Commands & Steps to Ministry of Nodes Bitcoin Full Node Box 2022 Series: A reference guide
This is a step by step outline of the Bitcoin Full Node Box 2022 Video Series by Ministry of Nodes.
This is intended strictly as an aid to supplement to the videos, not replace it. Please verify the following instructions by watching the video series. I hope this reference material will help others clarify the commands given in the videos. I found the build to be quite simple for novices and an amazing learning process. My sincere thanks to Ministry of Nodes for this video series. Please let me know of errors so they can be corrected.
Open Source Software:
Ubuntu lts
Bitcoin Core
Fulcrum
Sparrow Wallet
Samourai Wallet android app
Memepool.space
Whirlpool
Hardware requirements:
Dell Optiplex 9020 or any pc with the equivalent specs of
i5
8g
1T or 2T SSD (like a Samsung 870 EVO)
Monitor
Keyboard
Power cord
Ethernet cable
USB stick
Separate bitcoin only lap top to ssh into node
Create USB Boot Disc on laptop:
go to ubuntu.com
download section
ubuntu server
get ubuntu server
get manual download
download 22.04 lts
On laptop:
insert usb stick
open Balena Etcher
flash from file
select ubuntu server 22.04 lts
select usb
flash usb
enter password
boot disk is now created
On Dell computer/Node:
plug in keyboard
plug in monitor
plug in usb drive
plug in ethernet cable
plug in power cord
On first boot:
Go into bios of machine by tapping on f2 as it boots
Change boot sequence to boot first from USB followed by SSD
Go to AC recover section change to “power on”
Machine should reboot up again and read the USB stick
OS Screen should appear:
Select language
Select Keyboard layout
Select Install Ubuntu Server
Hit enter
*Record the ip address that is being assigned to your node box *
This is how you will access the node from your own laptop remotely
Write down the ip address
Hit enter
Hit enter
Screen should now show your disk
use entire disk but remove lvm with the space bar and navigate to the bottom to hit done.
Hit enter
Hit enter
Choose name of user and write it down:
Choose name of node and write id down:
Choose a strong password and write it down:
*Hit yes and install ssh with the space bar, then hit enter *
Don’t add any snaps, hit tab then enter
The operating system should then install
Reboot screen should appear
Reboot the computer
It will ask you to then remove usb stick
hit enter
log in screen appears
hit enter
Login with the user name and password just created
You should now see the same ip address and disk space used
Now you can remotely SSH into computer using terminal or putty on your laptop
In terminal:
ssh username@ipaddress
Do you want to continue?
Yes
enter password
Remove keyboard and monitor from node box
Initial set up is now complete
SSH into the node box on local network from laptop:
ssh username@ipaddress
are you sure to continue?
Yes
enter password
The following is some basic command line information:
Use tab button to auto complete file names in terminal
By pressing up or down the previous commands will be available to use.
To see the disk space with command
df -h
username@nodename:~$ (represents home in the file system)
This shows a typical linux file system:
username@nodename:~$ cd / (change directory)
username@nodename:/$
username@nodename:/$ ls (list short shows files in directory)
To go to the home directory:
username@nodename:/$ cd home/
username@nodename:/home
username@nodename:/home ls
username@nodename:/home$ cd username/
username@nodename:~$
From ~$ you can make directories
To make a directory:
From ~$
Type the command:
mkdir downloads
ls
cd downloads/
~/downloads/
To go back a directory:
cd ..
