Clearing Up Misconceptions About Full Nodes - Revision history

Belcher: /* How to run a full node as your wallet */ Update link to joinmarket

2020-01-28T18:35:10Z

How to run a full node as your wallet: Update link to joinmarket

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:35, 28 January 2020
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	* Run a [https://bitcoincore.org/en/download/ bitcoin-qt full node].		* Run a [https://bitcoincore.org/en/download/ bitcoin-qt full node].

	* Use wallet software that is backed by a full node (e.g. [[Armory]], [~~https://github.com/AdamISZ/JMBinary/#jmbinary~~ JoinMarket])		* Use wallet software that is backed by a full node (e.g. [[Armory]], [[JoinMarket]]

	* Use a lightweight wallet that connects only to your full node (e.g. [[GreenAddress]] connecting only to your node running at home, [[Electrum]] connecting only to your own Electrum server)		* Use a lightweight wallet that connects only to your full node (e.g. [[GreenAddress]] connecting only to your node running at home, [[Electrum]] connecting only to your own Electrum server)

Belcher: /* How to run a full node as your wallet */ typo

2018-09-27T14:16:12Z

How to run a full node as your wallet: typo

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:16, 27 September 2018
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	* Use wallet software that is backed by a full node (e.g. [[Armory]], [https://github.com/AdamISZ/JMBinary/#jmbinary JoinMarket])		* Use wallet software that is backed by a full node (e.g. [[Armory]], [https://github.com/AdamISZ/JMBinary/#jmbinary JoinMarket])

	* Use a lightweight wallet that connects only to your full node (e.g. [[~~Greenaddress~~]] connecting only to your node running at home, [[Electrum]] connecting only to your own Electrum server)		* Use a lightweight wallet that connects only to your full node (e.g. [[GreenAddress]] connecting only to your node running at home, [[Electrum]] connecting only to your own Electrum server)
	** [[Electrum#Electrum_Personal_Server\|Electrum Personal Server]] is designed specifically for this use case.		** [[Electrum#Electrum_Personal_Server\|Electrum Personal Server]] is designed specifically for this use case.

Belcher: /* How to run a full node as your wallet */ updated example to say greenaddress instead of multibit

2018-09-27T14:07:43Z

How to run a full node as your wallet: updated example to say greenaddress instead of multibit

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:07, 27 September 2018
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	* Use wallet software that is backed by a full node (e.g. [[Armory]], [https://github.com/AdamISZ/JMBinary/#jmbinary JoinMarket])		* Use wallet software that is backed by a full node (e.g. [[Armory]], [https://github.com/AdamISZ/JMBinary/#jmbinary JoinMarket])

	* Use a lightweight wallet that connects only to your full node (e.g. [[~~Multibit~~]] connecting only to your node running at home, [[Electrum]] connecting only to your own Electrum server)		* Use a lightweight wallet that connects only to your full node (e.g. [[Greenaddress]] connecting only to your node running at home, [[Electrum]] connecting only to your own Electrum server)
	** [[Electrum#Electrum_Personal_Server\|Electrum Personal Server]] is designed specifically for this use case.		** [[Electrum#Electrum_Personal_Server\|Electrum Personal Server]] is designed specifically for this use case.

Belcher: /* Myth: There are only about 5500 full nodes worldwide */ put the link to luke's script in another subsection to avoid implying that it works using theymos' method

2018-09-22T10:22:43Z

Myth: There are only about 5500 full nodes worldwide: put the link to luke's script in another subsection to avoid implying that it works using theymos' method

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:22, 22 September 2018
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	Problem is, not all nodes actually have open ports that can be probed. Either because they are behind firewalls or because their users have configured them to not listen for connections.		Problem is, not all nodes actually have open ports that can be probed. Either because they are behind firewalls or because their users have configured them to not listen for connections.

	Nobody knows how many [[full node\|full nodes]] there are, since many people don't know how to forward ports behind a firewall, and bandwidth can be costly, its quite likely that the number of nodes with closed ports is at least another several thousand.		Nobody knows exactly how many [[full node\|full nodes]] there are, since many people don't know how to forward ports behind a firewall, and bandwidth can be costly, its quite likely that the number of nodes with closed ports is at least another several thousand.

