armory newb

[HCP]

Yes, that should be the correct setup... prune box unchecked and you should see the Bitcoin Core block directory filling up. In Bitcoin Core, in "Window -> Information" menu option, check the "Blocksdir" value and make sure that the drive that that folder is on actually has ~350+ Gigs worth of free disk storage to hold it all!

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[garyf22]

I have 136 gig on the drive now, it was almost empty before, is there any way to speed up the download, seems awfull slow.

Blockdsir says D:\Program Files\blocks, I have 136 gig on disc and 853 gig of free space.

[nc50lc]

Increase your "database cache" to a reasonable amount like half of your RAM as long as the capacity isn't used by other programs, default is too low.
The option is just below 'pruning', then restart Bitcoin core.

its downloading now Im at 30%, Ive just checked the prune box is unchecked, all good?

It will be slower when you reach 70-90%.

[garyf22]

I have 32gb of ram and its ssd, ok database cashe increased to 16gb, think this around the max it wont let me do 17000. Much better progress now 2.5% ph, was 0.3, hopefully itll increase later in the day once people finnish work.

[HCP]

I have 32gb of ram and its ssd, ok database cashe increased to 16gb, think this around the max it wont let me do 17000. Much better progress now 2.5% ph, was 0.3, hopefully itll increase later in the day once people finnish work.

If you mean because then there will be more network bandwidth, the speed of the sync isn't really dependent on the network bandwidth much at all. Granted, it still has to download 350+ gigs of data, but ny "broadband" connection should not bottleneck the syncing process unless it is being severely throttled/rate limited... The main bottlenecks are really in the disk I/O and the CPU processing.

The disk I/O issue is somewhat countered by using SSD instead of HDD (massive uplift in read/write speeds) and by increasing the dbcache value (reduces overall reads/writes from and to the disk and keeps more data in RAM etc)... and, obviously, due to the sheer amount of number crunching involved, a poor CPU will struggle... but given your rig was a relatively new machine with 32gigs RAM, I would be very surprised if it wasn't relatively "powerful".

[nc50lc]

I have 32gb of ram and its ssd, ok database cashe increased to 16gb, think this around the max it wont let me do 17000. Much better progress now 2.5% ph, was 0.3, hopefully itll increase later in the day once people finnish work.

If you mean because then there will be more network bandwidth, the speed of the sync isn't really dependent on the network bandwidth much at all. Granted, it still has to download 350+ gigs of data, but ny "broadband" connection should not bottleneck the syncing process unless it is being severely throttled/rate limited... The main bottlenecks are really in the disk I/O and the CPU processing.

Philipma did a benchmark using a similar specs in a thread somewhere in Bitcoin Technical Support board and he thought that the bottleneck is his (200mbps) internet since he's using an SSD and latest hardware.

Here's the link: Re: Faster sync would be nice (i.e. soooo slow)
Summary: with the latest specs and fast internet speed, he's able to sync Bitcoin Core in just 6hours, garyf22's internet may be slower but his specs should be similar.
What he didn't accounted is the download speed will also be based from his peers.

[garyf22]

Cpu is an i7-9750, had to switcvh it off for 24hrs, Im now at 90%, I have 50mb fibre, but due to all the stay at homers Im not seeing that now, maybe 30mb tops, i used to test it before the pandemic and get 50 mb or just over any time of day, Ive seen it as low as 2mb at peak times, bit of a joke.

[garyf22]

All downloaded, its now checking node status in armory, seems slow, 14% since 6am, any way to get it to speed up, at this rate itll be almost 2 days in total.

[nc50lc]

All downloaded, its now checking node status in armory, seems slow, 14% since 6am, any way to get it to speed up, at this rate itll be almost 2 days in total.

That speed looks like Bitcoin core is syncing in the background instead of Armory 'preparing database'.

Is the path to Bitcoin's directory correctly set in Armory? The one you've set in HCP's reply "-choosedatadir".
Because if it's not set, Armory will launch bitcoind with the default bitcoin datadir and since the blockchain isn't there, it'll sync from scratch instead of using the already downloaded blockchain.
You can set it in "File->Settings->Bitcoin Home Directory" and restart Armory (close any lingering processes before launching Armory, or restart PC).

[garyf22]

Tried it and got an error, this is armorys location

‪C:\Program Files (x86)\Armory -choosedatadir.

[HCP]

you can't use -choosedatadir with Armory... as it is a specific commandline option for Bitcoin Core.

To set Armory to find the new Bitcoin Core custom location that you choose, you need to open the "File -> Settings..." menu in Armory and put the Bitcoin datadir into the box labelled "Bitcoin Home Dir" under the "Blockchain and Database Paths" section. For instance, I use E:\Bitcoin as my Bitcoin Core datadir... but "default" locations for Armory, so my Armory settings look like this:



There is also a slightly more complicated way of doing it, which requires creating/modifying .conf files for Armory, as outlined here: https://btcarmory.com/docs/pathing

[nc50lc]

Is the path to Bitcoin's directory correctly set in Armory? The one you've set in HCP's reply "-choosedatadir".
Because if it's not set, Armory will launch bitcoind with the default bitcoin datadir and since the blockchain isn't there, it'll sync from scratch instead of using the already downloaded blockchain.
You can set it in "File->Settings->Bitcoin Home Directory" and restart Armory (close any lingering processes before launching Armory, or restart PC).

