Fun & learning which crypto software for my Raspberry Pi 5

[arabspaceship123]

Raspiblitz
Umbrel
myNode

I've ordered my Raspberry Pi 5 with 8GB RAM. I'll use my 1TB Silicon Power 2.5 SSD to connect with USB cable. If I'm happy with the setup I'll buy an Argon case to house the Pi & new internal m.2 1TB 2280.

I'd like to run my node with LN & Electrum EPS. I've downloaded the full blockchain on the 1TB Silicon Power 2.5 SSD so it'll be ready when the software's installed on my RPi5. If you've installed them which software will you recommended ?

[apogio]

Funny enough, but I won't suggest any of the above options 

My favorite ones have been:

• RaspiBolt: especially for learning. RaspiBolt a spectacular DIY project which requires a technical skills, but offers great knowledge and flexibility in return.
• Start9 OS: from the ready-to-go node options, I suggest this suite of programs. It's incredibly well maintained and much more flexible than the ones you 've mentioned.

[arabspaceship123]

It's why I didn't put RaspiBolt at top. When's the last time you used StartOS? Github's saying StartOS is in beta. It lacks features. It doesn't always work perfectly. Start9 servers are not plug and play. Using them properly requires some effort and patience. Please do not use StartOS or purchase a server if you are unable or unwilling to follow instructions and learn new concepts.

Funny enough, but I won't suggest any of the above options 

My favorite ones have been:

• RaspiBolt: especially for learning. RaspiBolt a spectacular DIY project which requires a technical skills, but offers great knowledge and flexibility in return.
• Start9 OS: from the ready-to-go node options, I suggest this suite of programs. It's incredibly well maintained and much more flexible than the ones you 've mentioned.

[apogio]

It's why I didn't put RaspiBolt at top. When's the last time you used StartOS? Github's saying StartOS is in beta. It lacks features. It doesn't always work perfectly. Start9 servers are not plug and play. Using them properly requires some effort and patience. Please do not use StartOS or purchase a server if you are unable or unwilling to follow instructions and learn new concepts.

Must have been approximately 2 years ago. Perhpaps a little less. I remember I used to have both a bitcoin and a monero node, I also had robosats and LND.
That's a very good video tutorial if you wish to follow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKBJ3_3ZomU&list=PLxdf8G0kzsUXSgv6TahOzg5mhNNprVKjM&index=3

So, since both my options weren't suitable, I 'd suggest Umbrel, because it's one of the most common node suites out there. In fact, it must be the most used suite.

[arabspaceship123]

2 year's a long time what are you using now? Umbrel's a popular choice I'm on Raspiblitz's & Umbrel's git pages. Raspberry Pi isn't recommended by Start9. DO NOT USE A RASPBERRY PI FOR RUNNING BITCOIN SOFTWARE! You will have a bad time. The pi is a great choice for other use cases, such as file storage, password management, git hosting, etc.

Must have been approximately 2 years ago. Perhpaps a little less. I remember I used to have both a bitcoin and a monero node, I also had robosats and LND.
That's a very good video tutorial if you wish to follow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKBJ3_3ZomU&list=PLxdf8G0kzsUXSgv6TahOzg5mhNNprVKjM&index=3

So, since both my options weren't suitable, I 'd suggest Umbrel, because it's one of the most common node suites out there. In fact, it must be the most used suite.

[apogio]

2 year's a long time what are you using now? Umbrel's a popular choice I'm on Raspiblitz's & Umbrel's git pages.

I am using:

(a) raspbibolt as my main full node
(b) bitcoin core as a wallet in a pruned node

In general, what I used to dislike with Umbrel, was that they have imported multiple tools in the suite that aren't bitcoin-related.

[ABCbits]

I'll use my 1TB Silicon Power 2.5 SSD to connect with USB cable.

1TB is a bit tight to run Bitcoin Core without pruning, since my Bitcoin Core takes almost 700GB (blocks and chainstate directory) and almost 70GB (index directory, which is optional feature). And if that SSD is cheap one with QLC NAND, you may experience noticeable slow-down when Bitcoin Core (or other software) perform intense I/O write.

