mirror of
https://github.com/seigler/dash-docs
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1488 lines
60 KiB
Markdown
1488 lines
60 KiB
Markdown
---
|
||
# This file is licensed under the MIT License (MIT) available on
|
||
# http://opensource.org/licenses/MIT.
|
||
|
||
layout: base-core
|
||
lang: en
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||
id: full-node
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||
title: "Running A Full Node - Bitcoin"
|
||
breadcrumbs:
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||
- bitcoin
|
||
- bcc
|
||
- bcc documentation
|
||
- Bandwidth sharing
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
<!-- Variable assignment
|
||
|
||
{% capture installFinished %}
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You have now completed installing Bitcoin Core. If you have any questions, please ask in one of Bitcoin's many [communities](/en/community), such as [Bitcoin StackExchange](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/), [BitcoinTalk technical support](https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?board=4.0), or the [#bitcoin](https://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=bitcoin&uio=d4) IRC chatroom on Freenode.
|
||
|
||
To support the Bitcoin network, you also need to allow incoming
|
||
connections. Please read the [Network
|
||
Configuration](#network-configuration) section for details.
|
||
{% endcapture %}
|
||
|
||
{% capture verifyReleaseSignatures %}
|
||
<div class="box" markdown="1">
|
||
*Optional: Verify the release signatures*
|
||
|
||
If you know how to use PGP, you should also click the *Verify Release
|
||
Signatures* link on the download page to download a signed list of SHA256
|
||
file hashes. The 0.11 and later releases are signed by [Wladimir J. van
|
||
der Laan's releases key](/laanwj-releases.asc) with the fingerprint:
|
||
|
||
01EA 5486 DE18 A882 D4C2 6845 90C8 019E 36C2 E964
|
||
|
||
Earlier releases were signed by [Wladimir J. van der Laan's regular
|
||
key](/laanwj.asc). That key's fingerprint is:
|
||
|
||
71A3 B167 3540 5025 D447 E8F2 7481 0B01 2346 C9A6
|
||
|
||
Even earlier releases were signed by [Gavin Andresen's
|
||
key](/gavinandresen.asc). His primary key's fingerprint is:
|
||
|
||
2664 6D99 CBAE C9B8 1982 EF60 29D9 EE6B 1FC7 30C1
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||
|
||
You should verify these keys belong to their owners using the web of
|
||
trust or other trustworthy means. Then use PGP to verify the signature
|
||
on the release signatures file. Finally, use PGP or another utility to
|
||
compute the SHA256 hash of the archive you downloaded, and ensure the
|
||
computed hash matches the hash listed in the verified release
|
||
signatures file.
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
{% endcapture %}
|
||
|
||
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||
{% capture start_up_and_recommended_commands %}
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Note: it may take up to several minutes for Bitcoin Core to start,
|
||
during which it will display the following message whenever you use
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`bitcoin-cli`:
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||
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error: {"code":-28,"message":"Verifying blocks..."}
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||
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||
After it starts, you may find the following commands useful for basic
|
||
interaction with your node:
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[`getblockchaininfo`](/en/developer-reference#getblockchaininfo),
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[`getnetworkinfo`](/en/developer-reference#getnetworkinfo),
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||
[`getnettotals`](/en/developer-reference#getnettotals),
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||
[`getwalletinfo`](/en/developer-reference#getwalletinfo),
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[`stop`](/en/developer-reference#stop), and [`help`](/en/developer-reference#help).
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||
{% endcapture %}
|
||
|
||
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||
{% capture complete_list_of_commands_and_ibd %}
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A complete list of commands is available in the [Bitcoin.org developer
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reference](/en/developer-reference#rpc-quick-reference).
|
||
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When Bitcoin Core daemon first starts, it will begin to download the
|
||
block chain. This step will take at least several hours, and it may
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||
take a day or more on a slow Internet connection or with a slow
|
||
computer. During the download, Bitcoin Core will use a significant part
|
||
of your connection bandwidth. You can stop Bitcoin Core at any time using
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the `stop` command; it will resume from the point where it stopped the next
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time you start it.
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||
{% endcapture %}
|
||
|
||
|
||
{% capture windows_shutdown_warning %}
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**Warning:** to prevent data corruption, do not force shutdown your
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||
computer from the Windows shutdown screen when you have Bitcoin
|
||
Core running.
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{% endcapture %}
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||
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-->
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# Running A Full Node
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<p class="summary">Support the Bitcoin network by running your own full node</p>
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<div markdown="1" id="toc" class="toc"><div markdown="1">
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||
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* Table of contents
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{:toc}
|
||
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<ul class="reportissue"><li><a href="https://github.com/bitcoin-dot-org/bitcoin.org/issues/new">Report An Issue</a></li></ul>
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<ul class="editsource"><li><a href="https://github.com/bitcoin-dot-org/bitcoin.org/tree/master/en/full-node.md">Edit On GitHub</a></li></ul>
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||
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</div></div>
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<div markdown="1" class="toccontent">
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## What Is A Full Node?
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A full node is a program that fully validates transactions and blocks.
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Almost all full nodes also help the network by accepting transactions
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and blocks from other full nodes, validating those transactions and
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blocks, and then relaying them to further full nodes.
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||
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Most full nodes also serve lightweight clients by allowing them to
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transmit their transactions to the network and by notifying them when a
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transaction affects their wallet. If not enough nodes perform this
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function, clients won't be able to connect through the peer-to-peer
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network---they'll have to use centralized services instead.
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||
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Many people and organizations volunteer to run full nodes using spare
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computing and bandwidth resources---but more volunteers are needed to
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allow Bitcoin to continue to grow. This document describes how you can
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help and what helping will cost you.
|
||
|
||
## Costs And Warnings
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||
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Running a Bitcoin full node comes with certain costs and can expose you
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to certain risks. This section will explain those costs and risks so you
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can decide whether you're able to help the network.
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||
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||
### Special Cases
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||
Miners, businesses, and privacy-conscious users rely on particular
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behavior from the full nodes they use, so they will often run their own
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full nodes and take special safety precautions. This document does not
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cover those precautions---it only describes running a full node to help
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support the Bitcoin network in general.
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Please [consult an expert](/en/community) if you need help setting up
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your full node correctly to handle high-value and privacy-sensitive
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tasks.
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||
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### Secure Your Wallet
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It's possible and safe to run a full node to support the network and use
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its wallet to store your bitcoins, but you must take the same
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precautions you would when using any Bitcoin wallet. Please see the
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[securing your wallet page](/en/secure-your-wallet) for more
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information.
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### Minimum Requirements
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Bitcoin Core full nodes have certain requirements. If you try running a
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node on weak hardware, it may work---but you'll likely spend more time
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dealing with issues. If you can meet the following requirements, you'll
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have an easy-to-use node.
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* Desktop or laptop hardware running recent versions of Windows, Mac OS
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X, or Linux.
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* 50 gigabytes of free disk space
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* 2 gigabytes of memory (RAM)
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* A broadband Internet connection with upload speeds of at least 400
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kilobits (50 kilobytes) per second
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* An unmetered connection, a connection with high upload limits, or a
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connection you regularly monitor to ensure it doesn't exceed its
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upload limits. It's common for full nodes on high-speed connections to
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use 200 gigabytes upload or more a month. Download usage is around 20
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gigabytes a month, plus around an additional 40 gigabytes the first
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time you start your node.
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||
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* 6 hours a day that your full node can be left running. (You can do
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other things with your computer while running a full node.)
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More hours would be better, and best of all would be if you can run
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your node continuously.
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Note: many operating systems today (Windows, Mac, and Linux) enter a
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low-power mode after the screensaver activates, slowing or halting
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network traffic. This is often the default setting on laptops and on
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all Mac OS X laptops and desktops. Check your screensaver settings
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and disable automatic "sleep" or "suspend" options to ensure you
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support the network whenever your computer is running.
