately get support.

On that note, I've started using Ubuntu 3 years ago (personal laptop / nodes) and never felt the need to call. The argument is also about this: https://www.debian.org/intro/free . I'll be switching one day, I guess.

[dothebeats]

On what I've read regarding linux, I can still those distros side-by-side with each other, right? Why haven't you discussed something about ubuntu? Am I missing something here?

because there is Canonical behind ubuntu - commercial company which needs to generate profit to survive. ubuntu is also filled by adware, spyware, reporting tools and user tracking suite. search strings are being send to Canonical servers. their software center is another disaster promoting proprietary programs..uhh

if you are more interested, read this core article about ubuntu facts from on of the most important person in whole open-source world: https://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/ubuntu-spyware-what-to-do

I've encountered some Canonical-produced software, some of which needs to be paid. Since I am not done with the synchronization yet, I might as well switch over to Debian today or tomorrow. Will also read the article you have just sent here.

So from what I've understand here, I have to pay something in ubuntu to make it more functional, right?

No, you get the same functionality. It's just that if something breaks you can (provided you pay for a support plan) just pick up the phone and immediately get support.

On that note, I've started using Ubuntu 3 years ago (personal laptop / nodes) and never felt the need to call. The argument is also about this: https://www.debian.org/intro/free . I'll be switching one day,

I somehow decided to switch over to Debian when I knew the thing about spywares. I once used Debian to run on my phone just out of educational purpose. Used it to familiarize myself in the Linux environment, and somehow I can fairly say that I'm more familiar on using Debian than Ubuntu. Thanks all!

[allyouracid]

I will recommand Linux OS for running node, easy,better,secure and faster then windows
you can work on both commandline and GUI interface

I see that Linux is the most preferred OS to run a full node, but what distro would that be? The most secure and easy to use, of course. I'm looking into Tails or Ubuntu, but I don't know if those distros are good for the task.

Hi,

the bold part doesn't work, for the most part. Often, those distributions that are more easy to use have more potential security risk (simple equation: to make the user feel more comfortable, more GUI tools are included, which bring potential risk… more software installed == more risk), whereas those distributions which are known for their security are harder to use.

At the end of the day, even a GNU/Linux system (read: any operating system) is only as secure as the user who uses it. The best GNU/Linux system is worthless if you e.g. have your SSH daemon open for access to the public internet and use a weak password for your super user.
If you want a secure system, there is no way around learning. You'll have to get into the basics and specifics of Linux (the core), how to use and how to protect it. I'd say this is a process which might take years, if it ever ends at all.
I'm using GNU/Linux since around 6 years 100% (meaning, I'm completely Windoze free), and before that, I was using GNU/Linux for several years, too, but always had Windows as my main system.

If you're going to make that step, be prepared for a long journey which is often frustrating, but also very interesting and fascinating.

[MarketNeutral]

Best OS to run a node? The OS you understand best.