But for fun and learning, you shouldn't face major problem.

[apogio]

1TB is a bit tight to run Bitcoin Core without pruning, since my Bitcoin Core takes almost 700GB (blocks and chainstate directory) and almost 70GB (index directory, which is optional feature).

And it's also worth mentioning that the chain's size increases rapidly, making 1TB not suitable for long-term.

According to Jameson Lopp's Bitcoin 2024 annual review:

During 2024 the Bitcoin blockchain grew from 537.9 GB to 626.5 GB

Pretty big increase, isn't it?

[arabspaceship123]

I am using:

(a) raspbibolt as my main full node
(b) bitcoin core as a wallet in a pruned node

It's a cool setup.

1TB is a bit tight to run Bitcoin Core without pruning, since my Bitcoin Core takes almost 700GB (blocks and chainstate directory) and almost 70GB (index directory, which is optional feature). And if that SSD is cheap one with QLC NAND, you may experience noticeable slow-down when Bitcoin Core (or other software) perform intense I/O write.

But for fun and learning, you shouldn't face major problem.

I've got 682GB in blocks & 11GB in chainstate folders. There's 953GB available. Mine's a 1TB Silicon Power A55 3D NAND SLC 2.5 SSD. If I'm happy with the RPi5 setup I'm going to buy an Argon case for internal m.2 2280 SSD. If I'm able to find a low price 2TB m.2 I'll use it.

I've mentioned the 1TB Silicon Power 2.5 SSD I/O problems in my review Fun & learning Bitcoin blockchain downloaded on 1TB Silicon Power 2.5 SSD. It's a cheap SSD but it's worked successfully.

And it's also worth mentioning that the chain's size increases rapidly, making 1TB not suitable for long-term.

According to Jameson Lopp's Bitcoin 2024 annual review:

During 2024 the Bitcoin blockchain grew from 537.9 GB to 626.5 GB

Pretty big increase, isn't it?

It's a big increase. Any size disk's going to work for pruned blockchains but 2TB's recommended for full blockchain downloads.

[Pablo-wood]

I've got 682GB in blocks & 11GB in chainstate folders. There's 953GB available. Mine's a 1TB Silicon Power A55 3D NAND SLC 2.5 SSD. If I'm happy with the RPi5 setup I'm going to buy an Argon case for internal m.2 2280 SSD. If I'm able to find a low price 2TB m.2 I'll use it.

With the 953GB you are fine and set for the next two years if the chain's size maintains 90GB increase per year. Argon case for internal m.2 2280 SSD will obviously provide better cooling and compact setup when you upgrade to 2TB m.2.

And it's also worth mentioning that the chain's size increases rapidly, making 1TB not suitable for long-term.

According to Jameson Lopp's Bitcoin 2024 annual review:

During 2024 the Bitcoin blockchain grew from 537.9 GB to 626.5 GB

Pretty big increase, isn't it?

That's over 90GB increase which is  way too big, if Blockchain continues to grow significantly like this 2TB might not be sustainable for a period of 5-6 years that is when running an unpruned Blockchain since the current bitcoin Blockchain size is around 770GB( blocks + chain state directory + index directory).

[apogio]

That's over 90GB increase which is  way too big, if Blockchain continues to grow significantly like this 2TB might not be sustainable for a period of 5-6 years that is when running an unpruned Blockchain since the current bitcoin Blockchain size is around 770GB( blocks + chain state directory + index directory).

The devs have done a good progress in reducing transaction sizes and making bitcoin nodes more sustainable.
Satoshi's original purpose must have been to make it easy for any entity (individual or not) to run a node.
Satoshi specifically mentioned that the number 2,100,000,000,000,000 (or 2.1 quadrillion) satoshis was decided after a long thought and considering many aspects both technological and financial.
I guess that the whole system was designed with a long-term view.

So, to respond to your note, I agree that 2TB may not be sustainable for 5-6 years, but with the increasing speed in technology, the price for a higher capacity storage disk won't affect negatively (at least I suppose so).

