Blockchain sync taking too long even with bootstrap

[Abdussamad]

I am using bitclient QT version v0.8.0.0-g44d7f4c-beta on a 64bit linux distro. I downloaded bootstrap.dat using the official torrent from sourceforge. The problem is that even with bootstrap it is taking a long time to sync the block chain.

When I go to help >debug window it says that current number of blocks is ~78000. But according to the announcement thread the bootstrap.dat file has ~216,000 blocks. So am right in suspecting that not all blocks were imported from the bootstrap.dat file?

[BlindMixerDR]

You are right. The current blockchain is over 220k blocks.

Hover the mouse down near the bottom right icons in the window. One of the icons will tell you how many connections you have to the bitcoin network. If this number is very low (it should be about , then go to this page (bitcoin wiki) to view the list of fallback nodes. Then open your bitcoin client and open the debug console (menu -> help -> debug window -> console) and there type in:

Code:

addnode <node_ip_address_or_hostname> add

This tells your client to try to connect to that node. Do this for several nodes until you reach 8 connections.

On the other hand, if you already have enough connections to the bitcoin network, then the problems might be:

1. did you download the correct blockchain? The torrent should have many peers. You should also verify the PGP signatures on the blockchain you downloaded.
2. is your network connection very slow?
3. are you using old hardware, or maybe is your bitcoin installation on a USB disk over an old USB V1 port?

[Abdussamad]

I already have about 8 connections to the bitcoin network.

1. I downloaded the torrent from the official bitcoin sourceforge repository. It is linked on this announcement page:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=145386.0

http://sourceforge.net/projects/bitcoin/files/Bitcoin/blockchain/

2. Yes just 1Mbps.

3. No my hardware is not bad. 3-4 years old Core2Duo based.

The problem is not hardware or network connection. It is simply that I downloaded the official 4.5GB bootstrap.dat file and only ~ 70k of the 216k blocks in it were loaded. Why did that happen? It looks like a bug in the client doesn't it?

[BlindMixerDR]

If your bootstrapped client is stuck at about 70k blocks, then forget the bootstrap. Just restart the client without the bootstrap files (be VERY careful to save you wallet.dat if you have recieved any bitcoins there). Getting those 70k blocks with version 0.8 will be quite quick. Even to fully synchronize to 225k blocks over 1Mbps shouldn't take more than 24 hours.

[organofcorti]

If your bootstrapped client is stuck at about 70k blocks, then forget the bootstrap. Just restart the client without the bootstrap files (be VERY careful to save you wallet.dat if you have recieved any bitcoins there). Getting those 70k blocks with version 0.8 will be quite quick. Even to fully synchronize to 225k blocks over 1Mbps shouldn't take more than 24 hours.

Or even six hours.

I started a 0.8.1 bitcoind for the first time on a new Ubuntu install last night at about 8pm. The whole blockchain had been downloaded and indexed (and queriable) by 2am, when I next checked. I think the download speed was around 250 - 300 kbps when I looked.

[Abdussamad]

Oh I long ago gave up trying to use the client. Not only was the download slow but too many interruptions could cause it to start from the very beginning (bootstrapped from 70k). Electricity supply isn't exactly the most reliable where I am so a few computer restarts a day are a given. I ended up signing up for an online wallet.

Or even six hours.

I started a 0.8.1 bitcoind for the first time on a new Ubuntu install last night at about 8pm. The whole blockchain had been downloaded and indexed (and queriable) by 2am, when I next checked. I think the download speed was around 250 - 300 kbps when I looked.

Is that kilo bits per second or kilo bytes per second?

250-300KB/s would be more than double the speed I have. My speeds are closer to 100KB/s (1Mb/s).

[tilex]

If you decide to move away from that online wallet, try Electrum (http://electrum.org/index.html).  It doesn't download the entire blockchain.

[Abdussamad]

Electrum looks good. Thanks for the tip.

[omgitsmehehe]

Sorry to bring up an old thread but I'm having this problem too. I installed a fresh OS on my computer Monday just gone, installed bitcoin-qt and it is still synchronising (currently at 232xxx). I have an i3 3.06ghz mid 2010 iMac and 20mbps cable broadband.

If anyone can help speed this up I am happy to pay a small sized bounty.

[Abdussamad]

Sorry to bring up an old thread but I'm having this problem too. I installed a fresh OS on my computer Monday just gone, installed bitcoin-qt and it is still synchronising (currently at 232xxx). I have an i3 3.06ghz mid 2010 iMac and 20mbps cable broadband.

If anyone can help speed this up I am happy to pay a small sized bounty.

Well this was back when I was new to bitcoin. It turned out that I hadn't downloaded the torrent properly. Yeah I know rookie mistake...

Anyway I suggest just using electrum. You'll be up and running in no time.