NodeCore Operations

See: Main_Page, HowTo_run_NodeCore

Overview

This page explains operations for NodeCore. For more detail, see: HowTo_run_NodeCore

Requirements

Hardware

• At least 4GB of memory
• 2 CPU Cores
• SSD drive (much disk activity on nodecore.dat file)
• 50GB data drive (10GB/month of nodecore)
• OS = Windows, Linux, Mac

For best peering performance, ensure that ports 7500-7501 are open to the internet.

If running a pool, ensure that 8500 and 8501 are open to any machines you want to mine with (if running a public pool, ensure 8500 and 8501 are open to the internet).

Software

• Oracle Java 8u181 from the above guide
  • 64-bit
  • http://tipsonubuntu.com/2016/07/31/install-oracle-java-8-9-ubuntu-16-04-linux-mint-18/

What if I have the wrong version of Java?

Either run on a machine that has Oracle Java 8, or uninstall and re-install Oracle Java 8.

How to Install

Linux

#install Java:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install software-properties-common
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/java
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install oracle-java8-installer -y
sudo apt-get install oracle-java8-set-default -y

For best peering results, allow incoming connections to port 7500/7501. If running a public pool, allow incoming connections to port 8500/8501. If you want to connect remote CLIs or PoP miners, you will have to allow incoming connections on port 10500/10501 from the machines you plan to connect from

#start nodecore
cd <NC_Directory>/nodecore-<version>/bin
chmod a+x nodecore

#run NC (could run multiple ways, such as in a screen)
cd <NC_Directory>/nodecore-<version>/bin
screen -S nodecore './nodecore'

Sample linux script:

wget http://mirror1.veriblock.org/nodecore-0.2.15-rc.2.tar
tar xvf nodecore-0.2.15-rc.2.tar
cd nodecore-0.2.15-rc.2/bin
mkdir testnet
cd testnet
wget http://mirror1.veriblock.org/nodecore-108000.zip
unzip nodecore-108000.zip
cd ..
./nodecore

NOTE: If you wish to limit the amount of memory that NodeCore uses to a smaller number, change the -Xmx6G option in bin/nodecore to -Xmx4G (for 4G)

Windows

cd /<NC_Directory>/nodecore-<version>/bin
nodecore.bat

NOTE: If you wish to limit the amount of memory that NodeCore uses to a smaller number, change the -Xmx6G option in bin/nodecore.bat to -Xmx4G (for 4G)

How to run

Start

Run the startup command (either nodecore for linux, or nodecore.bat for windows)

To run NodeCore in a loop:

Linux

while true
do
    ./nodecore
    read -t 30
    echo Restarting NodeCore...
done

Windows:

:execute
call nodecore.bat

timeout /t 30 > NUL
echo Restarting NodeCore...
goto execute

Stop

Best option is to connect to NodeCore with the NC_CLI run "stopnodecore" (see: NodeCore_CommandLine#stopnodecore), and wait 10-30 seconds for NodeCore to gracefully shut down.

One can also use CTRL+C for graceful shutdown.

Options

Can pass in a data directory: -d ~/data

Operational stats

• Full resync --> varies greatly based on network
• Restart --> less than 2 minutes (constant)
• nodecore.dat file --> 10GB / month
• Memory usage --> less than 4GB (can increase by setting xmx, and Java will take max amount allowed). Allow higher memory when running an application node, such as for a pool.

Random

Make sure antivirus and firewall are not blocking NodeCore

• NC uses a large nodecore.dat file --> want to exclude this file from anti-virus monitoring
• NC has much network activity (ports 10500, 7500, 8501) --> If networking issues then troubleshoot firewall

Windows:

• Selecting console window and hitting ENTER could freeze it ("Quick Edit Mode") --> make sure not frozen: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/33883530/why-is-my-command-prompt-freezing-on-windows-10
• Depending on your settings, some flavors of Windows may stop processing programs (including NodeCore) if you lock your machine (!!). The programs then resume upon unlocking. This is a windows setting that affects all processes, including NodeCore.