[arabspaceship123]

It's a cool to save money on a new SSD by using my 1TB Silicon Power 2.5 SSD. It's free space's going to last for years because there's 693GB used so it's got 260GB free. I'll use it with my RPi5 when it's sent. If it's a good experience I'll buy the Argon case & 2TB 2280 SSD.

With the 953GB you are fine and set for the next two years if the chain's size maintains 90GB increase per year. Argon case for internal m.2 2280 SSD will obviously provide better cooling and compact setup when you upgrade to 2TB m.2.

[odolvlobo]

• RaspiBolt: especially for learning. RaspiBolt a spectacular DIY project which requires a technical skills, but offers great knowledge and flexibility in return.

I would have recommended Raspibolt, but the Raspibolt guide is still incompatible with the latest RPi OS that is based on Debian Bookworm.

... DO NOT USE A RASPBERRY PI FOR RUNNING BITCOIN SOFTWARE! You will have a bad time...

That advice is many years outdated and their other recommendations are off -- "Don't use an SSD", for example.

[arabspaceship123]

It isn't outdated it's on the start9 site as latest info.

... DO NOT USE A RASPBERRY PI FOR RUNNING BITCOIN SOFTWARE! You will have a bad time...

That's many years outdated and their other recommendations are off -- "Don't use an SSD", for example.

[Cricktor]

It's a cool to save money on a new SSD by using my 1TB Silicon Power 2.5 SSD. It's free space's going to last for years because there's 693GB used so it's got 260GB free. I'll use it with my RPi5 when it's sent. If it's a good experience I'll buy the Argon case & 2TB 2280 SSD.

I'm running a very minimal Raspibolt with Tor and Bitcoin Core only on a Raspi 4B with 8GB RAM and a 1TB HDD (yes, it's slower but I didn't have to do the initial blockchain download with it). OS is as far as I remember RaspiOS without GUI, it feels very Debian like.

I think you have wrong assumptions about available free space. Here's reality of my node:

Code:

admin@raspibolt:~ $ df
Filesystem     1K-blocks      Used Available Use% Mounted on
/dev/root      961255632 815799356 106364788  89% /
devtmpfs         3735168         0   3735168   0% /dev
tmpfs            3999392         0   3999392   0% /dev/shm
tmpfs            1599760       828   1598932   1% /run
tmpfs               5120         4      5116   1% /run/lock
/dev/sda1         258095     31156    226940  13% /boot
tmpfs             799876         0    799876   0% /run/user/1000
tmpfs             799876         0    799876   0% /run/user/1001

admin@raspibolt:~/.bitcoin $ sudo du -d 2 -h
11G	./indexes/blockfilter
57G	./indexes/txindex
67G	./indexes
12G	./chainstate
123M	./blocks/index
688G	./blocks
109M	./wallets/backups
91M	./wallets/watch_patoshi-time
199M	./wallets
767G	.

With normal growth of blockchain it might last for about a year until free space becomes uncomfortably small, definitely not for years.

[arabspaceship123]

I'm running a very minimal Raspibolt with Tor and Bitcoin Core only on a Raspi 4B with 8GB RAM and a 1TB HDD (yes, it's slower but I didn't have to do the initial blockchain download with it). OS is as far as I remember RaspiOS without GUI, it feels very Debian like.

You've transferred it from existing drives to your HDD ?

With normal growth of blockchain it might last for about a year until free space becomes uncomfortably small, definitely not for years.

My RPi5 wasn't delivered. I've arranged to buy it from a new source I'm hoping it'll arrive soon. I'll use my 1TB Silicon Power 2.5 SSD to connect it with USB cable to practice using the pi. The blockchain download's increasing so I'll buy m.2 2TB 2280 & Argon case if I'm feeling confident about using the pi for long time.

[Cricktor]

All my Raspis are currently 4Bs with 8GB RAM. My oldest node ran on RaspiBlitz with a 1TB SSD connected via USB3 to the Raspi 4B.
Then I also have an Umbrel node on another Raspi 4B to experiment with. Call me a Raspi Bitcoin node junkie.