To remove the directory:
rm -rf downloads/
To see if updates are available:
sudo apt update
enter password
To upgrade to the updates:
sudo apt upgrade
nano is a text editor to open, edit and save
To make a downloads directory:
mkdir downloads
cd downloads/
ls
nano test file 123.txt
this should take you to a text file:
ctrl x to leave
y to save
hit enter to go back to terminal
To remove directory:
rm testfile123.txt
This directory allows us to have programs start on boot:
cd /etc/systemd/system/
To edit existing file:
sudo nano "filename"
To paste into terminal:
control shift v
To get to home directory:
cd~
To exit out of terminal and reboot node:
sudo reboot
Bitcoin Core:
in terminal:
ssh into node as above
in browser:
go to bitcoincore.org
go to downloads
select linux tgz
right click copy the link
in terminal, make a downloads directory and then enter that downloads directory:
mkdir downloads
cd downloads/
ls
wget (paste in link)
hit enter
ls
should show you bitcoin core file name ending in tar.gz
on bitcoincore.org:
go to linux verification instructions
copy link under instruction number 2: Download the list of cryptographic checksums: SHA256SUMS
in terminal:
wget (paste in link)
enter
on bitcoincore.org:
copy link under instruction number 3: Download the signatures attesting to validity of the checksums: SHA256SUMS.asc
in terminal:
wget (past in link)
enter
on bitcoincore.org:
copy command under instruction number 5: Verify that the checksum of the release file is listed in the checksums file using the following command
sha256sum --ignore-missing --check SHA256SUMS
in terminal:
paste command
enter
output should read “ok” after file name:
bitcoin-23.0-x86_64-linux-gnu.tar.gz: OK
Import key from maintainer of bitcoin core to verify
on bitcoincore.org:
copy unique public key under instruction number 6
in terminal:
past in public key to import
enter
on bitcoincore.org:
copy gpg under instruction number 8
in terminal:
paste in gpg from bitcoincore.org
look to see gpg “good signature”
in browser:
go to bitcoin.org/en/full-node
go to linux instructions
copy command to unzip
in terminal paste command:
tar xzf (your bitcoin file name)
in browser copy the command:
sudo install -m 0755 -o root -g root -t /usr/local/bin bitcoin-22.0/bin/*
enter password
To actually run bitcoin core
in terminal:
bitcoind -daemon
Should say Bitcoin Core starting
To show bitcoin data directory
in terminal:
cd ..
ll
in terminal:
cd .bitcoin/
ls
To check to see if bitcoin is running, open another terminal and ssh into node
in second terminal:
tail -f .bitcoin/debug.log
This will show the status of downloading the blockchain
in first terminal:
bitcoin-cli getblockchain info
bitcoin-cli getconnectioncount
in first terminal from ~/.bitcoin$ create a bitcoin.conf file:
nano bitcoin.conf
past in:
server=1
txindex=1
daemon=1
pcport=8332
rpcbind=0.0.0.0
rpcallowip=127.0.0.1
rpcallowip=10.0.0.0/8
rpcallowip=172.0.0.0/8
rpcallowip=192.0.0.0/8
zmqpubrawblock=tcp://0.0.0.0:28332
zmqpubrawtx=tcp://0.0.0.0:28333
zmqpubhashblock=tcp://0.0.0.0:28334
whitelist=127.0.0.1
in browser:
go to github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin
go to file search box
type rpcauth.py into file search box
select the file
view raw
copy link
in second terminal:
ctrl c to stop logs
cd downloads/
wget ( paste in link from github )
chmod +x rpcauth.py
make rpc username same as username above and rpc password same as above as this will be needed later in fulcrum and will make it easier to enter correct usernames and passwords in later steps
./rpcauth.py (create rpc user name by typing it) (create rpc password by typing it)
enter
copy the "string to be appended to" line starting with "rpcauth="
in first terminal:
now paste in that full line starting with "rpcauth=" into the last line of the bitcoin.conf filename
ctrl x to exit
y to save
enter to return to terminal
That is how you authenticate into the bitcoin node
in first terminal:
bitcoin-cli stop
bitcoin
Now wait for the initial blockchain to finish downloading
in terminal:
cd .bitcoin/
bitcoin-cli getblockchaininfo
this will show you that the “initial block download” shows false which is good
and that the headers match the block height
that means the initial blockchain has completed
To make bitcoin start on boot of machine
in browser:
go to github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin
go to file
search .service
view raw
copy link
in terminal:
cd /etc/systemd/system/
sudo wget (paste in link from github)
enter password
sudo nano bitcoind.service
in file:
remove “wait” from service daemon
change service line to:
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/bitcoind -daemon
pid can be left alone
conf file needs to be changed to:
-conf=/home/username/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf
datadir needs to be changed to:
-datadir=/home/username/.bitcoin
place # in front of execstart
change user to rcp username
change group to rcp username
place # in front of protecthome
ctrl x to exit
y to save
enter to return back to terminal
bitcoin-cli stop
sudo systemctl enable bitcoind
sudo systemctl start bitcoind
sudo systemctl status bitcoind
you should see a green active running
Enable Tor
cd ~
sudo apt install tor
y
enter
sudo systemctl status tor
should see green active running
sudo nano etc/tor/torrc
scroll to the bottom of the file
paste in file:
ControlPort 9051
CookieAuthentication 1
CookieAuthFileGroupReadable 1
ctrl x to exit
y to save
enter to return to terminal
in terminal:
sudo systemctl restart t
sudo usermod -a -G debian-tor username
nano .bitcoin/bitcoin.conf
in file add:
proxy=127.0.0.1:9050
listen=1
bind=127.0.0.1
onlynet=onion
ctrl x to exit
y to save
enter to return to terminal
in terminal reboot the machine to make bitcoin start on boot and over tor:
sudo reboot
wait a few minutes to reboot
ssh back into node
in second terminal:
tail -f .bitcoin/debug.log
in first terminal:
bitcoin-cli getconnectioncount
if there are no connections manually add a node to your bitcoin.conf filename
in browser:
go to bitnodes.io
click on nodes
go to networks
select tor networks
copy onion addresses
in first terminal:
nano .bitcoin/bitoin.conf
add to file:
addnode= (paste in onion link)
ctrl x
y
enter
in first terminal:
sudo systemctl restart bitcoind
in second terminal:
check logs
in first terminal:
bitcoin-cli getconnectioncount
once the node has five or more connections remove the add node line from bitcoin.conf filename
in first terminal:
nano .bitcoin/bitcoin.conf
remove last line with node information
ctrl x
y
enter
in first terminal:
sudo systemctl restart bitcoind
To ensure you get connections
in first terminal:
bitcoin-cli getconnectioncount
To ensure node is running over tor
in first terminal:
bitcoin-cli getnetworkinfo
ipv4 false
ipv6 false
onion reachable true
onion address is presented as well
Other commands:
bitcoin-cli getpeerinfo shows peer info
bitcoin-cli gettxoutsetinfo shows the supply of bitcoin
This concludes bitcoin core, now on to fulcrum.
