Thinking of downloading Bitcoin Core

[Required Information]

You can speed up the bitcoin core sync time by downloading the whole blockchain in a bootstrap.dat file, then letting your bitcoin wallet work on that. It still takes a long time to sync but it's faster than waiting for the data from nodes. You can download the bootstrap.dat file from this link.

http://www.satoshis.guru/blockchain-downloads/

I would urge anyone thinking about doing this to think twice. The bootstrap.dat linked from the website could actually be some kind of attack, although I don't know exactly how the file gets used so I can't tell you what the vector might be.

Anyway, since 0.10, the bootstrap.dat method is basically obsolete. It is not faster than downloading directly over the Bitcoin network, so it serves no purpose.

It's probably too old bootstrap.dat file. 27 GB only???

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[countryfree]

Yes, please do it. We need more individuals to store the blockchain. I did with the latest desktop I've bought. Note that it's smart to have 2 computers though, if you want to do P2P or download software which doesn't come from a trustworthy source.

[whizz94]

Bootstrap.dat gets it to about 20-ish GB of 40-something GB, so it does not get you out of a couple of days of heavy -reindex processing
I've recently been testing a variety of smaller and older PC's with bitcoin-qt client wallet and full blockchain on linux.

Pro:
You have your own copy of the whole blockchain since 2009
You can add things such as your own electrum pruned blockchain server so that you know whose node your fast wallet get its data from (and so that you can hide it up a branchline in your extensive LAN where most criminals wouldn't find it)
By choosing what sort of node it is you put in a 'vote' on the xt block size question

Con:
It needs > 50GB of HDD (Dec 2015) and will need even more next year
The overheads of running your pc 24h might be 1kWh per day electricity plus minor increased wear and tear on moving parts and storage devices.


Here is a list of (mostly failed) combinations:
bitcoin-qt 0.9.6
512MB single core 1.6GHz AMD - forget it
1024MB quad core 1GHz raspberry pi - forget it.  burned out a 64GB usb stick with too many rw before it had reindexed the blockchain
2048MB duel core 1.9GHz Dell - OK
6.2GB quad core 3.1 GHz Intel - OK, except that 0.9.6 is now obselete

bitcoin-qt 0.11.0
6.2GB quad core 3.1 GHz Intel - presently reindexing the blockchain (since 25th November)

If you don't want to know where Electrum gets its blockchain info from, then it might suit you better than running a full node.

[calkob]

You can speed up the bitcoin core sync time by downloading the whole blockchain in a bootstrap.dat file, then letting your bitcoin wallet work on that. It still takes a long time to sync but it's faster than waiting for the data from nodes. You can download the bootstrap.dat file from this link.

http://www.satoshis.guru/blockchain-downloads/

I would urge anyone thinking about doing this to think twice. The bootstrap.dat linked from the website could actually be some kind of attack, although I don't know exactly how the file gets used so I can't tell you what the vector might be.

Anyway, since 0.10, the bootstrap.dat method is basically obsolete. It is not faster than downloading directly over the Bitcoin network, so it serves no purpose.

was abit cautious about this post also so i ignored it.  op is probably genuine but prob best to avoid unless you completely know what you are doing.

[calkob]

. Note that it's smart to have 2 computers though, if you want to do P2P or download software which doesn't come from a trustworthy source.

I dont plan on ever using the wallet anyway, so am i right in saying this shouldnt be a problem?

[Meuh6879]

Here is a list of (mostly failed) combinations:
bitcoin-qt 0.9.6
512MB single core 1.6GHz AMD - forget it
1024MB quad core 1GHz raspberry pi - forget it.  burned out a 64GB usb stick with too many rw before it had reindexed the blockchain
2048MB duel core 1.9GHz Dell - OK
6.2GB quad core 3.1 GHz Intel - OK, except that 0.9.6 is now obselete

bitcoin-qt 0.11.0
6.2GB quad core 3.1 GHz Intel - presently reindexing the blockchain (since 25th November)

in this situation, it's more safe to use a refurbished laptop PC with an i5 processor (like i5-560 ...).
200 USD for this setup on amazon.

[Carlton Banks]

Here is a list of (mostly failed) combinations:
bitcoin-qt 0.9.6
512MB single core 1.6GHz AMD - forget it
1024MB quad core 1GHz raspberry pi - forget it.  burned out a 64GB usb stick with too many rw before it had reindexed the blockchain
2048MB duel core 1.9GHz Dell - OK
6.2GB quad core 3.1 GHz Intel - OK, except that 0.9.6 is now obselete

bitcoin-qt 0.11.0
6.2GB quad core 3.1 GHz Intel - presently reindexing the blockchain (since 25th November)

I'm not sure what you're trying to tell us here. Why would you use 0.9.6? Seems like a slightly eccentric choice for your test client. As a miner. I would have expected you to understand the relevance of the client version in a performance test.

And what does "1.9GHz Dell" and "3.1 Ghz Intel" actually tell us? Not all clock cycles are created equally 

[calkob]

how do i open port 8333 is it settings>options>network --conect through socks5 port?

