Help the bitcoin network by being a node.

[bitpop]

maxconnections=512

[FalconFly]

IMHO getting more nodes would have been easier if BTC transaction fees were randomly given to nodes as an incentive to setup...instead of being additional income for those who already got the full block discovery award.

[yenom]

If I keep my client open, isn't the same? also Bitcoin has many dedicated servers now, I think its the most reliable network on the Internet 

Only if you have your firewall properly configured.

[cypherdoc]

If I keep my client open, isn't the same? also Bitcoin has many dedicated servers now, I think its the most reliable network on the Internet 

no, you have to open port 8333 in your router.

[QuestionAuthority]

IMHO getting more nodes would have been easier if BTC transaction fees were randomly given to nodes as an incentive to setup...instead of being additional income for those who already got the full block discovery award.

Satochi may have intended that by implementing the Hashcash proof-of-work system in the original client. When I first started mining I used the original client to mine and did find a couple of blocks. Profit mongers moved us away from that with pooled mining and independent software. You could say that nodes were rewarded randomly by original design.

[cypherdoc]

IMHO getting more nodes would have been easier if BTC transaction fees were randomly given to nodes as an incentive to setup...instead of being additional income for those who already got the full block discovery award.

no, that wouldn't work b/c miner's have to be given a financial incentive to cement blocks into the chain once block rewards have been phased out.  you can't give away the tx fees to full nodes just b/c they're relaying tx's; these fees have to be given to those who do the POW, ie, miners.

[QuestionAuthority]

IMHO getting more nodes would have been easier if BTC transaction fees were randomly given to nodes as an incentive to setup...instead of being additional income for those who already got the full block discovery award.

no, that wouldn't work b/c miner's have to be given a financial incentive to cement blocks into the chain once block rewards have been phased out.  you can't give away the tx fees to full nodes just b/c they're relaying tx's; these fees have to be given to those who do the POW, ie, miners.

By the time rewards are phased out large corporations that rely on the Bitcoin network will mine just to keep the network alive. Tx fees will be inconsequential at that time. There is no reason miners can't also run a full node concurrently. 

[bitpop]

Mining can continue with only one miner at diff 1
Transaction fees are all hubbub

[QuestionAuthority]

Mining can continue with only one miner at diff 1
Transaction fees are all hubbub

An army of one?

[bitpop]

Mining can continue with only one miner at diff 1
Transaction fees are all hubbub

An army of one?

Last man standing

[QuestionAuthority]

Mining can continue with only one miner at diff 1
Transaction fees are all hubbub

An army of one?

Last man standing

You against the universe. Stargate SG-1 scenario. lol

[tiaguitah]

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.

Thanks mike for the input.

Added to OP.

[bitpop]

Just launched nyc and ams nodes
Sfo and Asia coming soon

[tiaguitah]

Just updated the OP a little bit.

[crazy_rabbit]

I run a full time node, but I was considering buying one of those new tiny intel computers http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/nuc/overview.html and sticking it by my router to run as an easy all-in-one node. They are quite inexpensive as well.

[bitpop]

20gb is no longer enough

[bluemeanie1]

Why would you want to help a few dozen companies and fly by night scams profit from a poorly understood potentially flawed payment network?

[bitpop]

Why would you want to help a few dozen companies and fly by night scams profit from a poorly understood potentially flawed payment network?

Bitcoin?

[tiaguitah]

a sexy bump.

Run a node, today!

[nosdi26]

you are the best man,,i was tryind to experiment with bitcoin and i was trying to find something like this..