Fulcrum
in browser:
go to https://github.com/cculianu/Fulcrum
go to releases section
download 1.6
copy linux x86 file https://github.com/cculianu/Fulcrum/releases/download/v1.6.0/Fulcrum-1.6.0-x86_64-linux.tar.gz.asc
in terminal:
cd downloads/
wget ( paste link from github )
enter
cd..
mkdir fulcrum
mkdir fulcrum_db
ls
cd downloads/
ls
tar xvf fulcrum-1.6.0-x86_64-linux.tar.gz
enter
mv fulcrum-1.6.0-x86_64-linux/* /home/username/fulcrum
enter
cd ..
cd fulcrum
ls
(now generate keys for ssl to query fulcrum from network in encryted way):
openssl req -newkey rsa:2048 -new -nodes -x509 -days 3650 -keyout key.pem -out cert.pem
ls
mv fulcrum-example.conf fulcrum.conf
ls
nano fulcrum.conf
in file the data directory needs to be changed:
datadir = /home/username/fulcrum_db
rpcuser = (rpc username chosen earlier)
rpcpassword = (rpc password chosen earlier)
use ssl
remove # before ssl
ssl = 0.0.0.0:50002
remove hash before cert
cert = /home/username/fulcrum/cert.pem
remove hash before key
key = /home/username/fulcrum/key.pem
remove hash before peering
peering = false
remove hash before fast sync
fast-sync = 5000
ctrl x to exit
y to save
enter to return to terminal
To make fulcrum start on boot
in terminal:
cd fulcrum
sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/fulcrum.service
enter password
in file paste in:
[Unit]
Description=Fulcrum
After=network.target
[Service]
ExecStart=/home/username/fulcrum/Fulcrum /home/username/fulcrum/fulcrum.conf
User=username
LimitNOFILE=8192
TimeoutStopSec=30min
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
ctrl x
y
enter
in terminal:
ls
cd ..
ls
sudo systemctl enable fulcrum.service
sudo systemctl start fulcrum.service
sudo systemctl status fulcrum.service
should see a green active running text
To see Fulcrum index logs
in second terminal:
cd ~
journalctl -fu fulcrum.service
allow around 12 hours for database to be completed
To see if Fulcrum is finished syncing, look at Fulcrum logs in second terminal
Should see logs show:
beyond 99%
Starting listening service
SsLSrv 0.0.0.0:50002
Listening for connections
in second terminal:
cd fulcrum
df -h
du -h
To Shutdown fulcrum and pc gracefully
in terminal:
fulcrum-cli stop
That is all for fulcrum, now on to Sparrow Wallet.