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### Possible Problems
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{% include bitcoin-core/bitcoin-core-possible-problems.md %}
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## Linux Instructions
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The following instructions describe installing Bitcoin Core on Linux
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systems.
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### Ubuntu 14.10
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*Instructions for Bitcoin Core 0.11.0.*
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If you use Ubuntu Desktop, click the Ubuntu swirl icon to start the Dash and type "term" into the
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input box. Choose any one of the terminals listed:
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||
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Alternatively, access a console or terminal emulator using another
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method, such as SSH on Ubuntu Server or a terminal launcher in an
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alternative desktop environment.
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Type the following line to add the Bitcoin Personal Package Archive
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(PPA) to your system:
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sudo apt-add-repository ppa:bitcoin/bitcoin
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You will be prompted for your user password. Provide it to continue.
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Afterwards, the following text will be displayed:
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Stable Channel of bitcoin-qt and bitcoind for Ubuntu, and their dependencies
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More info: https://launchpad.net/~bitcoin/+archive/ubuntu/bitcoin
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Press [ENTER] to continue or ctrl-c to cancel adding it
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||
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Press enter to continue. The following text (with some variations) will
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||
be displayed and you will be returned to the command line prompt:
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||
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gpg: keyring `/tmp/tmpixuqu73x/secring.gpg' created
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||
gpg: keyring `/tmp/tmpixuqu73x/pubring.gpg' created
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||
gpg: requesting key 8842CE5E from hkp server keyserver.ubuntu.com
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||
gpg: /tmp/tmpixuqu73x/trustdb.gpg: trustdb created
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||
gpg: key 8842CE5E: public key "Launchpad PPA for Bitcoin" imported
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||
gpg: no ultimately trusted keys found
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||
gpg: Total number processed: 1
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||
gpg: imported: 1 (RSA: 1)
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OK
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||
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||
Type the following line to get the most recent list of packages:
|
||
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sudo apt-get update
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||
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||
A large number of lines will be displayed as different update files are
|
||
downloaded. This step may take several minutes on a slow Internet
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||
connection.
|
||
|
||
<div class="box" markdown="1">
|
||
*To continue, choose one of the following options*
|
||
|
||
1. To install the Bitcoin Core Graphical User Interface (GUI), type the
|
||
following line and proceed to the [Bitcoin Core GUI](#ubuntu-gui)
|
||
section below:
|
||
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||
sudo apt-get install bitcoin-qt
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||
|
||
2. To install the Bitcoin Core daemon (bitcoind), which is useful for
|
||
programmers and advanced users, type the following line and proceed
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||
to the [Bitcoin Core Daemon](#ubuntu-daemon) section below:
|
||
|
||
sudo apt-get install bitcoind
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||
|
||
3. To install both the GUI and the daemon, type the following line and
|
||
read both the [GUI instructions](#ubuntu-gui) and the [daemon
|
||
instructions](#ubuntu-daemon). Note that you can't run both the GUI
|
||
and the daemon at the same time using the same configuration
|
||
directory.
|
||
|
||
sudo apt-get install bitcoin-qt bitcoind
|
||
|
||
After choosing what packages to install, you will be asked whether you
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||
want to proceed. Press enter to continue.
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
#### Bitcoin Core GUI {#ubuntu-gui}
|
||
{:.no_toc}
|
||
|
||
To start Bitcoin Core GUI, click the Ubuntu swirl icon to open the Dash,
|
||
type `bitcoin`, and click the Bitcoin icon.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
You will be prompted to choose a directory to store the Bitcoin block
|
||
chain and your wallet. Unless you have a separate partition or drive
|
||
you want to use, click Ok to use the default.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Bitcoin Core GUI will begin to download the block chain. This
|
||
step will take at least several hours, and it may take a day or more on
|
||
a slow Internet connection or with a slow computer. During the
|
||
download, Bitcoin Core will use a significant part of your connection
|
||
bandwidth. You can stop Bitcoin Core at any time by closing it; it will
|
||
resume from the point where it stopped the next time you start it.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
After download is complete, you may use Bitcoin Core as your wallet or
|
||
you can just let it run to help support the Bitcoin network.
|
||
|
||
<div class="box" markdown="1">
|
||
*Optional: Start Your Node At Login*
|
||
|
||
Starting your node automatically each time you login to your computer
|
||
makes it easy for you to contribute to the network. The easiest way
|
||
to do this is to tell Bitcoin Core GUI to start at login.
|
||
|
||
While running Bitcoin Core GUI, open the Settings menu and choose
|
||
Options. On the Main tab, click *Start Bitcoin on system login*. Click
|
||
the Ok button to save the new settings.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
The next time you login to your desktop, Bitcoin Core GUI will be
|
||
automatically started in as an icon in the tray.
|
||
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
{{installFinished}}
|
||
|
||
#### Bitcoin Core Daemon {#ubuntu-daemon}
|
||
{:.no_toc}
|
||
|
||
If you're logged in as an administrative user with sudo access, you may
|
||
log out. The steps in this section should be performed as the user you
|
||
want to run Bitcoin Core. (If you're an expert administrator, you can
|
||
make this a locked account used only by Bitcoin Core.)
|
||
|
||
Before using the Bitcoin Core daemon, `bitcoind`, you need to create its
|
||
configuration file with a user name and password. First create the
|
||
`.bitcoin` directory, create (touch) the file, and set the file's
|
||
permissions so that only your user account can read it. From the
|
||
terminal, type:
|
||
|
||
mkdir ~/.bitcoin
|
||
touch ~/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf
|
||
chmod 600 ~/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf
|
||
|
||
Then you can run the command `bitcoind`. It will print output similar
|
||
to this:
|
||
|
||
bitcoind
|
||
Error: To use the "-server" option, you must set a rpcpassword in the configuration file:
|
||
/home/bitcoinorg/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf
|
||
It is recommended you use the following random password:
|
||
rpcuser=bitcoinrpc
|
||
rpcpassword=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
|
||
(you do not need to remember this password)
|
||
The username and password MUST NOT be the same.
|
||
If the file does not exist, create it with owner-readable-only file permissions.
|
||
It is also recommended to set alertnotify so you are notified of problems;
|
||
for example: alertnotify=echo %s | mail -s "Bitcoin Alert" admin@foo.com
|
||
|
||
The "rpcpassword" displayed will be unique for your system. You can
|
||
copy the rpcuser and rpcpassword lines into your configuration file
|
||
using the following commands. Note that in most Ubuntu terminals, you need
|
||
to press Ctrl-Shift-C to copy and Ctrl-Shift-V to paste because Ctrl-C
|
||
and Ctrl-V have different meanings in a Unix-style terminal.
|
||
|
||
echo rpcuser=bitcoinrpc >> ~/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf
|
||
echo rpcpassword=XXXXXX >> ~/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf
|
||
|
||
(**Warning:** Don't use XXXXXX as your RPC password. Copy the
|
||
rpcpassword displayed by bitcoind for your system.)
|
||
|
||
Now you can start Bitcoin Core daemon for real. Type the following
|
||
command:
|
||
|
||
bitcoind -daemon
|
||
|
||
It will print a message that Bitcoin Core is starting. To interact with
|
||
Bitcoin Core daemon, you will use the command `bitcoin-cli` (Bitcoin
|
||
command line interface).
|
||
{{start_up_and_recommended_commands}}
|
||
|
||
For example, to safely stop your node, run the following command:
|
||
|
||
bitcoin-cli stop
|
||
|
||
{{complete_list_of_commands_and_ibd}}
|
||
|
||
<div class="box" markdown="1">
|
||
*Optional: Start Your Node At Boot*
|
||
|
||
Starting your node automatically each time your computer boots makes it
|
||
easy for you to contribute to the network. The easiest way to do this
|
||
is to start Bitcoin Core daemon from your crontab. To edit your
|
||
crontab, run the following command:
|
||
|
||
crontab -e
|
||
|
||
Scroll to the bottom of the file displayed and add the following line:
|
||
|
||
@reboot bitcoind -daemon
|
||
|
||
Save the file and exit; the updated crontab file will be installed for
|
||
you. Now Bitcoin Core daemon will be automatically started each time
|
||
your reboot your computer.
|
||
|
||
If you're an Ubuntu expert and want to use an init script instead, see
|
||
[this Upstart
|
||
script](https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/tree/0.11/contrib/init/bitcoind.conf).
