Help the bitcoin network by being a node.

[tiaguitah]

Hi guys, as a bitcoiner (for at least 2 years now) I have really never contributed to bitcoin, besides buying some and holding.

So last week I rented a cheap cloud server and installed bitcoind, to help bitcoin network stay stable and strong, and it feels really good.

It costs only 5$ a month and has 20gb SSD (faster than HDD) so the blockchain fits pretty well. Been running for a week and hasn't crashed. (running on ubuntu 12.04 x32)


(located in amsterdam)


(bandwidth going out peaks)


(cpu in the last 24h)

Tutorial on how to install bitcoind ubuntu 12.04:

Code:

//installing bitcoind on ubuntu 12.04, run this commands on putty

sudo aptitude install python-software-properties

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bitcoin/bitcoin

sudo aptitude update

sudo aptitude install bitcoind

mkdir ~/.bitcoin/

Next STEP: Configure Bitcoind

Edit an empty ~/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf file in the .bitcoin folder:
nano ~/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf

Insert the following code in it:
server=1
daemon=1
rpcuser=INVENT_A_UNIQUE_USERNAME
rpcpassword=INVENT_A_UNIQUE_PASSWORD

press Ctrl+O to save and Ctrl+X (to exit I think)

Then, to start bitcoind write:

bitcoind

It will output “Bitcoin server starting”

The blockchain now will begin to download, to view the status of the download write:

bitcoind getinfo

For ubuntu 13.10

Code:

//installing bitcoind on Ubuntu 13.10, run this commands on putty

mkdir ~/.bitcoin/
sudo aptitude update
sudo aptitude upgrade
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bitcoin/bitcoin
sudo aptitude install bitcoind


Next STEP: Configure Bitcoind

Edit an empty ~/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf file in the .bitcoin folder:
nano ~/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf

Insert the following code in it:
server=1
daemon=1
rpcuser=INVENT_A_UNIQUE_USERNAME
rpcpassword=INVENT_A_UNIQUE_PASSWORD

press Ctrl+O to save and Ctrl+E (to exit I think)

Then, to start bitcoind write:

bitcoind

It will output "Bitcoin server starting"

The blockchain now will begin to download, to view the status of the download write:

bitcoind getinfo

More commands here

+++++++++++++++++++

It costs only 5 bucks and you are helping the network grow stronger.

website: https://www.digitalocean.com

Verifying transactions absolutely DOES help the network even if you are not mining. Here's a recap of why we need nodes:

To operate, P2P wallets need to connect to P2P nodes.

Then they need to download the block chain, possibly a filtered version of it. And they need to hear about any transactions that didn't confirm yet, but which are valid and sitting in the memory pool. This is vital so someone can send you money, and you can open your wallet and see it immediately.

Storing the block chain, serving/filtering the chain, verifying and relaying transactions, all this takes resources.

When you run a node, you take some of that load onto your own shoulders. The work gets spread out, so as the number of users goes up, we need to keep adding nodes to ensure it stays relatively cheap and easy to do so.

The most important things when running a node are

1) ensuring that you are allowing inbound connections. If you run a node at home or behind a firewall, it's vital you ensure it's set up right so other nodes and wallets can connect to yours.

2) staying up to date with the latest software

Thanks to everyone who is running a node, upgrading it and accepting inbound connections! You are contributing to Bitcoin in a very direct and helpful manner.

[1714747804]

1714747804

[tutkarz]

isn't it like someone is creating web service that accepts bitcoin payment he have to set up this anyway? which would mean the more services accept bitcoin the more distributed network?

[ct1aic]

Any help to install in a Raspberry Pi with Arch Linux?

[niothor]

Hi guys, as a bitcoiner (for at least 2 years now) I have really never contributed to bitcoin, besides buying some and holding.

So last week I rented a cheap cloud server and installed bitcoind, to help bitcoin network stay stable and strong, and it feels really good.

It costs only 5$ a month and has 20 HDD so the blockchain fits pretty well. Been running for a week and hasn't crashed. (running on ubuntu 12.04 x32)

Where the hell did you get 20x1gb hdd?

[Bitobsessed]

Any help to install in a Raspberry Pi with Arch Linux?

I would be interested as well.

[gweedo]

isn't it like someone is creating web service that accepts bitcoin payment he have to set up this anyway? which would mean the more services accept bitcoin the more distributed network?

No a lot of services use a merchant tool setup, from like bitpay or coinbase.

[tiaguitah]

Hi guys, as a bitcoiner (for at least 2 years now) I have really never contributed to bitcoin, besides buying some and holding.

