@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ Running a node, however, requires a permanently connected system with enough res
[TIP]
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((("warnings and cautions", "core node disk space, bandwidth, and time requirements")))Bitcoin Core keeps a full copy of the blockchain by default, with every transaction that has ever occurred on the bitcoin network since its inception in 2009. This dataset is dozens of gigabytes in size and is downloaded incrementally over several days or weeks, depending on the speed of your CPU and internet connection. Bitcoin Core will not be able to process transactions or update account balances until the full blockchain dataset is downloaded. Make sure you have enough disk space, bandwidth, and time to complete the initial synchronization. You can configure Bitcoin Core to reduce the size of the blockchain by discarding old blocks (see <<constrained_resources>>) but it will still download the entire dataset before discarding data.
((("warnings and cautions", "core node resource requirements")))((("resource requirements")))Bitcoin Core keeps a full copy of the blockchain by default, with every transaction that has ever occurred on the bitcoin network since its inception in 2009. This dataset is dozens of gigabytes in size and is downloaded incrementally over several days or weeks, depending on the speed of your CPU and internet connection. Bitcoin Core will not be able to process transactions or update account balances until the full blockchain dataset is downloaded. Make sure you have enough disk space, bandwidth, and time to complete the initial synchronization. You can configure Bitcoin Core to reduce the size of the blockchain by discarding old blocks (see <<constrained_resources>>) but it will still download the entire dataset before discarding data.
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Despite these resource requirements, thousands of volunteers run bitcoin nodes. Some are running on systems as simple as a Raspberry Pi (a $35 USD computer the size of a pack of cards). Many volunteers also run bitcoin nodes on rented servers, usually some variant of Linux. A _Virtual Private Server_ (VPS) or _Cloud Computing_ server instance can be used to run a bitcoin node. Such servers can be rented for $25 to $50 USD per month from a variety of providers.
@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ If you're reading this book and interested in developing bitcoin software, you s
==== Running Bitcoin Core for the First Time
When you first run +bitcoind+, it will remind you to create a configuration file with a strong password for the JSON-RPC interface. This password controls access to the application programming interface (API) offered by Bitcoin Core.
((("passwords", "core nodes")))((("Bitcoin Core", "running core nodes", "first run")))When you first run +bitcoind+, it will remind you to create a configuration file with a strong password for the JSON-RPC interface. This password controls access to the application programming interface (API) offered by Bitcoin Core.
Run +bitcoind+ by typing ++**bitcoind**++ into the terminal:
judymcconville@roadrunner.com
7 years ago