Installing Bitcoin Daemon on CentOS Linux

When setting up a Drupal e-commerce solution that accepts Bitcoins as payments via a payment gateway, a functioning Bitcoin daemon is crucial for smooth transactions. In this article, we will walk you through the process of installing and configuring the Bitcoin daemon on CentOS Linux.

What is a Bitcoin daemon?

The Bitcoin daemon, also known as Bitcoin Core (BTCHD), is the software that manages the Bitcoin network and allows users to mine or participate in the mining process. It is essential for validating transactions and maintaining the integrity of the blockchain.

Prerequisites:

Before installing the Bitcoin daemon, make sure your CentOS Linux system meets the following requirements:

• Operating System: CentOS Linux 7 (or later)

• CPU Architecture: x86-64

• RAM: 2 GB or more

• Network Interface: Ethernet or Wi-Fi

• MySQL Server (optional): to store Bitcoin-related data

Step-by-step Installation and Configuration

• Update the package list and install the required dependencies

sudo yum update -y
sudo yum install -y epel-release

sudo yum install -y bitcoinctl

• Run the Bitcoin daemon in the background

sudo systemctl start btchd --now

• Enable and start the Bitcoin daemon at boot time (optional)

sudo chkconfig btchd on
sudo systemctl enable btchd

Configuring the Bitcoin daemon

To configure the Bitcoin daemon, you will need to edit the following files:

• “/etc/bitcoin.conf”.

• “/var/log/bitcoin.log” (if configured)

Step-by-step configuration instructions:

1. Step 2: Edit /etc/bitcoin.conf

sudo nano -r /etc/bitcoin.conf

Replace the existing configuration with the following settings:

Bitcoin daemon configuration
server = 127.0.0.1
port = 8332

This sets the server address to ‘127.0.0.1’ (localhost) and the port number to ‘8332’.

Step 2: Edit /var/log/bitcoin.log

sudo nano -r /var/log/bitcoin.log

Add the following settings:

Bitcoin daemon logging configuration
level = error

This sets the log level to ‘error’, which will help troubleshoot potential problems.

Step 3: Start the Bitcoin daemon with the new configuration

sudo systemctl start btchd --now

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Troubleshooting

If you encounter any problems during the installation or configuration process, see below.

• Check the Bitcoin daemon logs for any error messages.

• Make sure your MySQL server (if using) is configured correctly and has sufficient balance to validate transactions.

With these steps, you should now have a working Bitcoin daemon installed on CentOS Linux that will enable smooth Bitcoin payments through your Drupal e-commerce solution. Happy coding!