Sparrow Wallet
in browser:
www.sparrowwallet.com
Go to downloads
download wallet file
Verify release of sparrow wallet
import public keys
in terminal:
curl https://keybase.io/craigraw/pgp_keys.asc | gpg --import
cd Downloads
in browser:
go to www.sparrowwallet.com
go to downloads
download manifest txt.asc file
download manifest txt file
copy gpg --verify sparrow-1.7.1-manifest.txt.asc
in terminal:
paste gpg from www.sparrowwallet.com
enter
should see “Good Signature” from Craig Raw
Check the checksum
in browser:
copy linux checksum
in terminal:
paste checksum
should say “OK”
to install
in terminal:
sudo dpkg -i sparrow
enter password
look on your computer applications to find Sparrow Wallet and open
Connect to Private Electrum Server
Configure Server
Private Electrum
URL is your ip address
port 50002
select ssl
hit test connection
now connected Sparrow Wallet to your Fulcrum Server
Create Wallet in Sparrow:
Name Wallet
Bip39 Software wallet
Generate new
add secure passphrase
12 words
confirm you wrote down your 12 words in order
confirm you wrote down your passphrase
these 12 words and passphrase are necessary to restore funds
losing these 12 words in order or your passphrase will lose your bitcoin
create keystore
leave defaults
import keystore
enter bip39 passphrase
xpub is shown
zpub is shown
fingerprint is shown
derivation path is shown
descriptor is shown
script type is shown
single sig is shown
hit apply
add a password to access and unencrypt this filename
this password is not your seed passphrase
this password grants access to the wallet in sparrow
set password
Memepool.space
install docker
in browser:
go to https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/ubuntu/
scroll to set up repository
copy commands on website
in terminal ssh into node:
sudo apt update
y
sudo apt-get intall
ca-certificates
curl
gnupg
lsb-release
in browser:
copy gpg key from instruction number 2
in terminal:
sudo mkdir -p /etc/apt/keyrings
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg
echo
"deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu
$(lsb_release -cs) stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null
sudo apt-get update
in browser:
copy command from install docker engine instruction number 2
in terminal paste in command:
sudo apt-get install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-compose-plugin
yes
in browser:
Scroll to the bottom of page and click on link for “post installation steps for linux”
https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/linux-postinstall/
add user to docker group
copy user command from instruction number 2
in terminal:
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
(this allows you to use docker without sudo)
exit
ssh back into node
docker ps
in browser:
navigate to https://docs.docker.com/compose/install/other/
go to install linux standalone binary
copy command under instruction number 1
in terminal paste command with sudo in front:
sudo curl -SL https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/download/v2.13.0/docker-compose-linux-x86_64 -o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
enter password
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
docker-compose –version
in browser:
navigate to https://github.com/mempool/mempool
click green code button
copy code link https://github.com/mempool/mempool.git
in terminal from home directory:
cd ~
git clone https://github.com/mempool/mempool.git
ls
cd mempool/
ls
cd docker/
ls
nano docker-compose.yml
in file change:
port to - 4080:8080
change rpc host to your “ip address”
change username to “rcp username”
change password to “rcp password”
change restart to always
change restart to always
change restart to always
in browser:
go to https://github.com/mempool/mempool/tree/master/docker
find the bitcoin core + electrum section
in terminal in file under api environment make this change:
MEMPOOL_BACKEND: "electrum"
in terminal in file under api environment add in these changes:
ELECTRUM_HOST: "youripaddress"
ELECTRUM_PORT: "50002"
ELECTRUM_TLS: "true”
past in at end of docker-compose file:
networks:
default:
driver: bridge
ipam:
config:
- subnet: 172.16.57.0/24
ctrl x to exit
y to save
enter to return to the terminal
in first terminal:
docker-compose up
in second terminal:
exit
ssh back into node
in second terminal:
docker ps
shows containers running
in browser:
type your ip address:4080
now you have your own mempool.space
to stop in terminal:
ctrl c to exit
once stopped
to start in first terminal:
docker-compose up -d
That completes mempool.space, on to Samourai Wallet
Samourai Wallet:
in browser:
navigate to https://samouraiwallet.com/
scroll down to dojo and click download
https://samouraiwallet.com/download/dojo
click code repository
click releases
copy link to zip file https://code.samourai.io/dojo/samourai-dojo/-/archive/v1.18.1/samourai-dojo-v1.18.1.zip
ssh into terminal:
cd downloads/
wget https://code.samourai.io/dojo/samourai-dojo/-/archive/v1.18.1/samourai-dojo-v1.18.1.zip
ls
sudo apt install unzip
enter password
unzip samourai-dojo-v1.18.1.zip
ls
cd..
