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

Replies (27)

puzzles 's avatar
puzzles 2 years ago
Going to use this set up for my next node/relay! Thanks for sharing!
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)?
puzzles 's avatar
puzzles 2 years 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?!
I've never used it, but people deeper into linux than me have mentioned it so... that's... some kind of data point? @npub1r7psmkr4zv93xnal8un6d8hvmpsn5jvhfzn3kk38rfcel6awznks7znspg
Dimi's avatar
Dimi 2 years 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.
Dimi's avatar
Dimi 2 years 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 🤣
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.
You can also run a proper Sparrow setup on the Linux laptop. To my knowledge you can't run Sparrow on a RPi node.
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.
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.
.'s avatar
. 2 years ago
Had no idea you could get a 2tb nvme ssd so cheap
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.
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.
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.