	Nodes with open ports are able to upload blocks to new full nodes. In all other ways they are the same as nodes with closed ports. But because open-port-nodes can be measured and closed-port-nodes cannot, some members of the [[bitcoin]] community have been mistaken into believing that open-port-nodes represent the full count.		Nodes with open ports are able to upload blocks to new full nodes. In all other ways they are the same as nodes with closed ports. But because open-port-nodes can be measured and closed-port-nodes cannot, some members of the [[bitcoin]] community have been mistaken into believing that open-port-nodes represent the full count.
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	If I look at my long-running listening full node, I currently have incoming connections from 40 full nodes and 10 SPV nodes via the Internet, and 11 full nodes via my Tor hidden service. So if I ignore the hidden service connections because they are somewhat unusual, and I assume that my node is typical otherwise, it seems reasonable to make a very rough guess that there are at this moment (405834)/8 = 29,170 full nodes (5834 listening) and (105834)/4 = 14,585 lightweight nodes connected to the network.		If I look at my long-running listening full node, I currently have incoming connections from 40 full nodes and 10 SPV nodes via the Internet, and 11 full nodes via my Tor hidden service. So if I ignore the hidden service connections because they are somewhat unusual, and I assume that my node is typical otherwise, it seems reasonable to make a very rough guess that there are at this moment (405834)/8 = 29,170 full nodes (5834 listening) and (105834)/4 = 14,585 lightweight nodes connected to the network.

			====Luke's script====

	Luke-jr has a script which attempts to count all full nodes: http://luke.dashjr.org/programs/bitcoin/files/charts/software.html		Luke-jr has a script which attempts to count all full nodes: http://luke.dashjr.org/programs/bitcoin/files/charts/software.html

Belcher: /* How to run a full node as your wallet */ added explicit link to electrum personal server

2018-09-09T18:15:41Z

How to run a full node as your wallet: added explicit link to electrum personal server

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:15, 9 September 2018
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	* Use a lightweight wallet that connects only to your full node (e.g. [[Multibit]] connecting only to your node running at home, [[Electrum]] connecting only to your own Electrum server)		* Use a lightweight wallet that connects only to your full node (e.g. [[Multibit]] connecting only to your node running at home, [[Electrum]] connecting only to your own Electrum server)
			** [[Electrum#Electrum_Personal_Server\|Electrum Personal Server]] is designed specifically for this use case.

	So what are you waiting for? The benefits are many, the downsides are not that bad. The more people do this, the more robust and healthy the bitcoin ecosystem is.		So what are you waiting for? The benefits are many, the downsides are not that bad. The more people do this, the more robust and healthy the bitcoin ecosystem is.

Belcher: replace some bitcoin.org links to add more diversity and because of bitcoin.org's heavyweight new design

2018-08-17T17:53:28Z

replace some bitcoin.org links to add more diversity and because of bitcoin.org's heavyweight new design

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:53, 17 August 2018
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	This was common advice in 2012, but since then the full node software has vastly improved in terms of user experience.		This was common advice in 2012, but since then the full node software has vastly improved in terms of user experience.

	If you cannot spare the disk space to store the [[blockchain]], you can [https://bitcoin~~.org~~/en/release/v0.12.0#wallet-pruning enable pruning]. Altogether this should require less than 900MB of hard disk space.		If you cannot spare the disk space to store the [[blockchain]], you can [https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/blob/master/doc/release-notes/release-notes-0.12.0.md#wallet-pruning enable pruning]. Altogether this should require less than 900MB of hard disk space.

	If you cannot spare the bandwidth to upload blocks to other nodes, [https://~~bitcoin~~.org/en/full-node#reduce-traffic there are number of options to reduce or eliminate the bandwidth requirement]. These include limiting connections, bandwidth targeting and disabling listening. There is also the option [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1377345.0 -blocksonly], where the node will not download unconfirmed transaction and only download new blocks. This more than halves the bandwidth usage at the expense of not seeing unconfirmed transactions.		If you cannot spare the bandwidth to upload blocks to other nodes, [https://btcinformation.org/en/full-node#reduce-traffic there are number of options to reduce or eliminate the bandwidth requirement]. These include limiting connections, bandwidth targeting and disabling listening. There is also the option [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1377345.0 -blocksonly], where the node will not download unconfirmed transaction and only download new blocks. This more than halves the bandwidth usage at the expense of not seeing unconfirmed transactions.

