Blockchain Transfer Quick Start
Out of the common devices used for PiNodeXMR only the RockPro64 is powerful enough to give a convenient user experience when syncing the ~130GB Blockchain from scratch. For those of you that don't know it is not as simple as just downloading the file. The entire contents is verified by your node to ensure no rules were broken on your copy of the ledger. Doing this task takes a lot of processing power that these single board computers don't have.
Therefore, I strongly suggest you sync the blockchain on a PC/Laptop and we have created a few tools/options/examples to help you out so you can choose a method best suited to you:
Most efficient method Est time to transfer, less 3 hrs.
Although slightly slower than the copy/paste method below, this method gives some performance benefits. PiNodeXMR is a Linux based project and USB drive storage is best configured as format 'EXT4'.
On the PiNodeXMR plug in your USB device. Then from the terminal settings menu, run the USB helper script.
Once it is complete use the free program WinSCP to transfer the blockchain(entire lmdb folder to /home/pinodexmr/.bitmonero) with simple drag/drop.
Once transferred that's it, you're good to start your node.
_Probably the fastest method. Est time to transfer less 1 hr _
On your PC/Laptop download the Official Monero-GUI, let it start the daemon and store the blockchain. Wait until it is 100% sync'd. To avoid corrupting the blockchain (by the Monero-GUI still writing to it whilst you copy) close the Monero-GUI and tell the daemon to stop. Restart your PC/Laptop to ensure it has stopped.
On the PiNodeXMR plug in your USB device. Then from the terminal settings menu, run the USB helper script.
If your blockchain is being copied from a Windows computer then select 'NTFS' not 'ext4' when prompted.
Once this is complete, shut down your PiNodeXMR and remove the USB device.
Insert the USB drive into your PC/Laptop. Copy the Blockchain 'LMDB' folder directly onto the USB drive...
Note: In my example above I have my Blockchain in a custom location on my PC. By default on Windows the blockchain is dowloaded to C:\ProgramData\bitmonero\lmdb and is a hidden folder; but if you simply copy paste aforementioned path into your Windows explorer it will go to it.
Once copy is complete, plug the drive back in your PiNodeXMR and power it back on. It will auto-mount and be ready for use.
Good for users with limited disk space.
Very similar to the above method, except if you don't have room for the ~130GB blockchain on your PC/Laptop then:
- Configure the USB drive as shown above with the PiNodeXMR USB helper first.
- Then plug the drive into your PC/Laptop.
- Monero-GUI allows you to set a custom location for the blockchain. You can let your PC/Laptop sync directly to the USB drive.
- Ensure (once 100% sync'd) that the Monero daemon isn't writing to the USB drive. I recommend restarting/shutting down your PC/Laptop to be sure.
- Re-insert the USB drive into the PiNodeXMR. PiNodeXMR will need to be rebooted for the drive to auto-mount correctly.
That's it.
