Running a Full Bitgesell Node on Raspberry Pi (5/ 4 Model B)

Introduction

Running a full Bitgesell node on a Raspberry Pi is now easier than ever! With a pre-built Docker image, you can get up and running without the hassle of compiling Bitgesell Core from source. Whether you have a previous Raspberry Pi model or the latest one, follow this guide to set up your node quickly and efficiently.

Why Run a Bitgesell Node on Raspberry Pi?

Raspberry Pi devices are energy-efficient and cost-effective, making them perfect for running a Bitgesell node. A node helps verify transactions, maintain decentralization, and support the Bitgesell network.

Prerequisites (1/2):

Before getting started with Bitgesell full node on your Raspberry Pi, ensure you have:

1. A single-board computer like Raspberry Pi (any model supporting ARM architecture)
2. At least 10 GB of storage space (grows over time as blockchain expands)
3. 500 MB RAM + 1 GB swap file
4. A stable internet connection for syncing and communication with other nodes

Prerequisites (2/2)

3. Setting Up Your Raspberry Pi

Before running the node, set up your Raspberry Pi by following this setup guide.

4. Installing Docker on Raspberry Pi

Docker simplifies the deployment process. Install Docker on your Raspberry Pi using this quick guide.

5. Quick Start with Docker

Once Docker is set up, follow these steps to run your Bitgesell node.

Once the above are set, let's now set up a full Bitgesell Node on our Raspberry PI!

1. Pull the Docker Image

Run the following command on your Raspberry Pi to download the pre-built Bitgesell node image:

docker pull naftalimurgor/bgld-arm

2. Run the Bitgesell Node

Start the node using:

 docker run -dp 8454:8454 naftalimurgor/bgld-arm

This command maps the necessary ports and runs the node in detached mode.

3. Quick One-Liner Setup (Ubuntu 20.04 LTS)

If you are running Ubuntu 20.04 LTS on your Raspberry Pi, you can set up your node with a single command:

curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/naftalimurgor/bgld-arm-docker/master/bootstrap-host.sh | sh

This script enables JSON-RPC on localhost and adds an upstart init script for auto-starting the node.

Verifying Your Node

Once your node is running, confirm its status with:

docker ps

This should output details about the running container, including its status and mapped ports:

CONTAINER ID   IMAGE                COMMAND   CREATED         STATUS         PORTS                                                 NAMES
304e5a74a539   naftalimurgor/bgld-arm   "bgld-arm"    5 seconds ago   Up 3 seconds   0.0.0.0:8454->8454/tcp, :::8454->8454/tcp, 8455/tcp   naughty_greider

Monitoring Node Logs

Check real-time logs of your Bitgesell node with:

docker logs -f bgld-arm

Additional Setup

For optional init scripts (Upstart and systemd), check the init directory in the repository.

Documentation

For more details and advanced configurations, visit the documentation folder.

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Setting up a Bitgesell node on a Raspberry Pi is now easier than ever with Docker. Whether you're using an older model or the latest Raspberry Pi, follow this guide to contribute to the decentralization of the Bitgesell network effortlessly!