Bitcoind Ubuntu Setup

N. P. O'Donnell, 2021

Getting Bitcoind

ARCH=x86_64
BITCOIN_VERSION=0.21.0
wget https://bitcoin.org/bin/bitcoin-core-$BITCOIN_VERSION/bitcoin-$BITCOIN_VERSION-$ARCH-linux-gnu.tar.gz

Check File Integrity

wget https://bitcoin.org/bin/bitcoin-core-$BITCOIN_VERSION/SHA256SUMS.asc
grep bitcoin-$BITCOIN_VERSION-$ARCH-linux-gnu.tar.gz SHA256SUMS.asc | sha256sum --check

Extract Files and Copy

tar -xf bitcoin-$BITCOIN_VERSION-$ARCH-linux-gnu.tar.gz
sudo cp -R bitcoin-$BITCOIN_VERSION/* /usr/

Create `bitcoin` User

sudo adduser bitcoin

Create Config File

Config File:

rpcallowip=127.0.0.1
rpcuser=someuser
rpcpassword=somepass

Make bitcoin data dir:

sudo mkdir -p /etc/bitcoin

Save the config file to /etc/bitcoin/bitcoind.conf

Create Unit File

Edit unit file by typing:

sudo systemctl edit --force --full bitcoind.service

Copy-paste the following unit file:

# It is not recommended to modify this file in-place, because it will
# be overwritten during package upgrades. If you want to add further
# options or overwrite existing ones then use
# $ systemctl edit bitcoind.service
# See "man systemd.service" for details.

# Note that almost all daemon options could be specified in
# /etc/bitcoin/bitcoin.conf, but keep in mind those explicitly
# specified as arguments in ExecStart= will override those in the
# config file.

[Unit]
Description=Bitcoin daemon
Documentation=https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/blob/master/doc/init.md

# https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/systemd/NetworkTarget/
After=network-online.target
Wants=network-online.target

[Service]
ExecStart=/usr/bin/bitcoind -daemon \
                            -pid=/run/bitcoind/bitcoind.pid \
                            -conf=/etc/bitcoin/bitcoin.conf \
                            -datadir=/var/lib/bitcoind

# Make sure the config directory is readable by the service user
PermissionsStartOnly=true
ExecStartPre=/bin/chgrp bitcoin /etc/bitcoin

# Process management
####################

Type=forking
PIDFile=/run/bitcoind/bitcoind.pid
Restart=on-failure
TimeoutStopSec=600

# Directory creation and permissions
####################################

# Run as bitcoin:bitcoin
User=bitcoin
Group=bitcoin

# /run/bitcoind
RuntimeDirectory=bitcoind
RuntimeDirectoryMode=0710

# /etc/bitcoin
ConfigurationDirectory=bitcoin
ConfigurationDirectoryMode=0710

# /var/lib/bitcoind
StateDirectory=bitcoind
StateDirectoryMode=0710

# Hardening measures
####################

# Provide a private /tmp and /var/tmp.
PrivateTmp=true

# Mount /usr, /boot/ and /etc read-only for the process.
ProtectSystem=full

# Deny access to /home, /root and /run/user
ProtectHome=true

# Disallow the process and all of its children to gain
# new privileges through execve().
NoNewPrivileges=true

# Use a new /dev namespace only populated with API pseudo devices
# such as /dev/null, /dev/zero and /dev/random.
PrivateDevices=true

# Deny the creation of writable and executable memory mappings.
MemoryDenyWriteExecute=true

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Save the unit file.

Starting the Service

sudo systemctl enable bitcoind
sudo systemctl start bitcoind

You may want to reboot the machine at this point.

Check service is running:

sudo systemctl status bitcoind

Ensure you see active (running)

Tailing the Logs

You can check on the status of blockchain sync (and any other issues) with the command:

sudo -u bitcoin tail -f /var/lib/bitcoind/debug.log

Configuring `bitcoin-cli`

echo -e "rpcuser=someuser\nrpcpassword=somepass" > /home/$USER/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf

Test bitcoin-cli:

bitcoin-cli help

If you see the help commands then you've successfully connected to the local daemon.

npodonnell/bitcoind_ubuntu_setup.md