How to kick start a private bitcoin network?

[thomas41546]

So far I have 3 virtual machines running linux. My nodes are 100% attempting to generate coins are 100% connected to each other.
Each is running the bitcoin daemon with the following configuration settings.

gen=1
connect=192.168.70.128
connect=192.168.70.129
noirc=1

The nodes are connected to each other via the bitcoin daemon. When I go ./bitcoind getinfo I see 2 connections for each node.

My problem is that for some reason bitcoins are not being generated.

I believe the problem lies at the genesis block. Does the genesis block need to have the public key set to one of my nodes? Right now I have it set to default so the public key refrenced in the genesis block is the default.

I have tried to look around on these forums and IRC... so far I have not found the specifics of starting a custom network.

Any help would be great. Thanks a lot.

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[luxgladius]

Just glancing at the code, you probably have to specify the -testnet argument as well.

[thomas41546]

I'm trying to create my own private bitcoin network. I don't want to connect to an already existing network such as testnet.

[luxgladius]

Then you'll need to modify the code and recompile. The place I saw testnet being referenced was here:

Code:

void BitcoinMiner()
{
        ...
        while (vNodes.empty() || IsInitialBlockDownload())
        {
            Sleep(1000);
            if (fShutdown)
                return;
            if (!fGenerateBitcoins)
                return;
        }

...

bool IsInitialBlockDownload()
{
    if (pindexBest == NULL || (!fTestNet && nBestHeight < 118000))
        return true;

So currently it's hard-coded to not even try to generate blocks until after it has 118000 unless it's on a test net. Among other things affected by the testnet flag are the genesis block.

[thomas41546]

Oh that is beautiful.

I had no idea that was hard coded in there. I'll have a go at the -testnet flag on my private network, as you previously mentioned. 

Thanks a lot. 

[coinage]

Also, the actual bitcoin genesis block was partly hand-tweaked, so to speak.  For one thing, it has a text message embedded in its coinbase parameter, unlike succeeding blocks.  This may be irrelevant however.  I haven't looked into running a standalone testnet.

Then there is the more recent example of the Namecoin project's genesis block...

[MoonShadow]

If you intend to do this, please change the genesis block and remove the benchmarking code.  Change the default port number, also.

[RSantana]

I'm interested in hearing how this works. Let us know if you get it working and what you had to do.

[zipxavier]

Yes if there was an easy guide I'd be interested.

[MoonShadow]

You are in pioneer territory.  There will be no guide until the pioneers have made one.

[Lord T]

Sounds interesting. I was thinking of doing the same thing for a small local barter system.

Is the point to set up your own currency? Will the exchange rate be linked to Bitcoins or USD for example?