	[[Network#Initial_block_download\|Synchronizing the blockchain]] for a new node has improved since 2012 too. Features like [https://bitcoin~~.org~~/en/release/v0.10.0#faster-synchronization ~~headers-first~~] and libsecp256k1 have greatly improved the initial synchronization time.		[[Network#Initial_block_download\|Synchronizing the blockchain]] for a new node has improved since 2012 too. Features like [https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/blob/master/doc/release-notes/release-notes-0.10.0.md#faster-synchronization] and libsecp256k1 have greatly improved the initial synchronization time.

	It can be further improved by setting -dbcache=3000 which keeps more of the [[Data_directory#chainstate_subdirectory\|UTXO set]] in memory. It reduces the amount of time reading from disk and therefore speeds up synchronization. Tests showed that the entire [[blockchain]] can now be synchronized in [https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/6954#issuecomment-154993958 less than 3 and a half hours] (Note that you'll need Bitcoin Core 0.12 or later to get all these efficiency improvements) [https://www.botbot.me/freenode/bitcoin-core-dev/2016-04-13/?msg=64033258&page=1 Another example with 2h 25m]		It can be further improved by setting -dbcache=3000 which keeps more of the [[Data_directory#chainstate_subdirectory\|UTXO set]] in memory. It reduces the amount of time reading from disk and therefore speeds up synchronization. Tests showed that the entire [[blockchain]] can now be synchronized in [https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/6954#issuecomment-154993958 less than 3 and a half hours] (Note that you'll need Bitcoin Core 0.12 or later to get all these efficiency improvements) [https://www.botbot.me/freenode/bitcoin-core-dev/2016-04-13/?msg=64033258&page=1 Another example with 2h 25m]
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	I think every moderate user of bitcoin would benefit by running a full node and using it as their wallet. There are several ways to do this.		I think every moderate user of bitcoin would benefit by running a full node and using it as their wallet. There are several ways to do this.

	* Run a [https://~~bitcoin~~.org/en/download bitcoin-qt full node].		* Run a [https://bitcoincore.org/en/download/ bitcoin-qt full node].

	* Use wallet software that is backed by a full node (e.g. [[Armory]], [https://github.com/AdamISZ/JMBinary/#jmbinary JoinMarket])		* Use wallet software that is backed by a full node (e.g. [[Armory]], [https://github.com/AdamISZ/JMBinary/#jmbinary JoinMarket])

Belcher: slight rewording for accuracy

2018-04-01T22:11:04Z

slight rewording for accuracy

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:11, 1 April 2018
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	Trust, security, and privacy are what matters right now. [[full node\|Full nodes]] are able to check that all of bitcoin's rules are being followed. Rules like following the [[Controlled_supply\|inflation schedule]], no spending the same coin twice, no spending of coins that don't belong to the holder of the private key and all the other rules required to make [[bitcoin]] work (e.g. [[difficulty]])		Trust, security, and privacy are what matters right now. [[full node\|Full nodes]] are able to check that all of bitcoin's rules are being followed. Rules like following the [[Controlled_supply\|inflation schedule]], no spending the same coin twice, no spending of coins that don't belong to the holder of the private key and all the other rules required to make [[bitcoin]] work (e.g. [[difficulty]])

	Full nodes are ~~what~~ make [[bitcoin]] trustless. No longer do you have to trust a financial institution like a bank or paypal, you can simply run software on your own computer. ''To put simply, the only node that matters is the one you use''.		Full nodes are required to make [[bitcoin]] trustless. No longer do you have to trust a financial institution like a bank or paypal, you can simply run software on your own computer. ''To put simply, the only node that matters is the one you use''.