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
{{installFinished}}
|
||
|
||
### Other Linux Distributions
|
||
|
||
*Instructions for Bitcoin Core 0.11.0.*
|
||
|
||
The following instructions describe installing Bitcoin Core using tools
|
||
available in most mainstream Linux distributions. We assume you use a
|
||
Bourne-like shell such as `bash`.
|
||
|
||
Using any computer, go to the [Bitcoin Core download page](/en/download)
|
||
and verify you have made a secure connection to the server.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
In the "Linux (tgz)" section of the Download page, choose the
|
||
appropriate file for your Linux install (either 32-bit or 64-bit) and
|
||
download the file. If necessary, move the file to the computer you want
|
||
to use to run Bitcoin Core.
|
||
|
||
{{verifyReleaseSignatures}}
|
||
|
||
If you aren't already logged into the computer you want to install
|
||
Bitcoin on, login now. Make sure you use an account that can use `su`
|
||
or `sudo` to install software into directories owned by the root user.
|
||
|
||
If you logged in graphically, start a terminal. If you logged in
|
||
another way, we will assume you're already in a shell.
|
||
|
||
Locate the file you downloaded and extract it using the `tar` command
|
||
followed by the argument `xzf` followed by the file name. The argument
|
||
`xzf` means eXtract the gZipped tar archive File. For example, for a
|
||
64-bit tar archive in your current directory, the command is:
|
||
|
||
tar xzf bitcoin-0.11.0-linux64.tar.gz
|
||
|
||
This will create the directory `bitcoin-0.11.0` within your current
|
||
working directory. We will install the contents of its `bin`
|
||
subdirectory into the `/usr/local/bin` directory using the the `install`
|
||
command. The install command is part of the GNU coreutils available on
|
||
nearly every Linux distribution, and the `/usr/local/bin` directory is a
|
||
standard location for self-installed executables (you may edit the
|
||
commands below to use a different location).
|
||
|
||
If you use `sudo` to run commands as root, use the following command
|
||
line:
|
||
|
||
sudo install -m 0755 -o root -g root -t /usr/local/bin bitcoin-0.11.0/bin/*
|
||
|
||
If you use `su` to run commands as root, use the following command line:
|
||
|
||
su -c 'install -m 0755 -o root -g root -t /usr/local/bin bitcoin-0.11.0/bin/*'
|
||
|
||
<div class="box" markdown="1">
|
||
*To continue, choose one of the following options*
|
||
|
||
1. To use Bitcoin Core Graphical User Interface (GUI), proceed to the
|
||
[Bitcoin Core GUI](#other-linux-gui) section below.
|
||
|
||
2. To use the Bitcoin Core daemon (bitcoind), which is useful for
|
||
programmers and advanced users, proceed to the [Bitcoin Core
|
||
Daemon](#other-linux-daemon) section below.
|
||
|
||
3. To use both the GUI and the daemon, read both the [GUI
|
||
instructions](#other-linux-gui) and the [daemon
|
||
instructions](#other-linux-daemon). Note that you can't run both the
|
||
GUI and the daemon at the same time using the same configuration
|
||
directory.
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
#### Bitcoin Core GUI {#other-linux-gui}
|
||
{:.no_toc}
|
||
|
||
In order to use Bitcoin Core GUI, you will need several libraries
|
||
installed. All of them should be available in all major
|
||
recently-released Linux distributions, but they may not be installed on
|
||
your computer yet. To determine whether you're missing any libraries,
|
||
open a terminal (if you haven't already) and run the command
|
||
`/usr/local/bin/bitcoin-qt` to start Bitcoin Core GUI.
|
||
|
||
If all the required libraries are installed, Bitcoin Core will start.
|
||
If a required library is missing, an error message similar to the
|
||
following message will be displayed:
|
||
|
||
/usr/local/bin/bitcoin-qt: error while loading shared libraries: libQtGui.so.4: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
|
||
|
||
Search your distribution's package database for the missing file
|
||
missing and install package containing that file. Then re-run
|
||
`/usr/local/bin/bitcoin-qt` to see if it's missing another file.
|
||
Repeat until Bitcoin Core GUI starts.
|
||
|
||
You will be prompted to choose a directory to store the Bitcoin block
|
||
chain and your wallet. Unless you have a separate partition or drive
|
||
you want to use, click *Ok* to use the default.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Bitcoin Core GUI will begin to download the block chain. This
|
||
step will take at least several hours, and it may take a day or more on
|
||
a slow Internet connection or with a slow computer. During the
|
||
download, Bitcoin Core will use a significant part of your connection
|
||
bandwidth. You can stop Bitcoin Core at any time by closing it; it will
|
||
resume from the point where it stopped the next time you start it.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
After download is complete, you may use Bitcoin Core as your wallet or
|
||
you can just let it run to help support the Bitcoin network.
|
||
|
||
<div class="box" markdown="1">
|
||
*Optional: Start Your Node At Login*
|
||
|
||
Starting your node automatically each time you login to your computer
|
||
makes it easy for you to contribute to the network. The easiest way to
|
||
do this is to tell Bitcoin Core GUI to start at login. This only works
|
||
in desktop environments that support the [autostart
|
||
specification](http://standards.freedesktop.org/autostart-spec/autostart-spec-latest.html#startup),
|
||
such as Gnome, KDE, and Unity.
|
||
|
||
While running Bitcoin Core GUI, open the Settings menu and choose
|
||
Options. On the Main tab, click *Start Bitcoin on system login*. Click
|
||
the Ok button to save the new settings.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
The next time you login to your desktop, Bitcoin Core GUI should be
|
||
automatically started in as an icon in the tray.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
If Bitcoin Core GUI does not automatically start, you may need to add it
|
||
to an `.xinit` or `.xsession` file as [described
|
||
here](https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Guide_to_X11/Starting_Sessions).
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
{{installFinished}}
|
||
|
||
#### Bitcoin Core Daemon {#other-linux-daemon}
|
||
{:.no_toc}
|
||
|
||
If you're logged in as an administrative user with sudo access, you may
|
||
log out. The steps in this section should be performed as the user you
|
||
want to run Bitcoin Core. (This can be a locked account used only by
|
||
Bitcoin Core.) If you changed users in a graphical interface, start a
|
||
terminal.
|
||
|
||
Before using the Bitcoin Core daemon, `bitcoind`, you need to create its
|
||
configuration file with a user name and password. First create the
|
||
`.bitcoin` directory, create (touch) the file, and set the file's
|
||
permissions so that only your user account can read it. From your
|
||
terminal or console, type:
|
||
|
||
mkdir ~/.bitcoin
|
||
touch ~/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf
|
||
chmod 600 ~/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf
|
||
|
||
Then you can run the command `bitcoind`. It will print output similar
|
||
to this:
|
||
|
||
bitcoind
|
||
Error: To use the "-server" option, you must set a rpcpassword in the configuration file:
|
||
/home/bitcoinorg/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf
|
||
It is recommended you use the following random password:
|
||
rpcuser=bitcoinrpc
|
||
rpcpassword=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
|
||
(you do not need to remember this password)
|
||
The username and password MUST NOT be the same.