I will likely soon grab a Raspi 5 with 16GB RAM, maybe as Compute Module 5, and build something nice with a 2 or 4TB NVMe SSD. This will likely be my goto Electrum server, Bitcoin Core, whatnotelse node, also running a local copy of mempool.space as Bitcoin explorer. Should be fun...

You've transferred it from existing drives to your HDD ?

Yes, I likely copied the blocks and chainstate folders from my Umbrel node (Bitcoin Core was shut down before copying!) for my Raspibolt on HDD.

[arabspaceship123]

All my Raspis are currently 4Bs with 8GB RAM. My oldest node ran on RaspiBlitz with a 1TB SSD connected via USB3 to the Raspi 4B.
Then I also have an Umbrel node on another Raspi 4B to experiment with. Call me a Raspi Bitcoin node junkie.

I will likely soon grab a Raspi 5 with 16GB RAM, maybe as Compute Module 5, and build something nice with a 2 or 4TB NVMe SSD. This will likely be my goto Electrum server, Bitcoin Core, whatnotelse node, also running a local copy of mempool.space as Bitcoin explorer. Should be fun...

How many Pi's do you own ?

Using copied blocks & chainstate folder to transfer from one to other drive would've saved you days of downloading the blochchain. I'm going to copy my bitcoin blocks & chainstate folders from my 1TB Silicon Power 2.5 SSD to the new m.2 drive when I buy it.

Yes, I likely copied the blocks and chainstate folders from my Umbrel node (Bitcoin Core was shut down before copying!) for my Raspibolt on HDD.

Using copied blocks & chainstate folder to transfer from one to other drive would've saved you days of downloading the blockchain. I'm going to copy the bitcoin blocks & chainstate folders from my 1TB Silicon Power 2.5 SSD to the new m.2 drive when I buy it.

[ABCbits]

I don't know why i didn't mention it earlier, but mini PC (one with Intel N100 or similar CPU) could be better than Pi 5. While it's less fun for experiment or certain type of programming, it's CPU is somewhat faster with better storage connectivity (most mini PC have at least one M.2 slot) and wider software/OS support (since it use x86 CPU).

I think you have wrong assumptions about available free space. Here's reality of my node:

Code:

admin@raspibolt:~ $ df
Filesystem     1K-blocks      Used Available Use% Mounted on
/dev/root      961255632 815799356 106364788  89% /
devtmpfs         3735168         0   3735168   0% /dev
tmpfs            3999392         0   3999392   0% /dev/shm
tmpfs            1599760       828   1598932   1% /run
tmpfs               5120         4      5116   1% /run/lock
/dev/sda1         258095     31156    226940  13% /boot
tmpfs             799876         0    799876   0% /run/user/1000
tmpfs             799876         0    799876   0% /run/user/1001

admin@raspibolt:~/.bitcoin $ sudo du -d 2 -h
11G	./indexes/blockfilter
57G	./indexes/txindex
67G	./indexes
12G	./chainstate
123M	./blocks/index
688G	./blocks
109M	./wallets/backups
91M	./wallets/watch_patoshi-time
199M	./wallets
767G	.

With normal growth of blockchain it might last for about a year until free space becomes uncomfortably small, definitely not for years.

Good point. It's easy to forget than storage company use decimal unit (1000) while computer use binary unit (1024) and some space reserved as over-provisioning , which makes 1TB storage actually have size about 900GB. Although it could be a bit longer if OP don't enable txindex.

[arabspaceship123]

I've used a different SSD for the chainstate folder. It adds speed to blockchain downloading with mklink symbolic links. I've done it on Win 11 Fun & learning with Bitcoin Core QT in Win 11 mklink chainstate error. If ppl want to use 1TB drives they'll free space for the blockchain download by keeping their chainstate folder on a different drive.

Good point. It's easy to forget than storage company use decimal unit (1000) while computer use binary unit (1024) and some space reserved as over-provisioning , which makes 1TB storage actually have size about 900GB. Although it could be a bit longer if OP don't enable txindex.