Do you run a Lightning node standalone or with a packager? \ stacker news ~lightning

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Do you run a Lightning node standalone or with a packager?

387 sats \ 18 comments \ @thebullishbitcoiner 28 Dec 2024 lightning

I got this comment on one of my notes recently.

It got me wondering what the best way to run a node is, or at least what’s most popular.

So tell me, do you prefer raw dogging a node or using one of the packagers below?

Alby Hub20.0%

Start920.0%

Umbrel20.0%

RaspiBlitz12.0%

Other (please specify)28.0%

25 votes \ poll ended

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50 sats \ 0 replies \ @aljaz 28 Dec 2024

Raw dog ftw

33 sats \ 0 replies \ @PictureRoom 28 Dec 2024

I run a Start9 node. Simple, great customer service as well if I need help

73 sats \ 1 reply \ @k00b 28 Dec 2024

For my personal use I like the packagers. They make it trivial to try new stuff out and upgrade, which is nice when I don't have the time to tinker. It's also nice to experience what the easiest bitcoin UXs are so I can set my usage/adoption expectations appropriately.

17 sats \ 0 replies \ @thebullishbitcoiner OP 28 Dec 2024

Agreed. Great take. 🤙

130 sats \ 2 replies \ @DarthCoin 28 Dec 2024

I've run all bundle nodes. Testing them. Those are good for starters that are not so familiar with CLI commands. Yes if you start doing yourself as a noob all those apps it can go crazy. The bundle in dockers have pro and contra issues. In the end the user MUST learn how to debug and run CLI commands.

I wrote some guides about these aspects.

Now I prefer to run compartimelized nodes:

a central bitcoin core only. This can serve blocks for any and multiple other nodes - electrum spv, neutrino, btc rpc, esplora. Also if I need a quick full btc node I could copy the blockchain data direvtly or sync over LAN faster.
each LN node implementation on its own machine, when is needed and also could be used as backup funding source between them. Neutrino for LND is really underrated. You can spin up a LN node in matter of minutes.
a machine with separate btc apps: lnbits, alby hub, btcpay, thunderhub, rtl etc
all the rest of non-btc apps I run with a NAS or dedicated server machine. There is no need to mix with btc apps.

Putting everything in one machine is a mistake and bring only trouble. Especially the btc core that is eating a lot of resources and LN node needs a continuous I/O with the disk. If add any non-btc apps you are just creating more trouble.

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @thebullishbitcoiner OP 28 Dec 2024

Thanks Darth. Never gave much thought to the load that Bitcoin Core and an LN node can put on a machine. Maybe that’s why the Start9 I had always seemed to be choking (e.g. always trying to sync but never quite getting there).

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @SwapMarket 28 Dec 2024

I agree about neutrino, but could not find any btcd node to connect to on testnet3. Do you know any?

42 sats \ 5 replies \ @SwapMarket 28 Dec 2024

I find old Umbrel 0.5.4 a better alternative than the new Umbrel 1.3. You can install and update apps from the store, but also run your own with systemd. Umbrel 1.3 deletes them on each version upgrade. Unfortunately, 0.5.4 installer is no longer published. Start9 is even more restrictive...

0 sats \ 4 replies \ @thebullishbitcoiner OP 28 Dec 2024

Good to know. I’m not familiar with Umbrel, but does the option to side load apps on Start9 help?

0 sats \ 3 replies \ @SwapMarket 28 Dec 2024

do you mean the community app store? the choices are limited, because it is very hard to package an app to run with start9

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @thebullishbitcoiner OP 28 Dec 2024

Ah yeah I think that’s what I’m referring to. Although, I remember downloading a .s9pk file and installing Alby Hub outside of the community store when it first came out.

7 sats \ 1 reply \ @SwapMarket 28 Dec 2024

.s9pk

is a Start9 package. only the most motivated devs can produce one. much more work than adding an app to the Umbrel store

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @thebullishbitcoiner OP 28 Dec 2024

Gotcha. An npub I follow just posted about submitting an app to the registry.

42 sats \ 0 replies \ @SimpleStacker 28 Dec 2024

I run both a "raw dog" node on dedicated hardware, as well as an Alby Desktop node from my windows desktop.

The "raw dog" node was mostly for educational purposes, and the Alby one is for convenience.

32 sats \ 0 replies \ @skhron 28 Dec 2024 freebie

I believe that BTCPayServer is another common option amongst merchants

21 sats \ 0 replies \ @028559d218 28 Dec 2024

In my experience Umbrel out-of-the-box works pretty good. Never had any performance issues or 'sync' issues... and the core slew of apps (core, lightning, joinmarket, mempool explorer, RTL) work really well.

This stuff shouldn't be and can't be technical... it should just work out of the box with no issues for mass adoption to continue +1

21 sats \ 0 replies \ @Skipper 28 Dec 2024

I run a private LN node on my phone with Zeus Wallet. It's not always online (to save battery).

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @94ed06f9af 28 Dec 2024 freebie

Umbrel-alby-zeus *chefskiss