Tried it and got an error, this is armorys location

I'm talking about this reply:

You will need to more your Bitcoin Core datadir to a larger drive so it can hold the full blockchain before Armory will work correctly. You don't need to uninstall Bitcoin Core... you can simply start Bitcoin Core using the -choosedatadir option and it will automatically prompt you to select a new location for the datadir.

You can achieve this by pressing "Win+R" and entering:

Code:

C:\Program Files\Bitcoin\bitcoin-qt.exe -choosedatadir

Then in Armory, set bitcoin's data directory that you've chosen by following the last sentence.
Same as the post above.

[garyf22]

Its not looking at nodes now but other than that nothing is happening, its on preparing databases but theres no visable activity.

Ok I did a restart and its now looking for nodes again but its still painfully slow.

Ive looked at D folder, there are 2 folders, bitcoin and programe files, in bitcoin there is 50gig and in programe files there is a folder called blocks which is 363 gig.

Ive set the location in armory to bitcoin, is it looking in thre right place since its only 50gig, seems like ive got bitcoin spread over 2 folders?

Should I delete everything in D and strart downloading bitcoin again, theres other stuff in programe files like nox and a coulpe of other things I dont recognise

Ive set it to D:\Program Files\blocks\blocks\index and theres 600000nodes, its almost done 100000 but its not even at 1%, somethings not right?

[garyf22]

Now at 7% with 342145 blocks to go, its just the same as before.

[HCP]

Seems like something is off with your Bitcoin Core setup... and possibly the pathing within Armory.

If you have Bitcoin Core GUI open... and look at "Window -> Information"... what are the values for:

- "datadir"?
- "blocksdir"?


In Armory, under "File -> Settings..." what values do you have for:

- "Let Armory run Bitcoin Core/bitcoind in the background" - Ticked or not ticked?
- Bitcoin Install Dir
- Bitcoin Home Dir
- Armory Database Dir

[garyf22]

I had to shut armory down, I couldnt log in to here with it running, internet to slow.

Ok

datadir      D:\Program Files

blocksdir   D:\Program Files\blocks





Let Armory run Bitcoin Core/bitcoind in the background" - Ticked or not ticked    TICKED



Bitcoin Install Dir                nothing in this box

Bitcoin Home Dir                  D:\Program Files\blocks\blocks\index

Armory Database Dir           nothing in this box

[HCP]

Ok... I would suggest "unticking" the box... I suspect this is why you have "competing" copies of the Bitcoin blockchain being downloaded/used. Armory might be spawning "bitcoind" in the background using a different block storage location than what Bitcoin Core is attempting to use.

Then, change "Bitcoin Home Dir" to: D:\Program Files

Shutdown Armory and leave it closed... then start Bitcoin Core manually and double check that:

- In the menu "Settings -> Options -> Main"... that the "Prune block storage" option is NOT ticked.
- Click the "Open Configuration File" button and make sure there is no line that starts "prune="

If the box is currently ticked... and/or there is a "prune=..." line in your config file, then Armory will NOT work.

Once Bitcoin Core is fully synced, Start Armory.

[garyf22]

Ok I did all that, it wouldnt let me open the configuration file?

Ive restarted and there doesnt seem to be any improvement.

Just noticed in bottom right of armory it normally says offline, its now saying connected (0 blocks) but its still painfully slow now at 12%

[HCP]

Just noticed in bottom right of armory it normally says offline, its now saying connected (0 blocks) but its still painfully slow now at 12%

Is your Bitcoin Core actually fully synced? In the "Window -> Information" menu in Bitcoin Core... what is the "Current Block Height" number?

I suspect that your Bitcoin Core is the bottleneck here... and that is generally caused by:

1. Storing Block and chainstate data on "spinning" HDD disks. Sync speed can be greatly improved by using an SSD.

2. Not using RAM efficiently. If you have a substantial amount of RAM ie. 16+ Gigs, you can increase the dbcache setting in "Settings -> Options -> Main". Setting it to half of your total RAM capacity works quite well. So, if you have 16Gigs, set it to 8192 MiB etc. This reduces the amount of Disk I/O by storing more of the data in RAM (which is orders of magnitude faster than disks).

3. Poor CPU. Low end CPU's just don't have the processing power to crunch the data required to verify the block data in a timely manner. Having said that... any relatively modern Core i5/i7 or Ryzen 5/7 CPU or higher should not have any problem. The issue is "mobile" chips and the single/dual core celerons etc that are often used in laptops etc. If you can't upgrade the CPU, you'll just have to wait

4. Poor internet bandwidth. To fully sync, you need to download 350+Gigs of data. There is no way around this. So, if you internet is data capped or speed throttled, there is not a lot you can really do except wait


What are your the specs of your PC (CPU/RAM/Disk)?

[nc50lc]

Rename your Armorylog.txt (where you got the logs in the first page) as a backup and launch Armory, after a few minutes, close it.
Then share the new logs from the newly created Armorylog.txt (automatically created after using Armory),
it'll take a ton of replies to get the actual issue but with the logs, users may be able to point out the current issue.