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To run a bitcoin node all you have to do is download bitcoin core on your computer and open the application.
https://bitcoincore.org/en/download/
For a lighting node, Zeus embedded node on any phone is very quick and easy as well but you will need some knowledge how channels work to be able to use it effectively
If I wanted to run on a PC, how much does that PC need to be up and running?
For a bitcoin node you could leave it running for a few hours or days at the start to download the blockchain. After that you can shut it down as desired and every time you reopen it bitcoin core will download the blocks you missed which shouldn't take long as long as you open the computer every few days. Lightning nodes need to be online as much as possible.
It seems like it would take up a ton of space does it not?
The blockchain is 693 GB right now but you can run a pruned node if space is a limited. A pruned node still downloads and verifies all blocks but deletes them past one that increase beyond a certain threshold that you can set base on your needs. All newer computers have more than enough space to run a pruned node.
How small can a pruned node be?
Last I remember you can prune the blockchain down to 550 mb, but you still have to store the utxo set which is maybe 10 to 15 GB. Looking at your other comment a 256 GB ssd would be plenty.
Oh wow. that isn't big at all. Good to know. If I have issues with my pi, I might try that out.
I think right now it is less than 700 GB. Depends on what is a lot for you. Storage is quite cheap now. Unless you mean physical space.
I mean my laptop doesn’t have 700 GB of storage 😂
@ChrisS says you can prune it down to under 20gb or so.
My Mac only has 256 gb. They charge so much for storage so.i went with a smaller size. Kind of annoying..
Good to know. I am off-grid so sometimes the power goes down and I can't run a PC 24/7.
That makes sense. I am sure that is a common answer. Its not all that hard anymore. And there are some somewhat plug and play solutions I think? I am using a umbrel node on a pi 4. I have heard of something called start 9. Not sure how easy that is.
start9 is awesome! click, btc node...click, electrs server...click, lnd node
🤙
What makes that a better option than a PC or a pi? I'm assuming it's easier.
you dont ever have to fuck with command line
That's a big bonus. I like that.
the caveat to start9 is you only get local network access and tor access. the next release of the OS will supposidly provide clearnet access to services running on a start9, but details and release timeline are scant.
Kind of pricey. I assume they are more powerful. Can they be used for things other than nodes?
you can buy an old mini comp and load the OS onto there since its FOSS. i got mine for $200 with 2 tb, 16 gigs ram which will be decent for running a btc stack
The start 9 os?
Very cool. I didn't know that.
Yes they specialize in many self hosting apps like bitwarden next cloud and others but I would be careful running other apps like those on the same machine as a bitcoin/lightning node.
I’ve always debated on getting a pi but it never quite lined up with being able to do stuff with it
I also run a home media server off a pi. And I have used one for retro gaming in the past. They are super useful and fun to play with. I am not super technical and still am able to figure it out with YouTube. I recommend it for sure. I like that option because it's always useful for something.
For me it’s a mix of not knowing what I’m doing as well as life is just busy. Maybe if life slows down I’d look into it but from what I understand it takes a level of technical know how that I just don’t have. If there was a solid plug and go option than maybe I’d look into it