So last week I rented a cheap cloud server and installed bitcoind, to help bitcoin network stay stable and strong, and it feels really good.

It costs only 5$ a month and has 20 HDD so the blockchain fits pretty well. Been running for a week and hasn't crashed. (running on ubuntu 12.04 x32)

Where the hell did you get 20x1gb hdd?

haha thanks its a SSD actually

[tiaguitah]

isn't it like someone is creating web service that accepts bitcoin payment he have to set up this anyway? which would mean the more services accept bitcoin the more distributed network?

No a lot of services use a merchant tool setup, from like bitpay or coinbase.

or bips.me (for european merchants)

[tutkarz]

isn't it like someone is creating web service that accepts bitcoin payment he have to set up this anyway? which would mean the more services accept bitcoin the more distributed network?

No a lot of services use a merchant tool setup, from like bitpay or coinbase.

or bips.me (for european merchants)

i was using blockchain.info too but it was too unstable which means i had to create my own server and use other services as backup only when my server was somehow offline.

[Peter R]

Hi guys, as a bitcoiner (for at least 2 years now) I have really never contributed to bitcoin, besides buying some and holding.

So last week I rented a cheap cloud server and installed bitcoind, to help bitcoin network stay stable and strong, and it feels really good.

It costs only 5$ a month and has 20gb SSD (faster than HDD) so the blockchain fits pretty well. Been running for a week and hasn't crashed. (running on ubuntu 12.04 x32)

Nice tiaguitah, and thanks for the tutorial!  I've been thinking about doing the same thing too, and you've just removed one of the obstacles.

QUESTION FOR EXPERTS:

I hear people say that you want to be able to store all the "unspent outputs" in RAM.  Is this true?  If you rent a VPS with only 512 MBytes of RAM, does your node still contribute in a useful way?  I'd love to learn more about these finer details.

[Peter R]

QUESTION FOR EXPERTS:

I hear people say that you want to be able to store all the "unspent outputs" in RAM.  Is this true?  If you rent a VPS with only 512 MBytes of RAM, does your node still contribute in a useful way?  I'd love to learn more about these finer details.

It doesn't matter where those outputs are stored, it does matter where the private key is stored, that is the only way to spend the bitcoins.

Yes you node does, if you are running a node for contributing be on the look out for 0.9 this will have a disable wallet mode this will free up ~40mb of ram, I am currently running it for a border router, so it this will make that barrier a lot less.

Great!  Thanks for the help gweedo!!

[mogrith]

Any help to install in a Raspberry Pi with Arch Linux?

I would be interested as well.

Blockchain is too large for a 4GIG SD and pi is too slow according conversations on minepeon thread

[joeyjoe]

Any help to install in a Raspberry Pi with Arch Linux?

I would be interested as well.

Blockchain is too large for a 4GIG SD and pi is too slow according conversations on minepeon thread

Well you don't have to use a 4GB card, I have a 32GB in mine.

[zvs]

http://www.ovh.ie/dedicated_servers/

wait til ovh restocks!

[mogrith]

Trying it out but get error on this step
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bitcoin/bitcoin

sudo add-apt-repository command not found

[mogrith]

Code:

press Ctrl+O to save and Ctrl+E (to exit I think)

should be

Code:

press Ctrl+O to save and Ctrl+X (to exit)

As long as your making changes 

[tiaguitah]

Trying it out but get error on this step
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bitcoin/bitcoin

sudo add-apt-repository command not found

Code:

sudo apt-get install python-software-properties

Will fix that.

thanks too.

[jeppe]

Im thinking about doing this, feel like i need to do something for the network as it has don a lot for me it will be worth the 60$ a year

[tiaguitah]

a little bump on this... for the newcomers.

[CallMeDan]

Many thanks to the OP.  Based on it, I've revised the instructions for Ubuntu 13.10

Code:

//installing bitcoind on Ubuntu 13.10, run this commands on putty

mkdir ~/.bitcoin/
sudo aptitude update
sudo aptitude upgrade
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bitcoin/bitcoin
sudo aptitude install bitcoind


Next STEP: Configure Bitcoind

Edit an empty ~/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf file in the .bitcoin folder:
nano ~/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf

Insert the following code in it:
server=1
daemon=1
rpcuser=INVENT_A_UNIQUE_USERNAME
rpcpassword=INVENT_A_UNIQUE_PASSWORD

press Ctrl+O to save and Ctrl+E (to exit I think)

Then, to start bitcoind write:

bitcoind

It will output "Bitcoin server starting"

The blockchain now will begin to download, to view the status of the download write:

bitcoind getinfo