|
||
If the file does not exist, create it with owner-readable-only file permissions.
|
||
It is also recommended to set alertnotify so you are notified of problems;
|
||
for example: alertnotify=echo %s | mail -s "Bitcoin Alert" admin@foo.com
|
||
|
||
The "rpcpassword" displayed will be unique for your system. You can
|
||
copy the rpcuser and rpcpassword lines into your configuration file
|
||
using the following commands. Note that in many Linux terminals, you need
|
||
to press Ctrl-Shift-C to copy and Ctrl-Shift-V to paste because Ctrl-C
|
||
and Ctrl-V have different meanings in a Unix-style terminal.
|
||
|
||
echo rpcuser=bitcoinrpc >> ~/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf
|
||
echo rpcpassword=XXXXXX >> ~/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf
|
||
|
||
(**Warning:** Don't use XXXXXX as your RPC password. Copy the
|
||
rpcpassword displayed by bitcoind for your system.)
|
||
|
||
Now you can start Bitcoin Core daemon for real. Type the following
|
||
command:
|
||
|
||
bitcoind -daemon
|
||
|
||
It will print a message that Bitcoin Core is starting. To interact with
|
||
Bitcoin Core daemon, you will use the command `bitcoin-cli` (Bitcoin
|
||
command line interface).
|
||
{{start_up_and_recommended_commands}}
|
||
|
||
For example, to safely stop your node, run the following command:
|
||
|
||
bitcoin-cli stop
|
||
|
||
{{complete_list_of_commands_and_ibd}}
|
||
|
||
<div class="box" markdown="1">
|
||
*Optional: Start Your Node At Boot*
|
||
|
||
Starting your node automatically each time your computer boots makes it
|
||
easy for you to contribute to the network. The easiest way to do this
|
||
is to start Bitcoin Core daemon from your crontab. To edit your
|
||
crontab on most distributions, run the following command:
|
||
|
||
crontab -e
|
||
|
||
Scroll to the bottom of the file displayed and add the following line:
|
||
|
||
@reboot bitcoind -daemon
|
||
|
||
Save the file and exit; the updated crontab file will be installed for
|
||
you. On most distributions, this will cause Bitcoin Core daemon to be
|
||
automatically started each time your reboot your computer.
|
||
|
||
If you're a expert system administrator and want to use an init script instead, see
|
||
[the init scripts directory in Bitcoin Core's source tree](https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/tree/0.11/contrib/init).
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
{{installFinished}}
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
## Windows Instructions
|
||
|
||
### Windows 8.x
|
||
|
||
*Instructions for Bitcoin Core 0.11.0 on Windows 8 and 8.1.*
|
||
|
||
Go to the [Bitcoin Core download page](/en/download) and verify you have
|
||
made a secure connection to the server.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Click the large blue *Download Bitcoin Core* button to download the
|
||
Bitcoin Core installer to your desktop.
|
||
|
||
{{verifyReleaseSignatures}}
|
||
|
||
After downloading the file to your desktop or your Downloads folder
|
||
(`C:\Users\<YOUR USER NAME>\Downloads`), run it by double-clicking
|
||
its icon. Windows will ask you to confirm that you want to run it:
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
The Bitcoin installer will start. It's a typical Windows installer, and
|
||
it will guide you through the decisions you need to make about where to
|
||
install Bitcoin Core.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<div class="box" markdown="1">
|
||
*To continue, choose one of the following options*
|
||
|
||
1. If you want to use the Bitcoin Core Graphical User Interface (GUI),
|
||
proceed to the [Bitcoin Core GUI](#win8-gui) section below.
|
||
|
||
2. If you want to use the Bitcoin Core daemon (bitcoind), which is
|
||
useful for programmers and advanced users, proceed to the [Bitcoin
|
||
Core Daemon](#win8-daemon) section below.
|
||
|
||
3. To want to use both the GUI and the daemon, read both the [GUI
|
||
instructions](#win8-gui) and the [daemon
|
||
instructions](#win8-daemon). Note that you can't run both the GUI
|
||
and the daemon at the same time using the same configuration
|
||
directory.
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
#### Bitcoin Core GUI {#win8-gui}
|
||
{:.no_toc}
|
||
|
||
Press the Windows key (`⊞ Win`) and start typing "bitcoin". When the
|
||
Bitcoin Core icon appears (as shown below), click on it.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
You will be prompted to choose a directory to store the Bitcoin block
|
||
chain and your wallet. Unless you have a separate partition or drive
|
||
you want to use, click Ok to use the default.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Your firewall may block Bitcoin Core from making outbound connections.
|
||
It's safe to allow Bitcoin Core to use all networks. (Note: you will
|
||
still need to configure inbound connections as described later in the
|
||
[Network Configuration](#network-configuration) section.)
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Bitcoin Core GUI will begin to download the block chain. This
|
||
step will take at least several hours, and it may take a day or more on
|
||
a slow Internet connection or with a slow computer. During the
|
||
download, Bitcoin Core will use a significant part of your connection
|
||
bandwidth. You can stop Bitcoin Core at any time by closing it; it will
|
||
resume from the point where it stopped the next time you start it.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
After download is complete, you may use Bitcoin Core as your wallet or
|
||
you can just let it run to help support the Bitcoin network.
|
||
|
||
<div class="box" markdown="1">
|
||
*Optional: Start Your Node At Login*
|
||
|
||
Starting your node automatically each time you login to your computer
|
||
makes it easy for you to contribute to the network. The easiest way
|
||
to do this is to tell Bitcoin Core GUI to start at login.
|
||
|
||
While running Bitcoin Core GUI, open the Settings menu and choose
|
||
Options. On the Main tab, click *Start Bitcoin on system login*. Click
|
||
the Ok button to save the new settings.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
The next time you login to your desktop, Bitcoin Core GUI will be
|
||
automatically started minimized in the task bar.
|
||
|
||
{{windows_shutdown_warning}}
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
{{installFinished}}
|
||
|
||
|
||
#### Bitcoin Core Daemon {#win8-daemon}
|
||
{:.no_toc}
|
||
|
||
To start Bitcoin Core daemon, first open a command window: press the
|
||
Windows key (`⊞ Win`) and type "cmd". Choose the option labeled
|
||
"Command Prompt".
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
If you installed Bitcoin Core into the default directory, type the
|
||
following at the command prompt:
|
||
|
||
C:\Program Files\Bitcoin\daemon\bitcoind -daemon
|
||
|
||
It will display an error message similar to the one below:
|
||
|
||
Error: To use the bitcoind or the "-server" option to bitcoin-qt,
|
||
you must set a rpcpassword in the configuration file:
|
||
C:\Users\Example\AppData\Roaming\Bitcoin\bitcoin.conf
|
||
It is recommended you use the following random password:
|
||
rpcuser=bitcoinrpc
|
||
rpcpassword=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
|
||
(you do not need to remember this password)
|
||
The username and password MUST NOT be the same.
|
||
If the file does not exist, create it with owner-readable-only file permissions.
|
||
|
||
It is also recommended to set alertnotify so you are notified of problems;
|
||
for example: alertnotify=echo %s | mail -s "Bitcoin Alert" admin@foo.com
|
||
|
||
Pay attention to these particular lines:
|
||
|
||
C:\Users\<YOUR USER NAME>\AppData\Roaming\Bitcoin\bitcoin.conf
|
||
[...]
|
||
rpcuser=bitcoinrpc
|
||
rpcpassword=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
|
||
|
||
The first line will actually have your username. The later two lines
|
||
will include a randomly-generated password that you will need
|
||
to copy and paste. (Do not use XXXXXXX.)
|
||
|
||
Leave the command prompt window open and start File Explorer.
