Question about Electrumx Server

[djhomeschool]

Just to confirm, for bitcoin, the name is BitcoinSegwit....

right?

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[bob123]

If you are referring to the configuration when setting it up, yes. The name of the 'COIN' variable should be "BitcoinSegwit".

[djhomeschool]

I don't get it...

I want to setup a server for myself (private) that still connects to old Electrum versions (TAILS) so i setup electrumX server version 1.8.2 (Version from before the attack).
Still Electrum version 2.9.1 will not connect to it, when i download the latest Electrum version it does connect to it.

Any advice how to setup my own personal server to connect older Electrum versions?

[HCP]

My advice would be don't bother... upgrade the Electrum version on Tails instead: https://blog.thestever.net/2019/02/26/upgrading-electrum-on-tails-to-3-3-4/

[bob123]

I wouldn't use such an old version either.

Version 2.9.1 is not just 'vulnerable' to the server-side message being shown, but also to a critical RPC vulnerability.
It is definitely not recommended to use such an old version.

If you are using tails on a bootable USB, you might want to add some persistence storage (even though it is against the 'philosophy' of tails having a clean boot each time).
A small file (electrum .AppImage) won't harm your privacy, but you'll have the up-to-date version of electrum on each boot (and if you want to, your wallet file too).


If you tell us more about your setup we might have more and/or better ideas on how to handle your 'problem' (if you describe this as well).

Setting up an electrum server to use an outdated version of electrum because it is shipped with tails, is somewhat inconvenient.

[djhomeschool]

I wouldn't use such an old version either.

Version 2.9.1 is not just 'vulnerable' to the server-side message being shown, but also to a critical RPC vulnerability.
It is definitely not recommended to use such an old version.

If you are using tails on a bootable USB, you might want to add some persistence storage (even though it is against the 'philosophy' of tails having a clean boot each time).
A small file (electrum .AppImage) won't harm your privacy, but you'll have the up-to-date version of electrum on each boot (and if you want to, your wallet file too).


If you tell us more about your setup we might have more and/or better ideas on how to handle your 'problem' (if you describe this as well).

Setting up an electrum server to use an outdated version of electrum because it is shipped with tails, is somewhat inconvenient.

Thanks for your input.

At the moment i have installed ElectrumX version 1.9.2 since it goes back to protocol 1.2
I still can not connect Electrum client 2.9.1, Electrum clients from 3.0.0 upwards work.

I would rather not upgrade my TAILS because there is a lot of money involved, i want it to connect to my own server so i can transfer the funds out.

I tried to find what exactly refuses the connection for the older cleints in ElectrumX 1.9.2 but can't seem to find it.

[bob123]

I would rather not upgrade my TAILS because there is a lot of money involved, i want it to connect to my own server so i can transfer the funds out.

I didn't mean that you should upgrade your tails live distro. Just that you create some persistence storage and store the up-to-date electrum version there.
Unfortunately creating persistence storage mans you have to reinstall it on your USB.

You have a backup of your seed, right ? 


What you could do is to use a second USB.
Using your main OS (not tails): Download electrum from the official site (https://electrum.org/#home), verify the signature(!), copy it onto your 2nd USB.
Then, boot your tails USB, insert the 2nd USB, mount it -> You are now able to use the latest version of electrum (which you can still connect to your own electrum server). At this moment you can transfer your funds out without having to worry.

Or, the better alternative (if you want to be on the really safe side):

• Export the xpub (master public key) from your tails electrum wallet (this key does not allow to spend funds, only generating all public keys / addresses)
• Install electrum on your main OS (which is connected to the internet)
• In your main OS, create a watch-only wallet with the xpub key of your "tails-wallet"
• In your main OS, create an unsigned transaction.
• Copy the unsigned transaction onto an USB
• Boot your tails, insert the stick, mount it, and check / sign the transaction with your 'old' electrum wallet
• Move the signed transaction onto your USB
• Boot your main OS, and broadcast the signed transaction

This way - if you boot your tails always offline - there is 'no risk' in losing your funds. And you don't have to upgrade anything.


However, if a lot of money is involved, i'd suggest you get a hardware wallet.
Or did you already buy one and want to transfer the funds onto it now ?

In any case, i'd recommend the second option to securely move your funds.

I tried to find what exactly refuses the connection for the older cleints in ElectrumX 1.9.2 but can't seem to find it.

I can't help you there, unfortunately.

Fortunately it isn't necessary because there are other ways of securely transferring funds 

[djhomeschool]

I would rather not upgrade my TAILS because there is a lot of money involved, i want it to connect to my own server so i can transfer the funds out.

I didn't mean that you should upgrade your tails live distro. Just that you create some persistence storage and store the up-to-date electrum version there.
Unfortunately creating persistence storage mans you have to reinstall it on your USB.

You have a backup of your seed, right ? 


What you could do is to use a second USB.
Using your main OS (not tails): Download electrum from the official site (https://electrum.org/#home), verify the signature(!), copy it onto your 2nd USB.
Then, boot your tails USB, insert the 2nd USB, mount it -> You are now able to use the latest version of electrum (which you can still connect to your own electrum server). At this moment you can transfer your funds out without having to worry.

Or, the better alternative (if you want to be on the really safe side):

• Export the xpub (master public key) from your tails electrum wallet (this key does not allow to spend funds, only generating all public keys / addresses)
• Install electrum on your main OS (which is connected to the internet)
• In your main OS, create a watch-only wallet with the xpub key of your "tails-wallet"
• In your main OS, create an unsigned transaction.
• Copy the unsigned transaction onto an USB
• Boot your tails, insert the stick, mount it, and check / sign the transaction with your 'old' electrum wallet
• Move the signed transaction onto your USB
• Boot your main OS, and broadcast the signed transaction

This way - if you boot your tails always offline - there is 'no risk' in losing your funds. And you don't have to upgrade anything.


However, if a lot of money is involved, i'd suggest you get a hardware wallet.
Or did you already buy one and want to transfer the funds onto it now ?

In any case, i'd recommend the second option to securely move your funds.

I tried to find what exactly refuses the connection for the older cleints in ElectrumX 1.9.2 but can't seem to find it.

I can't help you there, unfortunately.

Fortunately it isn't necessary because there are other ways of securely transferring funds 

I bought a Hardware wallet and want to move all my funds there.
Your second option seems good... why didn't i think of that?

Thx for the idea, going to try it out now.

[bob123]

No problem 

If you are stuck at some particular step or have any other questions / concerns, feel free to ask as i am (and multiple other people probably too) willing to guide you through this procedure.

[HCP]

• In your main OS, create an unsigned transaction.
• Copy the unsigned transaction onto an USB
• Boot your tails, insert the stick, mount it, and check / sign the transaction with your 'old' electrum wallet

The only issue I can see with that solution is that you might run into problems because the "old" Electrum wallet is unable to open and/or sign transactions created with a newer version of Electrum.

I vaguely recall seeing users having issues previously due to the Transaction format changing and/or attempting to use different versions for online/offline. Indeed I did a quick test, and couldn't get 2.9.3 to open transactions created with 3.3.6

[bob123]

Indeed I did a quick test, and couldn't get 2.9.3 to open transactions created with 3.3.6

Do you know whether electrum 3.3.6 can read/open a transaction created by 2.9.3 ? Did electrum keep full backwards compatibility ?
I currently can't test it.

If that is the case, a workaround for OP would be:

• On main OS: Download 2.9.3 from https://download.electrum.org/
• Create unsigned transaction with 2.9.3
• Then move it to tails via USB + sign the transaction
• Move it back to main OS and broadcast it using 3.3.6