mkdir dojo-app
ls
mv ~/downloads/ samourai-dojo-v1.18.1/* ~/dojo-app/
cd dojo-app/
ls
cd docker/
ls
cd my-dojo/
ls
cd conf/
ls
nano docker-bitcoind.conf.tpl
in file change:
rpc user
bitcoind install to off
bitcoind ip address to your node ip address
bitcoind rpc port to 8332
in second terminal:
ssh into node
nano .bitcoin/bitcoin.conf
check to see in rpc port now matches
in first terminal:
change the zmq raw txs to match yours (28333)
change the zmq block hash to match yours
ctrl x to exit
y to save
enter to return to terminal
in first terminal:
ls
nano docker-explorer.conf.tpl
in file change:
explorer to off
explorer install off
ctrl x
y
enter
in first terminal:
ls
nano docker-indexer.conf.tpl
in file change:
indexer type to fulcrum
indexer ip address to node ip address
indexer rpc port 50002
indexer batch support to active
indexer protocol to tls
ctrl x
y
enter
in first terminal:
nano docker-mysql.conf.tpl
in file change:
mysql root password
mysql password
ctrl x
y
enter
in terminal:
nano docker-node.conf.tpl
in file change:
node api key
node admin key (this is the key used to access Dojo Maintenance Tool, make a note of this key)
node jwt secret
node active indexer to local_indexer
ctrl x
y
enter
in first terminal:
cd ..
ls
(this should take you to ~/dojo-app/docker/my-dojo$)
./dojo.sh install
y
enter
in second terminal:
docker ps
Wait for installation to finish and headers reach chain tip
docker ps
Now get onion address to log into dojo maintenance tool
in second terminal:
cd dojo-app/
ls
cd docker/my-dojo/
./dojo.sh onion
this will show the onion address of the Dojo Maintenance Tool
copy onion address
paste into a tor browser
add /admin to the end
enter
once page loads find the admin key from before
in second terminal:
cd conf/
nano docker-node.conf
in file:
scroll to admin key and copy
in tor browser:
paste in admin key
enter
should say it has successfully connected to the backend
look for green check marks all around
Samourai Wallet on Android phone and connect to dojo
navigate to https://docs.samourai.io/wallet/start
read the documentation and download onto your android device
Open App:
select mainnet
get started
choose backup directory
choose documents
allow access
enable tor
select connect to your own dojo
scan qr code from dojo maintenance tool under pairing
grant app access to camera when using app
or enter dojo onion address and api key
after dojo connects
create new wallet
create passphrase
check box indicating you understand
set a wallet pin code
confirm pin code
write down list of 12 words
confirm passphrase
claim paynym
Whirlpool CLI
in browser:
navigate to https://samouraiwallet.com/download/whirlpool
click on code repository
click on whirlpool in upper left to navigate to https://code.samourai.io/whirlpool
select whirlpool-client-cli
select releases
select whirlpool 0.10.13
copy download link
in first terminal:
sudo apt install openjdk-18-jre-headless
y
enter
in first terminal from home:
mkdir whirlpool
cd whirlpool/
ls
wget https://code.samourai.io/whirlpool/whirlpool-client-cli/uploads/c1bb32bac6d4b377f625c996387375c2/whirlpool-client-cli-0.10.13-run.jar
NOTE: whirlpool 0.10.16 appears to have been released at this time with major impovements – cannot say if it works with this build
java -jar whirlpool-client-cli-0.10.13-run.jar –init
it will ask for pairing payload
in Samourai Wallet app:
go to settings
transactions
experimental
copy pairing to clipboard
in first terminal:
paste payload
enter
authenticate with wallet passphrase
whirlpool should authenticate and start running
to make whirlpool start on boot create a service file
in first terminal:
ctrl c
sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/whirlpool.service
in the file paste in:
[Unit]
Description=Whirlpool
After=tor.service
[Service]
WorkingDirectory=/home/yourusername/whirlpool
ExecStart=/usr/bin/java -jar whirlpool-client-cli-0.10.13-run.jar --server=mainnet --tor --auto-mix --mixs-target=0 --listen
User= your username
Group= your username
Type=simple
KillMode=process
TimeoutSec=60
Restart=always
RestartSec=60
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
ctrl x
y
enter
in first terminal:
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable whirlpool
sudo systemctl start whirlpool
sudo systemctl status whirlpool
Whirlpool should start and ask for authentication from whirlpool gui
in browser
go to https://samouraiwallet.com/download to download whirlpool gui
select the correct file for your laptop
download
verify
install
open
in whirlpool gui:
select advanced
enter node ip address:8899
in terminal:
nano whirlpool-cli-config.properties
in file:
copy whirlpool api key
in whirlpool gui:
paste in api key
click connect
be patient
enter wallet passphrase when prompted
read whirlpool documentation
This build now has a dedicated system running bitcoin core, fulcrum indexer, sparrow wallet with whirlpool, mempool.space, samourai dojo, samourai wallet & whirlpool.
This concludes the step by step transcription of the Bitcoin Full Node Box 2022 by Ministry of Nodes. Thank you to the amazing work by Ministry of Nodes to offer this build to the public. I hope this helps others create their own full nodes.