|
||
In File Explorer, open the directory indicated in the message
|
||
(`C:\Users\<YOUR USER NAME>\AppData\Roaming\Bitcoin`), right-click on
|
||
the File Explorer window and choose New → Text file. Name the file
|
||
`bitcoin.conf` and then right-click on it and choose to open it in
|
||
Notepad or your preferred text editor.
|
||
|
||
In the command prompt, copy the `rpcuser` and `rpcpassword` lines.
|
||
Paste them into the text editor and then save and close the file.
|
||
By default, you shouldn't need to change the file permissions.
|
||
|
||
Return to the command prompt and press the Up arrow key to get the
|
||
previous command (ending in `bitcoind -daemon`) and run it again.
|
||
Bitcoin Core daemon should start and print a message that Bitcoin Core is starting.
|
||
|
||
To interact with Bitcoin Core daemon, you will use the command
|
||
`bitcoin-cli` (Bitcoin command line interface). If you installed Bitcoin
|
||
Core into the default location, type the following at the command
|
||
prompt to see whether it works:
|
||
|
||
C:\Program Files\Bitcoin\daemon\bitcoin-cli getblockchaininfo
|
||
|
||
{{start_up_and_recommended_commands}}
|
||
|
||
For example, to safely stop your node, run the following command:
|
||
|
||
C:\Program Files\Bitcoin\daemon\bitcoin-cli stop
|
||
|
||
{{complete_list_of_commands_and_ibd}}
|
||
|
||
<div class="box" markdown="1">
|
||
*Optional: Start Your Node At Boot*
|
||
|
||
Starting your node automatically each time your computer boots makes it
|
||
easy for you to contribute to the network. The easiest way to do this
|
||
is to start Bitcoin Core daemon when you login to your computer.
|
||
|
||
Start File Explorer and go to,
|
||
|
||
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp
|
||
|
||
Right-click on the File Explorer window and choose New → Text file.
|
||
Name the file `start_bitcoind.bat`. Then right-click on it and choose
|
||
Open in Notepad (or whatever editor you prefer). Copy and paste the
|
||
following line into the file.
|
||
|
||
C:\Program Files\Bitcoin\daemon\bitcoind -daemon
|
||
|
||
(If you installed Bitcoin Core in a non-default directory, use that
|
||
directory path instead.)
|
||
|
||
Save the file. The next time you login to your computer, Bitcoin Core
|
||
daemon will be automatically started.
|
||
|
||
{{windows_shutdown_warning}}
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
{{installFinished}}
|
||
|
||
### Windows 7
|
||
|
||
*Instructions for Bitcoin Core 0.11.0.*
|
||
|
||
Go to the [Bitcoin Core download page](/en/download) and verify you have
|
||
made a secure connection to the server.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Click the large blue *Download Bitcoin Core* button to download the
|
||
Bitcoin Core installer to your desktop.
|
||
|
||
{{verifyReleaseSignatures}}
|
||
|
||
After downloading the file to your desktop or your Downloads folder
|
||
(`C:\Users\<YOUR USER NAME>\Downloads`), run it by double-clicking
|
||
its icon. Windows will ask you to confirm that you want to run it:
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
The Bitcoin installer will start. It's a typical Windows installer, and
|
||
it will guide you through the decisions you need to make about where to
|
||
install Bitcoin Core.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<div class="box" markdown="1">
|
||
*To continue, choose one of the following options*
|
||
|
||
1. If you want to use the Bitcoin Core Graphical User Interface (GUI),
|
||
proceed to the [Bitcoin Core GUI](#win7-gui) section below.
|
||
|
||
2. If you want to use the Bitcoin Core daemon (bitcoind), which is
|
||
useful for programmers and advanced users, proceed to the [Bitcoin
|
||
Core Daemon](#win7-daemon) section below.
|
||
|
||
3. To want to use both the GUI and the daemon, read both the [GUI
|
||
instructions](#win7-gui) and the [daemon
|
||
instructions](#win7-daemon). Note that you can't run both the GUI
|
||
and the daemon at the same time using the same configuration
|
||
directory.
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
#### Bitcoin Core GUI {#win7-gui}
|
||
{:.no_toc}
|
||
|
||
Open the *Start* menu, type `bitcoin` into the search box, and click the
|
||
*Bitcoin Core* icon.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
You will be prompted to choose a directory to store the Bitcoin block
|
||
chain and your wallet. Unless you have a separate partition or drive
|
||
you want to use, click Ok to use the default.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Your firewall may block Bitcoin Core from making outbound connections.
|
||
It's safe to allow Bitcoin Core to use all networks. (Note: you will
|
||
still need to configure inbound connections as described later in the
|
||
[Network Configuration](#network-configuration) section.)
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Bitcoin Core GUI will begin to download the block chain. This
|
||
step will take at least several hours, and it may take a day or more on
|
||
a slow Internet connection or with a slow computer. During the
|
||
download, Bitcoin Core will use a significant part of your connection
|
||
bandwidth. You can stop Bitcoin Core at any time by closing it; it will
|
||
resume from the point where it stopped the next time you start it.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
After download is complete, you may use Bitcoin Core as your wallet or
|
||
you can just let it run to help support the Bitcoin network.
|
||
|
||
<div class="box" markdown="1">
|
||
*Optional: Start Your Node At Login*
|
||
|
||
Starting your node automatically each time you login to your computer
|
||
makes it easy for you to contribute to the network. The easiest way
|
||
to do this is to tell Bitcoin Core GUI to start at login.
|
||
|
||
While running Bitcoin Core GUI, open the Settings menu and choose
|
||
Options. On the Main tab, click *Start Bitcoin on system login*. Click
|
||
the Ok button to save the new settings.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
The next time you login to your desktop, Bitcoin Core GUI will be
|
||
automatically started minimized in the task bar.
|
||
{{windows_shutdown_warning}}
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
{{installFinished}}
|
||
|
||
|
||
##### Bitcoin Core Daemon {#win7-daemon}
|
||
{:.no_toc}
|
||
|
||
To start Bitcoin Core daemon, first open a command window: press the
|
||
Windows key (`⊞ Win`) and type "cmd". Choose the program named "cmd.exe"
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
If you installed the Bitcoin Core into the default directory, type the following at the command prompt :
|
||
|
||
C:\Program Files\Bitcoin\daemon\bitcoind -daemon
|
||
|
||
It will display an error message similar to the one below :
|
||
|
||
Error: To use the bitcoind or the "-server" option to bitcoin-qt,
|
||
you must set a rpcpassword in the configuration file:
|
||
C:\Users\Example\AppData\Roaming\Bitcoin\bitcoin.conf
|
||
It is recommended you use the following random password:
|
||
rpcuser=bitcoinrpc
|
||
rpcpassword=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
|
||
(you do not need to remember this password)
|
||
The username and password MUST NOT be the same.
|
||
If the file does not exist, create it with owner-readable-only file permissions.
|
||
|
||
It is also recommended to set alertnotify so you are notified of problems;
|
||
for example: alertnotify=echo %s | mail -s "Bitcoin Alert" admin@foo.com
|
||
|
||
Pay attention to these particular lines:
|
||
|
||
C:\Users\<YOUR USER NAME>\AppData\Roaming\Bitcoin\bitcoin.conf
|
||
[...]
|
||
rpcuser=bitcoinrpc
|
||
rpcpassword=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
|
||
|
||
The first line will actually have your username. The later two lines will include a randomly-generated password that you will need to copy and paste. (Do not use XXXXXXX.)
|
||
|
||
Leave the command prompt window open and start File Explorer. In File Explorer, open the directory indicated in the message (`C:\Users\Example\AppData\Roaming\Bitcoin\bitcoin.conf`), right-click on the File Explorer window and choose New → Text file. Name the file `bitcoin.conf` and then right-click on it and choose to open it in Notepad or your preferred text editor.
