Syncing a public node - cogeorg/teaching GitHub Wiki

Obviously, you can also use geth to connect to a public network by running a node, either on a test network or the Mainnet.

Running a Ropsten Node

Ropsten is a public proof-of-work Ethereum test network.

Create a folder that will contain the database and the accounts for your Ropsten node

$ mkdir -p Ethereum/ropsten
$ cd Ethereum/ropsten

Now run

$ geth --testnet --datadir "." --syncmode "fast" --rpc --rpcapi db,eth,net,web3,personal,admin --rpcport 8545

It will sync the data within the ropsten directory.

You may want to choose another syncmode, depending on you trust needs:

--syncmode light: Synchronizes block headers for a light client with the Ethereum network using the Light Ethereum Subprotocol (LES) starting at a trusted checkpoint inserted by the developers
--syncmode fast: Synchronizes a full node doing a fast synchronization by downloading the entire state database, requesting the headers first, and filling in block bodies and receipts afterward.
--syncmode full: Synchronizes a full node starting at genesis verifying all blocks and executing all transactions. This mode is a bit slower than the fast sync mode but comes with increased security.

Running a Rinkeby Node

Rinkeby is a public proof-of-authority Ethereum test network.

Create a folder that will contain the database and the accounts for your Rinkeby node

$ mkdir -p Ethereum/rinkeby
$ cd Ethereum/rinkeby

Now run

$ geth --rinkeby --datadir "." --syncmode "fast" --rpc --rpcapi db,eth,net,web3,personal,admin --rpcport 8545

It will sync the data within the rinkeby directory.

Running a Mainnet Node

The main network uses the proof-of-work consensus algorithm.

Create a folder that will contain the database and the accounts for your Mainnet node

$ mkdir -p Ethereum/mainnet
$ cd Ethereum/mainnet

Now run

$ geth --datadir "." --syncmode "fast" --rpc --rpcapi db,eth,net,web3,personal,admin --rpcport 8545

Check geth --help to find out more about how to mine.

If you want to be able to run geth attach, also specify --ipcpath "~/.ethereum/geth.ipc" (Linux) or --ipcpath "~/Library/Ethereum/geth.ipc" (MacOS). However, keep in mind that it takes some time (and space!) to sync the nodes and only when that is finished, you can attach to them.