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Questions about Lightning Node OS and Hardware
4092 sats \ 12 comments \ @Wumbo 28 Sep 2023 bitcoin
I have been staring to test different ways to help expand the number of local individuals running their own lightning nodes near me. My main goal is to help address some of the common challenges (cost, time, Redundancy). The end goal would be kind of a uncle Jim for nodes. (Here is a fully setup node that was made out of no longer used components).
As with any good thing in life, the more you learn the more new questions come up.
1st Topic: I was thinking of taking various old PC (x86) and reinstall them with Umbrel OS or some other lightweight novice OS. Umbrel seem to be only made for ARM architects. I understand I could do a linux install and then run Umbrel on top. StartOS appears to have a x86 version (https://docs.start9.com/latest/guides/flashing/flashing-x86)
1st Question: Are there any other x86 Software suites (besides Umbrel and StartOS) the SN users would recommend?
2nd Topic: To help bootstrap new users (to prevent days of downloading blockchain) I had the thought about mirroring the hard drive(ssd) from an already synced node to the new hard drive(ssd). A problem is several of the apps seem to have randomly generated passwords (ride the lighting, thunderhub,etc..) which would be copied on a straight mirroring of Hard drive.
2nd Question: So instead of mirroring SSD which would be quickest: Is syncing from a local node, moving blockchain files manually into correct folder after OS install. or another option?
Thank you in advance for any tips and guidance.
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119 sats \ 5 replies \ @nullcount 28 Sep 2023
1.) Debian 12 is the latest stable version of debian. Install it, then run the curl script to install umbrel. Debian is minimal, widely used, and well supported by software.
2.) If you already have block data, you can transfer it to the new node and reindex without downloading again.
https://nullcount.com/how-to-migrate-an-umbrel-lnd-node-without-closing-channels/
P.S. if your machine has spare resources, you could install Proxmox on it and run your node in a VM. https://nullcount.com/how-to-install-umbrel-in-a-proxmox-virtual-machine/
When your node is virtualized in a type 1 hypervisor like proxmox, it greatly expands the kinds of high availability and redundancy techniques you can implement.
For example, I migrated my LN node from one machine, to another server running proxmox and the whole migration was done while the node was routing payments. Not a second of downtime during the migration to new hardware.
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0 sats \ 4 replies \ @Wumbo OP 28 Sep 2023
The VM sounds like a good option. Being able to back and restore the whole VM would really help with redundancy.
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2 sats \ 0 replies \ @billiam 29 Sep 2023
This is the way: vm. I'm using vmware workstation though on a ubuntu desktop host to run my node (just switsching from citadel to start9). If you change config, just take a snapshot and delete it if all works well. And you backup the vm to an external drive.
Another benefit: You can have small offline (not connected to the internet) encrypted VMs with sparrow or electrum, export the xpub for a watch only wallet. I don't use hardware wallets ...
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2 sats \ 2 replies \ @nullcount 28 Sep 2023
Its amazing! Game changer. Can also easily spin up other nodes to try out without messing with your live node.
Just be careful working with LN data. The LN penalty mechanism will "steal" your sats if you restore an LN node from an expired channel state.
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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @Wumbo OP 29 Sep 2023
For Justice Transactions they only apply to individual channel correct, not the whole node?
Example: Node with 100 Channel crashes and die, node operator has a backup from yesterday. Since yesterday only one forward/transaction has occurred on one channel
Node operator restores from yesterday backup.
The 1 channel is only available for justice transaction?
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2 sats \ 0 replies \ @nullcount 29 Sep 2023
Correct.
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33 sats \ 1 reply \ @bzzzt 28 Sep 2023
My rec is:
Load start9 OS onto a refurbished thinkcentre mini, download core, LND, LNBits, lightning terminal services. A few clicks, no command line, and they are up and running. lightning node connect via lightning terminal connections doesnt have the issues of tor connectivity either. Good telegram support group and user manual is easy to follow for connectivity setup and installing other services.
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52 sats \ 0 replies \ @billiam 29 Sep 2023
Just started setting up my start9 on a vm (coming from citadel, a FOSS umbrel clone). Great ride so far with start9! Can recommend to beginners.
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20 sats \ 0 replies \ @wingalt 30 Sep 2023
Can definitely recommend StartOS, well designed and with more explaination than Umbrel. Here is how to vitualize it under Proxmox, accessible guide even for non-technical people https://telegra.ph/Guide-to-building-a-Bitcoin-Super-Node-02-27
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2 sats \ 0 replies \ @IanMalcolmPhd 29 Sep 2023
I collect these in my bookmarks. If I get better at github, I'll create an "awesome lightning selfhosted" or something:
https://start9.com/ https://mynodebtc.com/products/community_edition https://runcitadel.space/ https://ronindojo.io/ https://docs.btcpayserver.org/ https://ln.tips/ https://mynodebtc.github.io/coinjoin/joinmarket.html https://ezno.de/ https://mynodebtc.com/
My next thing will likely be something like the parmanode script or doing a bare server install.
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2 sats \ 0 replies \ @IanMalcolmPhd 29 Sep 2023
There is also parmanode, which is a script that installs many Bitcoin tools for you.
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2 sats \ 0 replies \ @aljaz 28 Sep 2023
for initial block download you can create a bootstrap.dat file and use that to import a recent snapshot like described here https://copyprogramming.com/howto/how-do-you-generate-a-bootstrap-dat-file-duplicate
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