|
||
|
||
In the command prompt, copy the `rpcuser` and `rpcpassword` lines. Paste them into the text editor and then save and close the file. By default, you shouldn’t need to change the file permissions.
|
||
|
||
rpcuser=bitcoinrpc
|
||
rpcpassword=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
|
||
|
||
|
||
Return to the command prompt and press the Up arrow key to get the previous command (ending in `bitcoind -daemon`) and run it again. Bitcoin Core daemon should start.
|
||
|
||
You can now try using Bitcoin Cli Utility.
|
||
|
||
To interact with Bitcoin Core daemon, you will use the command `bitcoin-cli` (Bitcoin command line interface). If you installed Bitcoin Core into the default location, type the following at the command prompt to see whether it works:
|
||
|
||
C:\Program Files\Bitcoin\daemon\bitcoin-cli getblockchaininfo
|
||
|
||
{{start_up_and_recommended_commands}}
|
||
|
||
For example, to safely stop your node, run the following command:
|
||
|
||
C:\Program Files\Bitcoin\daemon\bitcoin-cli stop
|
||
|
||
{{complete_list_of_commands_and_ibd}}
|
||
|
||
|
||
When Bitcoin Core daemon first starts, it will begin to download the block chain. This step will take at least several hours, and it may take a day or more on a slow Internet connection or with a slow computer. During the download, Bitcoin Core will use a significant part of your connection bandwidth. You can stop Bitcoin Core at any time using the stop command; it will resume from the point where it stopped the next time you start it.
|
||
|
||
<div class="box" markdown="1">
|
||
*Optional: Start Your Node At Boot*
|
||
|
||
Starting your node automatically each time your computer boots makes it easy for you to contribute to the network. The easiest way to do this is to start Bitcoin Core daemon when you login to your computer.
|
||
|
||
Start File Explorer and go to,
|
||
|
||
C:\Users\Example\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp
|
||
|
||
You can also access this folder by executing the following command after reaching the `Execute...` prompt :
|
||
|
||
shell:startup
|
||
|
||
Right-click on the File Explorer window and choose New → Text file. Name the file `start_bitcoind.bat`. Then right-click on it and choose Open in Notepad (or whatever editor you prefer). Copy and paste the following line into the file.
|
||
|
||
C:\Program Files\Bitcoin\daemon\bitcoind -daemon
|
||
|
||
(If you installed Bitcoin Core in a non-default directory, use that directory path instead.)
|
||
|
||
Save the file. The next time you login to your computer, Bitcoin Core daemon will be automatically started.
|
||
|
||
{{windows_shutdown_warning}}
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
{{installFinished}}
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
## Mac OS X Instructions
|
||
|
||
### Mac OS X Yosemite 10.10.x
|
||
|
||
*Instructions for Bitcoin Core 0.11.0 on Mac OS X Yosemite*
|
||
|
||
Go to the [Bitcoin Core download page](/en/download) and verify you have
|
||
made a secure connection to the server.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Click the large blue *Download Bitcoin Core* button to download the
|
||
Bitcoin Core installer to your Downloads folder.
|
||
|
||
{{verifyReleaseSignatures}}
|
||
|
||
After downloading the file to your Downloads folder
|
||
(`/Users/<YOUR USER NAME>/Downloads`), run it by double-clicking
|
||
its icon. OS X will open a Finder window for you to drag *Bitcoin Core* to your
|
||
Applications folder.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
#### Bitcoin Core GUI {#osx-gui}
|
||
{:.no_toc}
|
||
|
||
The first time running *Bitcoin Core*, Max OS X will ask you to confirm that
|
||
you want to run it:
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
You will be prompted to choose a directory to store the Bitcoin block
|
||
chain and your wallet. Unless you have a separate partition or drive
|
||
you want to use, click Ok to use the default.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Bitcoin Core GUI will begin to download the block chain. This
|
||
step will take at least several hours, and it may take a day or more on
|
||
a slow Internet connection or with a slow computer. During the
|
||
download, Bitcoin Core will use a significant part of your connection
|
||
bandwidth. You can stop Bitcoin Core at any time by closing it; it will
|
||
resume from the point where it stopped the next time you start it.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
After download is complete, you may use Bitcoin Core as your wallet or
|
||
you can just let it run to help support the Bitcoin network.
|
||
|
||
<div class="box" markdown="1">
|
||
*Optional: Start Your Node At Login*
|
||
|
||
Starting your node automatically each time you login to your computer
|
||
makes it easy for you to contribute to the network. The easiest way
|
||
to do this is to tell Bitcoin Core GUI to start at login.
|
||
|
||
While running Bitcoin Core GUI, open the Bitcoin Core menu and choose
|
||
Preferences. On the Main tab, click *Start Bitcoin on system login*. Click
|
||
the Ok button to save the new settings.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
The next time you login to your desktop, Bitcoin Core GUI will be
|
||
automatically started minimized in the task bar.
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
{{installFinished}}
|
||
|
||
#### Bitcoin Core Daemon {#osx-daemon}
|
||
{:.no_toc}
|
||
|
||
The Bitcoin Core daemon (bitcoind) is not included in the .dmg file you may have downloaded to install Bitcoin-QT. Bitcoind, along with its support binaries, is instead included in the OS X .tar.gz file listed on the official Bitcoin Core download page. To download this file using Terminal, execute the following command:
|
||
|
||
curl -O https://bitcoin.org/bin/bitcoin-core-{{site.DOWNLOAD_VERSION}}/bitcoin-{{site.DOWNLOAD_VERSION}}-osx64.tar.gz
|
||
|
||
{{verifyReleaseSignatures}}
|
||
|
||
Extract bitcoind and its support binaries from the archive we just downloaded by running this command in Terminal:
|
||
|
||
tar -zxf bitcoin-{{site.DOWNLOAD_VERSION}}-osx64.tar.gz
|
||
|
||
Now we'll move the executables into your default path to make running and stopping bitcoind easier. To move the executables, run these commands (note that we have to use `sudo` to perform these commands since we are modifying directories owned by root):
|
||
|
||
sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/bin
|
||
sudo cp bitcoin-{{site.DOWNLOAD_VERSION}}/bin/bitcoin* /usr/local/bin/.
|
||
|
||
To clean up the directory we've been working in, run:
|
||
|
||
rm -rf bitcoin-{{site.DOWNLOAD_VERSION}}*
|
||
|
||
Before we can run bitcoind, we need to make sure that it has a place to store the blockchain and a config file that contains a username and password for the daemon. The commands below will set up your bitcoin directory and give bitcoind a default username and a random password (you do not need to remember the password for standard operation).
|
||
|
||
mkdir ~/Library/Application\ Support/Bitcoin
|
||
touch ~/Library/Application\ Support/Bitcoin/bitcoin.conf
|
||
chmod 600 ~/Library/Application\ Support/Bitcoin/bitcoin.conf
|
||
echo "rpcuser=bitcoinrpc" >> ~/Library/Application\ Support/Bitcoin/bitcoin.conf
|
||
echo "rpcpassword=$(cat /dev/urandom | env LC_CTYPE=C tr -dc a-zA-Z0-9 | head -c45)" >> ~/Library/Application\ Support/Bitcoin/bitcoin.conf
|
||
|
||
You should now be able to start up your full node by running `bitcoind -daemon` in any Terminal window. If you need to stop bitcoind for any reason, the command is `bitcoin-cli stop`
|
||
|
||
<div class="box" markdown="1">
|
||
*Optional: Start Your Node At Login*
|
||
|
||
Starting your node automatically each time you login to your computer makes it easy for you to contribute to the network. The easiest way to do this is to tell Bitcoin Core Daemon to start at login. In OS X, the way to start background programs at login is using a Launch Agent. Here is how to install a Launch Agent for Bitcoin Core daemon on your machine:
|
||
|
||
mkdir ~/Library/LaunchAgents
|
||
curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/master/contrib/init/org.bitcoin.bitcoind.plist > ~/Library/LaunchAgents/org.bitcoin.bitcoind.plist
|
||
|
||
The next time you login to your desktop, Bitcoin Core daemon will be automatically started.
