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Keith Mukai 2y ago

Best option* for running your own bitcoin full node:

* Used bare-bones used ThinkPad w/8GB RAM

* Replace ssd w/cheap 2TB nvme

* Run it as some flavor of linux

For $220 you have a solid enough machine WITH a screen, a keyboard, and -- super-important -- a BATTERY (y'all underestimate what a power outage can do to your Raspi).

Has enough storage onboard to not have to prune blocks. And enough RAM(?) to run more intense services like a Lightning node.

In other words: @npub1pfezegswrn8lpt0aerp2hvyhj4lsuzln9kcccs5p7qch2m2sawxsxcelvf is right!

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*(best guess. I haven't built this combo myself but tempted to)

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:P 2y ago

Going to use this set up for my next node/relay! Thanks for sharing!

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Keith Mukai 2y ago

Awesome! Def let me know how it goes.

Next question is: which flavor of linux? I only interact with linux over a terminal so I don't know which GUI I'd want to run. Ubuntu?

And are there any linux pitfalls (e.g. incompatibility with laptop hardware X)?

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:P 2y ago

I have Ubuntu running now on a VPS so probably will stick with that and plan to run proxmox

What do you think of proxmox?!

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Keith Mukai 2y ago

I've never used it, but people deeper into linux than me have mentioned it so... that's... some kind of data point?

@npub1r7psmkr4zv93xnal8un6d8hvmpsn5jvhfzn3kk38rfcel6awznks7znspg

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Dimi 2y ago

I absolutely recommend a hypervisor! Adding an extra abstraction layer is very powerful & helps to better separate workloads. Sometimes containers are more appropriate, sometimes full vms are, and proxmox gives you the flexibility to do both.

My dayjob uses ESX, and I was able to migrate a vm to proxmox with barely any work.

The gui sucks, but the product is great.

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Dimi 2y ago

Also, “deeper into Linux than me” lol. That’s bizarre to hear since I’m coming from the windows & related closed source tech stack world 🤣

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CruisingLevel 2y ago

I have been running Umbrel for over two years on an Ubuntu VM on Proxmox. It's stable, sometimes it runs for months until I reboot after an OS update. However, recently there has been talk of Umbrel frequently sending the server IP address to Umbrel HQ. I am switching to Start9, IBD is running.

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21 Stackage 🦡 2y ago

I wonder if I can do this with OpenBSD...I might use this as an opportunity to dip my toes into that

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Zoltan ⚡️ 2y ago

I'm using an RPI4 with UPS for more than 4 years without any failure. LN works perfectly. This is such an overkill unless you want to have a bunch of channels, instead of a few dozen.

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Keith Mukai 2y ago

But if you were buying the components today, would you be saving much in comparison? And are Raspi4 available again or still supply chain hell?

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Ace 2y ago

You can also run a proper Sparrow setup on the Linux laptop. To my knowledge you can't run Sparrow on a RPi node.

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Zoltan ⚡️ 2y ago

You can always buy two RPI4 (I have one for movies) or from the difference just buy some sats and that will compensate for force-closure channels or any future hardware failures.

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Keith Mukai 2y ago

Still supply chain hell. And just not worth $75 compared to what's available on the used mini PC or laptop market.

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Zoltan ⚡️ 2y ago

Ok, then compare the size and the power usage too. Still I think its an overkill. And it's not fair to compare a used laptop (which wear is unknown) to a brand new stuff. BTW where I checked its on stock.

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. 2y ago

Had no idea you could get a 2tb nvme ssd so cheap

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Keith Mukai 2y ago

It's not Gen 4 so not max speed, but more than good enough and certainly WAY faster than my Raspi with an SSD connected via usb!

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Mr Jims 2y ago

Almost the exact setup I have! The only suggestion I would add: install proxmox on the laptop first and set up your node as a VM. Then it’s as simple as migrating/copying your VM over to another host when repairing/replacing hardware.

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Keith Mukai 2y ago

Interesting. What's the learning curve like? I'm already almost 100% Docker for local dev; presumably there are some parallels.

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Dimi 2y ago

Just do it

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Mr Jims 2y ago

It’s not too bad if you already have some virtualized computing. In my case, I have used Virtualbox, VMware, etc in the past so the concepts transferred pretty easily. Might be a steeper learning curve if you’re new to all of that. But I think it’s worth checking out. Eliminates the need to reinstall when upgrading and also allows live backups of the entire virtual machine.

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Mr Jims 2y ago

I would think that if you can understand and work with Docker, Proxmox shouldn’t be an issue.

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Keith Mukai 2y ago

That all being said, when I totally failed to successfully clone a Windows 10 C: drive, it was pretty damn liberating to just start from scratch and completely reinstall the OS. I just didn't have enough configured on that Windows box (I barely ever use it) to fuss any further about preserving it.

A virgin Windows install is as good as it's ever going to get; the whole mess unravels more and more each time you use it and install more crap.

A linux install, though... mebbe there's more worth saving there.

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b1tb0nus 2y ago

Cool, weekend setup 😎 added to my list