[Hazir]

Hi all i got a new pc recently and was thinking of downloading bitcoin core, whats the pro's and con's?

pro :
- emit your own transactions
- can keep wallet file as cold storage (keep my money safe)

con :
- need actually 55Go to store
- need 2-4ko/s of Upload
- need to trust the "PC" ... system operator

What does than mean exactly? Other software wallets can't be kept as cold storage? It is only Bitcoin Core property?

[lemmyK]

How open port ?

[Meuh6879]

they can, too.

but, the problem is the ... reading of file after ... like 5 years.  
(and trust me, i have hot situation in 2014 to test this completly ... like the HD Wallet file migration   ).

so yes, Bitcoin Core only keep this wallet file intact over years.

---

But you can export private key too, if you want ... but it's more long to read after (need to rescan the whole blockchain to find fund ... wallet file only scan the created date to actually last block).

[Drewski]

You need to port forward your router to open the port.  Instructions can be found here http://portforward.com/

[ranochigo]

-snip
- can keep wallet file as cold storage (keep my money safe)

con :
- need actually 55Go to store
- need 2-4ko/s of Upload
- need to trust the "PC" ... system operator

Not really. Electrum provides a much better interface for cold storage spending compared to Bitcoin Core.

-snip-
- need 2-4ko/s of Upload

Unless you are opening port 8333, upload speed does not matter much. Download speeds matter much more.

-snip-
I would urge anyone thinking about doing this to think twice. The bootstrap.dat linked from the website could actually be some kind of attack, although I don't know exactly how the file gets used so I can't tell you what the vector might be.

Anyway, since 0.10, the bootstrap.dat method is basically obsolete. It is not faster than downloading directly over the Bitcoin network, so it serves no purpose.

Unless you end up getting an .exe file, it is not much of a risk. Bitcoin automatically verifies each block to ensure that it is valid.

Headers-first synchronization allows the client to download from various sources and verifies simultaneously.

Here is a list of (mostly failed) combinations:
bitcoin-qt 0.9.6
512MB single core 1.6GHz AMD - forget it
1024MB quad core 1GHz raspberry pi - forget it.  burned out a 64GB usb stick with too many rw before it had reindexed the blockchain
2048MB duel core 1.9GHz Dell - OK
6.2GB quad core 3.1 GHz Intel - OK, except that 0.9.6 is now obselete

bitcoin-qt 0.11.0
6.2GB quad core 3.1 GHz Intel - presently reindexing the blockchain (since 25th November)
-snip-

Comparing clock speeds makes not much sense. The IPC matters much more, an AMD FX6300 won't win a I7 4790K even with higher clock speed.

1024MB quad core 1GHz raspberry pi - forget it.  burned out a 64GB usb stick with too many rw before it had reindexed the blockchain

You probably don't need to reindex that often. You can easily just copy the entire data directory from another computer so that it won't have to verify the blocks again. If you have a spare HDD lying around, that's even better, just plug it in.

[Carlton Banks]

-snip-
I would urge anyone thinking about doing this to think twice. The bootstrap.dat linked from the website could actually be some kind of attack, although I don't know exactly how the file gets used so I can't tell you what the vector might be.

Anyway, since 0.10, the bootstrap.dat method is basically obsolete. It is not faster than downloading directly over the Bitcoin network, so it serves no purpose.

Unless you end up getting an .exe file, it is not much of a risk. Bitcoin automatically verifies each block to ensure that it is valid.

Headers-first synchronization allows the client to download from various sources and verifies simultaneously.

I think you're right. I guess thinking about it, the .dat file is just checkpointed block data. I was thinking that maybe an intentionally malformed bootstrap.dat could be used to exploit the user somehow, but on second thoughts, it's not possible (in an obvious way, at least). Once verified, the user node consults the rest of the network, so bootstrap.dat isn't a viable attack channel.

[Bitcoinpro]

Download and operate the core and you will literally have more power than Goldmans Sachs JP morgans Queen and the Vatican combined and be in command of a 20 Trillion Cryptocurrency empire

distributionatively speaking,

[gkv9]

@OP,
Also, don't forget to lock your wallet with a big paraphrase, and save it written somewhere at a safe place...
Remember, you will also need a good Antivirus software in order for your PC to stay away from viruses in order for your coins to remain safe...

[calkob]

@OP,
Also, don't forget to lock your wallet with a big paraphrase, and save it written somewhere at a safe place...
Remember, you will also need a good Antivirus software in order for your PC to stay away from viruses in order for your coins to remain safe...

You need to port forward your router to open the port.  Instructions can be found here http://portforward.com/

Thanks very much.  will get it going today.  i have 5 years downloaded on Bitcoin core already so shouldnt be long.

[azeminjo09]

If you're going to use it then it is goin to take a lot of space memory so it is up to you

[hendra147]

Hi all i got a new pc recently and was thinking of downloading bitcoin core, whats the pro's and con's?

I recomended you to download and use bitcoin core
with Bitcoin Core you can help network, if i have unlimited bandwith i will download and use bitcoin Core

[Amph]

If you're going to use it then it is goin to take a lot of space memory so it is up to you

it's only around 55gb, many hd or even ssd can reach 1 tera easily, and i doubt the blockchain is following the more law, about storage increase

really 55gb nowadays is very tiny compared to the previous decade