Original Bitcoin Client question

[IamFuzzles]

Maybe a dumb question, but how do I know for sure when the client is done downloading blocks and actually working on them?

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[lost in the wild]

Maybe a dumb question, but how do I know for sure when the client is done downloading blocks and actually working on them?

Look at http://blockexplorer.com/

That shows you that the current last block is 130207, at the time of this post.

Blockexplorer.com has lots of other cools stuff you can do like look at the block, the transactions inside a block, see how many bitcoins are available to an address, see what the next difficulty level is likely to be, and more.

[Azdak]

Another related question: How can I tell if the client is able to reach through the firewall?

Client is up and running for nearly an hour but still 0 connections. Is it that slow in connecting at the moment or do I have to change something on my side?

Is there a way to determine possible connectivity?

Thanks in advance

[thallium205]

Maybe this could help you -> https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/FAQ#Do_I_need_to_configure_my_firewall_to_run_bitcoin?

[kripz]

Use this to scan the port https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

[Azdak]

Use this to scan the port https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

Problem had been resolved with the new Bitcoin Client (0.3.23). Connections are established instantly now.

Interesting link though.

Thanks.

[InstaGx]

Also if you want to know the block download speed of the nodes you can check the resource monitor (Windows 7). Either via task manager or by executing perfmon.exe /res.
The network tab shows all the connections. You can filter by bitcoin process too.

[NoFeeMining]

blockexplorer.com is what you want

[hacker]

Use this to scan the port https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

Problem had been resolved with the new Bitcoin Client (0.3.23). Connections are established instantly now.

Interesting link though.

Thanks.

Make sure you check the Map uPNP option in the preferences, you'll get a better connection.

[hacker]

http://blockexplorer.com/q/getblockcount

[SomeoneWeird]

http://blockexplorer.com/q/getblockcount

Well done, that was just posted twice.

[hacker]

http://blockexplorer.com/q/getblockcount

Well done, that was just posted twice.

http://blockexplorer.com/q/getblockcount

!=

http://blockexplorer.com/

as in

Code:

curl -s http://blockexplorer.com/q/getblockcount

We might be newbs but we aren't retards, don't go throwing your post count around here. 

[SomeoneWeird]

http://blockexplorer.com/q/getblockcount

Well done, that was just posted twice.

http://blockexplorer.com/q/getblockcount

!=

http://blockexplorer.com/

as in

Code:

curl -s http://blockexplorer.com/q/getblockcount

We might be newbs but we aren't retards, don't go throwing your post count around here. 

Maybe so, but you shouldn't have just posted that link either.

[hacker]

http://blockexplorer.com/q/getblockcount

Well done, that was just posted twice.

http://blockexplorer.com/q/getblockcount

!=

http://blockexplorer.com/

as in

Code:

curl -s http://blockexplorer.com/q/getblockcount

We might be newbs but we aren't retards, don't go throwing your post count around here. 

Maybe so, but you shouldn't have just posted that link either.

Exsqueeze me? Baking powder?

[SomeoneWeird]

http://blockexplorer.com/q/getblockcount

Well done, that was just posted twice.

http://blockexplorer.com/q/getblockcount

!=

http://blockexplorer.com/

as in

Code:

curl -s http://blockexplorer.com/q/getblockcount

We might be newbs but we aren't retards, don't go throwing your post count around here. 

Maybe so, but you shouldn't have just posted that link either.

Exsqueeze me? Baking powder?

Sorry, I mean't, you should have posted how they could have used the link aswell, not JUST the link

[Azdak]

Also if you want to know the block download speed of the nodes you can check the resource monitor (Windows 7). Either via task manager or by executing perfmon.exe /res.
The network tab shows all the connections. You can filter by bitcoin process too.

Interesting. Just to learn more of the backgrounds: Is there a way to check this on OS X as well? A network monitor comes included with LittleSnitch and there I can see the addresses the Bitcoin client is connecting to. But it does not show any speed information.

To be clear: the client is working well at the moment. But just out of curiosity.