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
{{installFinished}}
|
||
|
||
## Network Configuration
|
||
|
||
If you want to support the Bitcoin network, you must allow inbound
|
||
connections.
|
||
|
||
When Bitcoin Core starts, it establishes 8 outbound connections to other
|
||
full nodes so it can download the latest blocks and transactions. If you
|
||
just want to use your full node as a wallet, you don't need more than
|
||
these 8 connections---but if you want to support lightweight clients and
|
||
other full nodes on the network, you must allow inbound connections.
|
||
|
||
Servers connected directly to the Internet usually don't require any
|
||
special configuration. You can use the testing instructions below to
|
||
confirm your server-based node accepts inbound connections.
|
||
|
||
Home connections are usually filtered by a router or modem. Bitcoin
|
||
Core will request your router automatically configure itself to allow
|
||
inbound connections to Bitcoin's port, port 8333. Unfortunately many
|
||
routers don't allow automatic configuration, so you must manually
|
||
configure your router. You may also need to configure your firewall to
|
||
allow inbound connections to port 8333. Please see the following
|
||
subsections for details.
|
||
|
||
### Testing Connections
|
||
|
||
The BitNodes project provides an online tool to let you test whether
|
||
your node accepts inbound connections. To use it, start Bitcoin Core
|
||
(either the GUI or the daemon), wait 10 minutes, and then [visit the
|
||
GetAddr page](https://getaddr.bitnodes.io/#join-the-network). The tool
|
||
will attempt to guess your IP address---if the address is wrong (or
|
||
blank), you will need to enter your address manually.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
After you press Check Node, the tool will inform you whether your port
|
||
is open (green box) or not open (red box). If you get the green box, you
|
||
don't need to do anything---you accept inbound connections. If you get
|
||
the red box, please read the [enabling
|
||
connections](#enabling-connections) subsection.
|
||
|
||
|
||
For confirmation that you accept inbound connections, you can use
|
||
Bitcoin Core. Bitcoin Core can't tell you directly whether you allow
|
||
inbound connections, but it can tell you whether or not you currently
|
||
have any inbound connections. If your node has been online for at least
|
||
30 minutes, it should normally have inbound connections. If want to
|
||
check your peer info using Bitcoin Core, choose the appropriate
|
||
instructions below:
|
||
|
||
* [Peer info in Bitcoin Core GUI](#gui-peer-info)
|
||
|
||
* [Peer info in Bitcoin Core daemon](#daemon-peer-info)
|
||
|
||
#### GUI Peer Info
|
||
|
||
In the bottom right corner of the Bitcoin Core GUI are several icons.
|
||
If you hover over the signal strength icon, it will tell you how many
|
||
connections you have. The icon won't turn green until you have more
|
||
than 8 active connections, which only happens if inbound connections
|
||
are allowed.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
For confirmation, you can go to the Help menu, choose Debug Window, and
|
||
open the Information tab. In the Network section, it will tell you
|
||
exactly how many inbound connections you have. If the number is greater
|
||
than zero, then inbound connections are allowed.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
If you don't have inbound connections, please read the instructions for [enabling inbound
|
||
connections.](#enabling-connections)
|
||
|
||
#### Daemon Peer Info
|
||
|
||
The [`getconnectioncount`](/en/developer-reference#getconnectioncount)
|
||
command will tell you how many connections you have. If you have more
|
||
than 8 connections, inbound connections are allowed. For example:
|
||
|
||
<pre>$ <b>bitcoin-cli getconnectioncount</b>
|
||
52</pre>
|
||
|
||
For confirmation, you can use the
|
||
[`getpeerinfo`](/en/developer-reference#getpeerinfo) command to get
|
||
information about all of your peers. Each peer's details will include
|
||
an `inbound` field set to true if the connection is inbound. If you
|
||
have any inbound connections, then inbound connections are allowed.
|
||
|
||
If you don't have inbound connections, please read instructions for [enabling inbound
|
||
connections.](#enabling-connections)
|
||
|
||
### Enabling Connections
|
||
|
||
If Bitcoin Core can't automatically configure your router to open port
|
||
8333, you will need to manually configure your router. We've tried to
|
||
make the following instructions generic enough to cover most router
|
||
models; if you need specific help with your router, please ask for help
|
||
on a tech support site such as [SuperUser](http://superuser.com/).
|
||
|
||
Enabling inbound connections requires two steps, plus an extra third
|
||
step for firewall users:
|
||
|
||
1. Giving your computer a static (unchanging) internal IP address by
|
||
configuring the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) on your
|
||
router.
|
||
|
||
2. Forwarding inbound connections from the Internet through your
|
||
router to your computer where Bitcoin Core can process them.
|
||
|
||
3. Configuring your firewall to allow inbound connections. This step
|
||
mainly applies to Windows users, as Mac OS X and most Linuxes do not
|
||
enable a firewall by default.
|
||
|
||
#### Configuring DHCP
|
||
|
||
In order for your router to direct incoming port 8333 connections to
|
||
your computer, it needs to know your computer's internal IP address.
|
||
However, routers usually give computers dynamic IP addresses that change
|
||
frequently, so we need to ensure your router always gives your computer
|
||
the same internal IP address.
|
||
|
||
Start by logging into your router's administration interface. Most
|
||
routers can be configured using one of the following URLs, so keep
|
||
clicking links until you find one that works. If none work, consult
|
||
your router's manual.
|
||
|
||
* <http://192.168.0.1> (some Linksys/Cisco models)
|
||
* <http://192.168.1.1> (some D-Link/Netgear models)
|
||
* <http://192.168.2.1> (some Belkin/SMC models)
|
||
* <http://192.168.123.254> (some US Robotics models)
|
||
* <http://10.0.1.1> (some Apple models)
|
||
|
||
Upon connecting, you will probably be prompted for a username and
|
||
password. If you configured a password, enter it now. If not,
|
||
the [Router Passwords site](http://www.routerpasswords.com/) provides a
|
||
database of known default username and password pairs.
|
||
|
||
After logging in, you want to search your router's menus for options
|
||
related to DHCP, the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. These options
|
||
may also be called Address Reservation. For example, the router page
|
||
shown below calls the option we need "DHCP Reservation":
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
In the reservation configuration, some routers will display a list of
|
||
computers and devices currently connected to your network, and then let
|
||
you select a device to make its current IP address permanent:
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
If that's the case, find the computer running Bitcoin Core in the list,
|
||
select it, and add it to the list of reserved addresses. Make a note of
|
||
its current IP address---we'll use the address in the next section.
|
||
|
||
Other routers require a more manual configuration. For these routers,
|
||
you will need to look up the fixed address (MAC address) for your
|
||
computer's network card and add it to the list. This operation differs
|
||
by operating system:
|
||
|
||
* **Windows 7 & 8:** Press Win-R (Windows key plus the R key) to open
|
||
the Run dialog. Type `cmd` to open the console. Type `ipconfig /all` and
|
||
find the result that best matches your connection---usually a wireless
|
||
connection. Look for a line that starts with "Physical Address" and
|
||
contains a value like this:
|
||
|
||
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 01-23-45-67-89-AB
|
||
|
||
Replace all the dashes with colons, so the address looks like this:
|
||
01:23:45:67:89:AB. Use that address in the instructions below.
|
||
|
||
* **Linux:** open a terminal and type `ifconfig`. Find the result that
|
||
best matches your connection---a result starting with `wlan` indicates
|
||
a wireless connection. Find the field that starts with `HWaddr` and copy
|
||
the immediately following field that looks like 01:23:45:67:89:ab. Use
|
||
that value in the instructions below.
