ZelNode Advanced Guide | Build from Source

This guide walks through the setup to build a ZelNode from source, and uses the ZELmate (Swing) full node wallet as the Control Wallet

If you are unfamiliar with Linux/VPS/masternode setups, please follow the Easy Guide here

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Links:

Source Code Repository
ZELmate/Swing Full Node Wallet

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Notes:

Ubuntu 16.04.5 and 18.04.5 are supported. Other Linux distributions are not currently supported. Use at your own risk.
Before Getting Started <<-- Read about security implications
Benchmarking Scripts used by ZelCore <<-- Read about how benchmarking is performed
Selecting VPS/hardware <<-- Read notes on selecting hardware for ZelNodes
ZelNodes FAQ <<-- Self-explanatory

This guide assumes the following:

• Your VPS/hardware is stood up properly and ready to begin installing ZelNodes.
• You have your personal computer ready to install the control wallet.
• You have your collateral ready to send in the EXACT amount in ONE transaction.
• You know the basics of the Linux command line and terminal programs (like PuTTY)
• Dont copy the $ when pasting commands, it denotes a single command

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Secure your VPS with some basic steps:

1. Log into your VPS via your terminal program as root user.
2. Change your root password if not done already:
   $ passwd root
   Enter a new root password
   Confirm new root password
3. Create a new user:
   $ adduser [NEWUSERNAME]
   Enter new user password
   Confirm new user password
   Hit enter to skip through user information entry
   Confirm new user with Y
4. Grant new user with sudo permissions:
   $ usermod -aG sudo [NEWUSERNAME]
5. Log out of root, then log back in to VPS with your new username and password.

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Build ZelNode daemon from source on VPS

1. Update Linux sources
   $ sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade -y
2. Install dependencies

$ sudo apt-get install build-essential pkg-config libc6-dev m4 g++-multilib autoconf libtool ncurses-dev unzip git python python-zmq zlib1g-dev wget curl bsdmainutils automake nano

3. Clone the master repository
   $ sudo git clone https://github.com/zelcash/zelcash.git
4. Change to correct directory
   $ cd zelcash/
5. Start build script
   $ sudo ./zcutil/build.sh -j$(nproc)

The build process will take a long time. If the build is successful, you will see the following, and be back at the command prompt.

6. Generate the zelcash.conf file

mkdir ~/.zelcash
echo "rpcuser=username" >> ~/.zelcash/zelcash.conf
echo "rpcpassword=`head -c 32 /dev/urandom | base64`" >> ~/.zelcash/zelcash.conf
echo "rpcallowip=127.0.0.1" >> ~/.zelcash/zelcash.conf
echo "listen=1" >> ~/.zelcash/zelcash.conf
echo "server=1" >> ~/.zelcash/zelcash.conf
echo "daemon=1" >> ~/.zelcash/zelcash.conf
echo "txindex=1" >> ~/.zelcash/zelcash.conf
echo "logtimestamps=1" >> ~/.zelcash/zelcash.conf
echo "maxconnections=512" >> ~/.zelcash/zelcash.conf
echo "addnode=explorer.zel.cash" >> ~/.zelcash/zelcash.conf
echo "addnode=explorer.zel.zelcore.io" >> ~/.zelcash/zelcash.conf

7. Fetch proving keys
   $ sudo ./zcutil/fetch-params.sh
8. Download bootstrap and unzip
   $ cd ~/.zelcash/
$ wget https://zelcore.io/zelcashbootstraptxindex.zip
$ unzip zelcashbootstraptxindex.zip
$ rm zelcashbootstraptxindex.zip
$ cd ~/zelcash/
9. Start daemon and fully sync
   $ sudo ./src/zelcashd
   Allow time for blockchain to fully sync. Run the command below to check synced height and check against the ZelCash Block Explorer
   $ ./src/zelcash-cli getinfo
10. Shut down daemon to get ready to switch to Control Wallet setup
    $ ./src/zelcash-cli stop

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Now its time to set up the ZELmate (Swing) full node Control wallet here.
Copy the Zelnodeprivkey from the wallet setup into Notepad. You will need this key to finish VPS setup.

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Finish setting up the ZelNode after setting up Control Wallet

1. Add ZelNode info to zelcash.conf file
   $ sudo nano ~/.zelcash/zelcash.conf
   Add the lines below into the zelcash.conf file
   zelnode=1
zelnodeprivkey=[zelnodeprivkey copied from your Control Wallet] <<-- no brackets
   externalip=[VPS IP ADDRESS] <<--no brackets, no port
   bind=[VPS IP ADDRESS] <<--no brackets, no port
   CTRL+X, Y, Enter to save and close zelcash.conf
2. Start ZelNode daemon
   $ cd ~/zelcash/src/
$ sudo ./zelcashd
3. The daemon will launch and start benchmarking. This process takes about 5 minutes.
4. Get back to command prompt
   CTRL + X
5. Check your benchmark outputs
   $ ./zelcash-cli getnodebenchmarks
   Check the results against the required performance specifications here
6. Go back to your Control Wallet and start the ZelNode

• Starting the ZelNode requires at least 15 block confirmations. Allow 30+ minutes.
• You can check the status of your ZelNode on the VPS with command $ ./zelcash-cli getzelnodestatus
  
• You can also check the ZelNode Block Explorer page to see the status of your VPS (find your IP address).