Backing up/Saving Private keys? Bitcoin Core version v0.14.1 (64-bit)

[iluvpie60]

Hey all. A not so noob here, but to bitcoin core wallet I am

I got bitcoin core wallet last month (it is laggy as shit compared to multibit) and was wondering how to truly back it up. I previously had Multibit and knew exactly what to do on that.

I don't see any option on bitcoin core to export my private keys to a file or anything. I see it lets me back up the wallet.dat, but don't I need the private keys? I obviously have my passphrase, but what about the private keys? Do I need to export them somewhere or am I ok just to click on "back up wallet" and save it in multiple spots?

Thanks

[pooya87]

Note: Recent versions of the satoshi client offer a 'debug window' which can be used to export private keys. This is described in Miguel Moreno's answer to this question, and is easier than the steps I describe below.

To export a private key from your satoshi client:

you need to define a username and password in bitcoin.conf in the same folder as wallet.dat; this only needs doing once; you may have to create the file; add the following lines, changing the username and password to whatever you like:

rpcuser=someusername

rpcpassword=somepassword
run:  bitcoin-qt -server and wait for it to load the blockchain and start up
if your wallet is encrypted, run: read -s x; bitcoind walletpassphrase "$x" 600; unset x to unlock it for 600 seconds (type your passphrase after hitting return, then hit return again; this 'read; ...; unset' prevents the password being written to your shell's history file on disk, and the '-s' in read prevents your password being displayed as you type it, and improves protection from screen-loggers and the shell log)
run:  bitcoind dumpprivkey 1my1bitcoin1addres11111 (replace 1my... with the bitcoin address of which you want the private key)
if your wallet is encrypted and you want to re-lock your wallet, run bitcoind walletlock

you can also backup the wallet.dat file.
and i also believe that bitcoin core (from 0.13 ?) is using BIP 32 deterministic Key Generation or in other words creates a seed (although i believe there is no seed words but just a master private key) for you that you can back up and restore your private keys from.

[Lauda]

I see it lets me back up the wallet.dat, but don't I need the private keys?

No. The wallet is a collection of key-pairs

I obviously have my passphrase, but what about the private keys? Do I need to export them somewhere or am I ok just to click on "back up wallet" and save it in multiple spots?

You don't need them, and if you wallet is a HD wallet you technically don't need to back it up several times. You can check whether it is HD or SD in the lower right corner of Bitcoin-QT. Encrypting the wallet (maybe even changing the passphrase) will required a new backup!

and i also believe that bitcoin core (from 0.13 ?) is using BIP 32 deterministic Key Generation or in other words creates a seed (although i believe there is no seed words but just a master private key)

Bitcoin Core 0.13.0 and yes a master private key.

for you that you can back up and restore your private keys from.

Correct, although the tool for recovery has not been yet made available. It should be released soon.