|
||
|
||
* **Mac OS X:** open a terminal and type `ifconfig`. Find the result
|
||
that best matches your connection---a result starting with `en1`
|
||
usually indicates a wireless connection. Find the field that starts
|
||
with `ether:` and copy the immediately following field that looks like
|
||
01:23:45:67:89:ab. Use that value in the instructions below.
|
||
|
||
Once you have the MAC address, you can fill it into to your router's
|
||
manual DHCP assignment table, as illustrated below. Also choose an IP
|
||
address and make a note of it for the instructions in the next
|
||
subsection. After entering this information, click the Add or Save
|
||
button.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Then reboot your computer to ensure it gets assigned the address you
|
||
selected and proceed to the Port Forwarding instructions below.
|
||
|
||
#### Port Forwarding
|
||
|
||
For this step, you need to know the local IP address of the computer
|
||
running Bitcoin Core. You should have this information from configuring
|
||
the DHCP assignment table in the subsection above.
|
||
|
||
Login to your router using the same steps described near the top of the
|
||
[DHCP subsection](#configuring-dhcp). Look for an option called Port Forwarding, Port
|
||
Assignment, or anything with "Port" in its name. On the some routers,
|
||
this option is buried in an Applications & Gaming menu.
|
||
|
||
The port forwarding settings should allow you to map an external port on
|
||
your router to the "internal port" of a device on your network as shown
|
||
in the screenshot below.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Both the external port and the internal port should be 8333 for Bitcoin.
|
||
(You may also want to map port 18333 for Bitcoin's testnet, although
|
||
this guide does not cover using testnet.) Make sure the IP address you
|
||
enter is the same one you configured in the previous subsection.
|
||
|
||
After filling in the details for the mapping, save the entry. You should
|
||
not need to restart anything. Start Bitcoin Core (if you haven't
|
||
already) and follow the [Testing Connections](#testing-connections) instructions to test
|
||
your connection.
|
||
|
||
If you still can't connect and you use a firewall, you probably need to
|
||
change your firewall settings. See the Firewall section below.
|
||
|
||
If something else went wrong, it's probably a problem with your router
|
||
configuration. Re-read the instructions above to see if you missed
|
||
anything, search the web for help with "port forwarding", and ask for
|
||
help on sites like [SuperUser](http://superuser.com).
|
||
|
||
We can't provide direct support, but if you see a way to improve these
|
||
instructions, please [open an issue.](https://github.com/bitcoin-dot-org/bitcoin.org/issues/new)
|
||
|
||
#### Firewall Configuration
|
||
|
||
Firewalls block inbound connections. To use Bitcoin, you need to
|
||
configure your computer's firewall to allow connections to port 8333.
|
||
This is usually as easy as starting your firewall configuration software
|
||
and defining a new rule to allow inbound connections to port 8333. For
|
||
additional information for Windows, see the links below:
|
||
|
||
* [Instructions for Windows Firewall](http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/open-port-windows-firewall#1TC=windows-7)
|
||
* [Instructions for Norton Firewall](http://community.norton.com/en/forums/firewall-blocking-program-how-open-ports)
|
||
* [Instructions for Mcafee Personal Firewall](http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS100887)
|
||
|
||
Mac OS X comes with its firewall disabled by default, but if you have
|
||
enabled it, see the section Allowing Specific Applications from the
|
||
[official Apple guide.](http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201642)
|
||
|
||
Ubuntu also comes with its firewall disabled by default, but if you have
|
||
enabled it, see the [Ubuntu wiki
|
||
page](https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Gufw) for information about
|
||
adding port forwarding rules.
|
||
|
||
Once you have allowed inbound connections to port 8333, start Bitcoin
|
||
Core (if you haven't already) and follow the [Testing Connections](#testing-connections)
|
||
instructions to test your connection.
|
||
|
||
If something else went wrong re-read the DHCP, port forwarding, and
|
||
firewall instructions above to see if you missed anything, search the
|
||
web for help with "port forwarding" and "opening firewall ports", and
|
||
ask for help on sites like [SuperUser](http://superuser.com).
|
||
|
||
We can't provide direct support, but if you see a way to improve these
|
||
instructions, please [open an issue.](https://github.com/bitcoin-dot-org/bitcoin.org/issues/new)
|
||
|
||
## Configuration Tuning
|
||
|
||
This section contains advice about how to change your Bitcoin Core
|
||
configuration to adapt it to your needs.
|
||
|
||
There are two ways to change your configuration. The first is to start
|
||
Bitcoin Core with the options you want. For example, if you want to
|
||
limit it to using one CPU core for signature verification, you can start
|
||
Bitcoin Core like this:
|
||
|
||
{% highlight bash %}
|
||
## Bitcoin Core daemon
|
||
bitcoind -par=1 -daemon
|
||
|
||
## Bitcoin Core GUI
|
||
bitcoin-qt -par=1
|
||
{% endhighlight %}
|
||
|
||
Once you've decided you like an option, you can add it to the Bitcoin
|
||
Core configuration file. You can find that file in the following
|
||
directories:
|
||
|
||
- Windows: %APPDATA%\Bitcoin\
|
||
|
||
- OSX: $HOME/Library/Application Support/Bitcoin/
|
||
|
||
- Linux: $HOME/.bitcoin/
|
||
|
||
To add an option to the configuration file, just remove its leading
|
||
dash. You may also need to remove any quotation marks you used in your shell.
|
||
For example, the `-par` option seen above would look like this in the
|
||
configuration file:
|
||
|
||
{% highlight text %}
|
||
par=1
|
||
{% endhighlight %}
|
||
|
||
If you have any questions about configuring Bitcoin Core, please stop by
|
||
one of our [forums](/en/bitcoin-core/help#forums) or [live
|
||
chatrooms](/en/bitcoin-core/help#live).
|
||
|
||
### Reduce Traffic
|
||
|
||
Some node operators need to deal with bandwith caps imposed by their ISPs.
|
||
|
||
By default, bitcoin-core allows up to 125 connections to different peers, 8 of
|
||
which are outbound. You can therefore, have at most 117 inbound connections.
|
||
|
||
The default settings can result in relatively significant traffic consumption.
|
||
|
||
Ways to reduce traffic:
|
||
|
||
#### Maximum Upload Targets
|
||
|
||
{% highlight text %}
|
||
-maxuploadtarget=<MiB per day>
|
||
{% endhighlight %}
|
||
|
||
A major component of the traffic is caused by serving historic blocks to other nodes
|
||
during the initial blocks download phase (syncing up a new node).
|
||
This option can be specified in MiB per day and is turned off by default.
|
||
This is *not* a hard limit; only a threshold to minimize the outbound
|
||
traffic. When the limit is about to be reached, the uploaded data is cut by no
|
||
longer serving historic blocks (blocks older than one week).
|
||
Keep in mind that new nodes require other nodes that are willing to serve
|
||
historic blocks. **The recommended minimum is 144 blocks per day (max. 144MB
|
||
per day)**
|
||
|
||
#### Disable listening
|
||
|
||
{% highlight text %}
|
||
-listen=0
|
||
{% endhighlight %}
|
||
|
||
Disabling listening will result in fewer nodes connected (remember the maximum of 8
|
||
outbound peers). Fewer nodes will result in less traffic usage as you are relaying
|
||
blocks and transactions to fewer nodes.
|
||
|
||
#### Reduce maximum connections
|
||
|
||
{% highlight text %}
|
||
-maxconnections=<num>
|
||
{% endhighlight %}
|
||
|
||
Reducing the maximum connected nodes to a miniumum could be desirable if traffic
|
||
limits are tiny. Keep in mind that bitcoin's trustless model works best if you are
|
||
connected to a handful of nodes.
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
<script>updateToc();</script>
|