Server noob, need help with basically everything

[Grix]

I just bought my first Linux VPS to run bitcoind on, to use this: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=67166.msg782715 .

Problem is, I'm in way over my head. I've never properly used Linux before, let alone an ssh console server. I have no idea what to do, really. I've tried googling for an hour now, and I did some stuff like compiling bitcoind (at least I think I did, I have a /home/bitcoin/ folder now..) but I don't even know if it's working. How do I install bitcoind, or any program really? How do I move files to the server? How do I start programs? How do I see what programs are running and how do I interact with them?

[weex]

Hey Grix,

Please start by telling us what distribution (Debian/Centos) you opted for with your VPS and 32-bit or 64-bit and did you get a control panel like cpanel with it?

-weex

[Grix]

I can choose to reinstall to any linux distro, currently I'm running ubuntu x86 minimal. No, no CP at all, only serial console.

[Grix]

Ok, I think I've managed to install bitcoin now, on CentOS 6.. But how do I create the bitcoin.conf file?

[weex]

Ok, you're ok as far as ubuntu is concerned but you shouldn't need to compile bitcoind. Just get the current version from bitcoin.org. What you'll want to do is create a user to run bitcoind and create a bin folder in their /home...then put bitcoind in there and run it with the command:

Code:

./bitcoind

It'll fail saying there is no RPC password set but in the process it'll create /home/thebitcoinuser/.bitcoin

In that folder you should create a bitcoin.conf file and at a minimum put in there something like this:

Code:

rpcuser=somename
rpcpassword=somelongstringofrandomcharacters

Then you can run it again but this time put an & at the end so it goes to the background.

Code:

./bitcoind &

Give it a few seconds and check that it's running with

Code:

./bitcoind getinfo

I'm not sure what all you'll want to run on this system but if you'll be hosting a website, you might want to start over and add a control panel like cPanel. cPanel makes many things easier in terms of overall administration of one or more websites, their databases, email, etc.

Hope that helps.

[Revalin]

I've never properly used Linux before, let alone an ssh console server. I have no idea what to do, really.

You may want to consider: A Windows VPS; managed servers instead of DIY; or whether you're in over your head and should stop before you lose money.  If you're still here and you want to learn, I'm happy to help. 

I've tried googling for an hour now, and I did some stuff like compiling bitcoind (at least I think I did, I have a /home/bitcoin/ folder now..) but I don't even know if it's working. How do I install bitcoind, or any program really?

Most software can be installed without compiling.  The distribution you choose will come with a whole bunch of software already prebuilt.  For Ubuntu and other Debian-type systems, do "apt-get update", then "apt-get install aptitude", then "aptitude search <partial name of thing you want>", then "aptitude install <name of thing you want>".  All those commands should be run as root.

For bitcoind, you don't need to build it yourself.  Just get a precompiled one like this (As a non-root user):

wget 'http://iweb.dl.sourceforge.net/project/bitcoin/Bitcoin/bitcoin-0.5.2/bitcoin-0.5.2-linux.tar.gz'
tar -xf bitcoin-0.5.2-linux.tar.gz
cd bitcoin-0.5.2-linux/bin/32
./bitcoind -daemon

A tar file is like a zip file, except it also stores unix-type permissions and ownership.  In this case it stored the fact that bitcoind is set executable.  You can see the permissions with 'ls -l'.  Permissions are the column on the left with -rwxr-xr-x which means read/write/executable for owner/group/everybody.  Read 'man chmod' if you'd like to know more about how that works.

bitcoind will bitch that you need to set an rpcpassword.  To edit the config file:
nano ~/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf

Or just right-click, Edit in WinSCP.

How do I move files to the server?

http://winscp.net/

How do I start programs?

If they're in your path ("echo $PATH"), just type their name (like tar and wget above).  If they're not in your path, type the path to them and then their name - for instance "./bitcoind" above which means to run bitcoind in the current directory.

Most services have startup scripts to do extra stuff when they're started.  Take a look at "ls /etc/init.d" to see a list of those.  For instance, "/etc/init.d/apache2 start" to start the Apache web server after installing it with "apt-get install apache2", or "/etc/init.d/apache2 stop" to shut it down.

How do I see what programs are running and how do I interact with them?

"top" to see a list similar to Task Manager
"ps axf" to see a tree of everything running
"ps axf | less" because it may be too long to fit on one screen
"killall bitcoind" to shut it down by asking nicely
"killall -KILL bitcoind" to force-shutdown
"kill <bitcoin's PID number>" (get the PID from the left column in the ps command) if you have multiple bitcoinds and you just want to kill one
"./bitcoind help" to get a list of RPC commands for bitcoind
"./bitcoind getinfo" as an example RPC command to bitcoind

Ask for anything else you need to do. 

[Grix]

Thanks guys, for the great answers, I got everything up and running it seems.

[deepceleron]

I just bought my first Linux VPS to run bitcoind on, to use this: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=67166.msg782715 .

Problem is, I'm in way over my head. I've never properly used Linux before, let alone an ssh console server. I have no idea what to do, really. I've tried googling for an hour now, and I did some stuff like compiling bitcoind (at least I think I did, I have a /home/bitcoin/ folder now..) but I don't even know if it's working. How do I install bitcoind, or any program really? How do I move files to the server? How do I start programs? How do I see what programs are running and how do I interact with them?

I just bought my first GT endurance pro race car to drive, to do this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_Hours_of_Le_Mans.

Problem is, I'm in way over my head. I've never properly driven a car before, let alone a highly tuned race car. I have no idea what to do, really. I've tried googling for an hour now, and I did some stuff like driving my dad's Ford Escort around in a parking lot (at least I think I did, I have the hang of letting the clutch out and not killing the engine now..) but I don't even know if I'm doinitrite. How do I race the LeMans, or any road race really? How should I take corners? How do I shift gears? How do I know when to pit my car and what do I do in the pits?

See analogy above for why this is a bad idea, one bad crash and you lose everything in either case... and why giving you advice would have to be more like "training course" instead of "helpful tips".

[check_status]

If you just want to learn you could set up Virtualbox and run your server in that, it's free so doesn't cost anything to learn. I have used hosted website services and it's much easier using their cookie cutter patterns if you don't know your way around a server. CPanel is pretty cool and makes a lot of things simpler. If you host your own site on VPS usually you are on your own for maintenance, security, backups, database, logs, there is an additional fee for help. Hosting services usually offer some amount of assistance with the service.

I am far from a network engineer or IT Administrator, as can be seen from my posts, though I can google some answers, I would start with Hosted Services first if you must pay to learn.

I'm playing with a server inside Virtualbox cause it's cheaper, and with the snapshot function I can go back if I screw up.

You must not be too bad, you figured out how to set up your FTP client.