	=Myth: There is no incentive to run nodes so the network relies on altruism=		=Myth: There is no incentive to run nodes so the network relies on altruism=

Belcher: /* Myth: There is no incentive to run nodes so the network relies on altruism */ added screenshot of a lightweight client showing a fake transaction

2018-03-16T15:21:07Z

Myth: There is no incentive to run nodes so the network relies on altruism: added screenshot of a lightweight client showing a fake transaction

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:21, 16 March 2018
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	====Trustless====		====Trustless====

			[[File:Petertodd-screenshot-mit2016-talk-gullible-lite-clients.png\|500px\|thumb\|alt=Petertodd alt text.\|An example of a lightweight client happily accepting a fake transaction. If the attacker had some hashpower then this transaction could be made to have [[confirmation\|confirmations]] too.]]

	Running a full node as your [[wallet]] is the only way to know for sure that none of bitcoin's rules have been broken. Rules like no coins were spent not belonging to the owner, that no coins were spent twice, that no inflation happens outside of the schedule and that all the rules needed to make the system work are followed (e.g. [[Difficulty]].) All other kinds of wallet involve trusting a third party server.		Running a full node as your [[wallet]] is the only way to know for sure that none of bitcoin's rules have been broken. Rules like no coins were spent not belonging to the owner, that no coins were spent twice, that no inflation happens outside of the schedule and that all the rules needed to make the system work are followed (e.g. [[Difficulty]].) All other kinds of wallet involve trusting a third party server.

Belcher: /* Myth: There is no incentive to run nodes so the network relies on altruism */ reworded sentence about digital gold and goldsmiths

2018-03-11T22:56:55Z

Myth: There is no incentive to run nodes so the network relies on altruism: reworded sentence about digital gold and goldsmiths

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:56, 11 March 2018
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	Running a full node as your [[wallet]] is the only way to know for sure that none of bitcoin's rules have been broken. Rules like no coins were spent not belonging to the owner, that no coins were spent twice, that no inflation happens outside of the schedule and that all the rules needed to make the system work are followed (e.g. [[Difficulty]].) All other kinds of wallet involve trusting a third party server.		Running a full node as your [[wallet]] is the only way to know for sure that none of bitcoin's rules have been broken. Rules like no coins were spent not belonging to the owner, that no coins were spent twice, that no inflation happens outside of the schedule and that all the rules needed to make the system work are followed (e.g. [[Difficulty]].) All other kinds of wallet involve trusting a third party server.

	If bitcoin is digital gold, then ~~using~~ a full node is ~~like checking~~ that ~~you truly have real gold instead of fool's gold~~. You wouldn't accept a cash banknote without checking it is genuine, the same applies for bitcoin.		If bitcoin is digital gold, then a full node wallet is your own personal goldsmith who checks for you that received payments are genuine. You wouldn't accept a cash banknote or gold coin without checking it is genuine, the same applies for bitcoin.

	====Security====		====Security====

Belcher: /* Myth: The number of these nodes matters and/or is too low. */ punctuation

2018-01-16T15:58:34Z

Myth: The number of these nodes matters and/or is too low.: punctuation

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:58, 16 January 2018
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	Trust, security, and privacy are what matters right now. [[full node\|Full nodes]] are able to check that all of bitcoin's rules are being followed. Rules like following the [[Controlled_supply\|inflation schedule]], no spending the same coin twice, no spending of coins that don't belong to the holder of the private key and all the other rules required to make [[bitcoin]] work (e.g. [[difficulty]])		Trust, security, and privacy are what matters right now. [[full node\|Full nodes]] are able to check that all of bitcoin's rules are being followed. Rules like following the [[Controlled_supply\|inflation schedule]], no spending the same coin twice, no spending of coins that don't belong to the holder of the private key and all the other rules required to make [[bitcoin]] work (e.g. [[difficulty]])

	Full nodes are what make [[bitcoin]] trustless. No longer do you have to trust a financial institution like a bank or paypal, you can simply run software on your own computer. ''To put simply, the only node that matters is the one you use''		Full nodes are what make [[bitcoin]] trustless. No longer do you have to trust a financial institution like a bank or paypal, you can simply run software on your own computer. ''To put simply, the only node that matters is the one you use''.

	=Myth: There is no incentive to run nodes so the network relies on altruism=		=Myth: There is no incentive to run nodes so the network relies on altruism=