What is a Bitcoin full node?
A full node is a program that fully validates transactions and blocks. Almost all full nodes also help the network by accepting transactions and blocks from other full nodes, validating those transactions and blocks, and then relaying them to further full nodes.
Why setup a full node?
Running a full node is the only way you can use Bitcoin in a trust-less way.
Full nodes are currently the most private and secure way to use Bitcoin.
Full nodes enforce the consensus rules in Bitcoin Network
Everyone who is not running a full node has to depend on others which is the opposite of what Bitcoin is all about.
How to setup a full node?
There are many guides online you might find by searching on Google, so I will just share few links I found useful. Best way is to use a raspberry pi of your own to run a bitcoin full node.
What is a Lightning Network node?
Lightning Network is a “second layer” payment protocol (network of bidirectional payment channels) that operates on top of a blockchain which is compatible with LN (Bitcoin, Litecoin, etc.). It enables instant transactions between participating nodes and has been touted as a solution to the bitcoin scaling issues.
Why setup LN node?
Help the network
Earn small incentives
How to setup a Lightning Network node on testnet?
Install Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS. Download from https://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop.
If you are just looking to test, start with a fresh install from a virtual machine.
You can use https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads and the ISO above.
Install go
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:longsleep/golang-backports
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install golang-go
Open file manager. Click View -> Show hidden files. Browse to /home/ and open .bashrc. Add the following lines to the bottom and save.
export GOPATH=~/gocode
export PATH=$PATH:$GOPATH/bin
Restart terminal (close then open new one)
Install glide
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:masterminds/glide && sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install glide
Install git
$ sudo apt-get install git
Install LND
$ git clone https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd $GOPATH/src/github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd
$ cd $GOPATH/src/github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd
$ glide install
$ go install . ./cmd/…
Updating (not required after fresh install):
$ cd $GOPATH/src/github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd
$ git pull && glide install
$ go install . ./cmd/…
Start btcd
$ btcd — testnet — txindex — rpcuser=kek — rpcpass=kek
Wait for it to sync.
Commands
Create new address (this will be the onchain address you fund channels from)
$ lncli newaddress np2wkh
{
“address”: <MY_DEPOSIT_ADDRESS>
}
Send some testnet BTC to this address using a faucet such as https://testnet.manu.backend.hamburg/faucet
$ lncli getinfo
{
— — ->”identity_pubkey”: <MY_PUBKEY>,
“alias”: “”,
“num_pending_channels”: 0,
“num_active_channels”: 0,
“num_peers”: 0,
“block_height”: 450,
“block_hash”: “2a84b7a2c3be81536ef92cf382e37ab77f7cfbcf229f7d553bb2abff3e86231c”,
“synced_to_chain”: true,
“testnet”: false,
“chains”: [
“bitcoin”
]
}
$ lncli connect <TARGET_PUBKEY>@<IP:PORT>
{
“peer_id”: 0
}
If you don’t include port, it will just use the default one. With LND you have to connect to the target before opening a channel with them.
$ lncli listpeers
{
“peers”: [
{
“pub_key”: <TARGET_PUBKEY>,
“peer_id”: 1,
“address”: “127.0.0.1:10012”,
“bytes_sent”: “292”,
“bytes_recv”: “292”,
“sat_sent”: “0”,
“sat_recv”: “0”,
“inbound”: true,
“ping_time”: “0”
}
]
}
$ lncli openchannel — node_key=<TARGET_PUBKEY> — local_amt=<SATOSHIS_TO_COMMIT_TO_CHANNEL>
full options see:
$ lncli openchannel — help
$ lncli listchannels
{
“channels”: [
{
“active”: true,
“remote_pubkey”: <BOB_PUBKEY>,
“channel_point”: “2622b779a8acca471a738b0796cd62e4457b79b33265cbfa687aadccc329023a:0”,
“chan_id”: “495879744192512”,
“capacity”: “1000000”,
“local_balance”: “991312”,
“remote_balance”: “0”,
“commit_fee”: “8688”,
“commit_weight”: “600”,
“fee_per_kw”: “12000”,
“unsettled_balance”: “0”,
“total_satoshis_sent”: “0”,
“total_satoshis_received”: “0”,
“num_updates”: “0”
}
]
}
$ lncli addinvoice — value=<REQUESTED_SATOSHIS>
{
“r_hash”: “<a_random_rhash_value>”,
“pay_req”: “<ENCODED_INVOICE>”,
}
Copy the <ENCODED_INVOICE> and give to whoever you want to receive payment from.
$ lncli sendpayment — pay_req=<ENCODED_INVOICE>
{
“payment_preimage”: “baf6929fc95b3824fb774a4b75f6c8a1ad3aaef04efbf26cc064904729a21e28”,
“payment_route”: {
“total_time_lock”: 1,
“total_amt”: 10000,
“hops”: [
{
“chan_id”: 495879744192512,
“chan_capacity”: 1000000,
“amt_to_forward”: 10000
}
]
}
}
$ = copy following text to paste into terminal
{ blah blah } = terminal output from a command
Replace outputs with an example output to a testnet address.
Reference links and other useful articles:
Special Thanks to “Roza” for helping me with the steps to run to a Lightning Network node.
