satoshi-ninja/nodetracker

Zencash node tracker for secure and super nodes

nodetracker

ZenCash Secure And Super Node tracking app

This is installed on a Secure Node or a Super Node to allow it to communicate with its corresponding zensystem.io tracking server. It provides data to the server about the node and performs compliance challenges. Nodes that are in compliance receive a percentage of the block rewards. The tracking networks runs completely separate from the zencash network.

Each nodetracker must have

• a unique IP address (v4 or v6) also used by zend
• about 0.04 ZEN for challenges in one or more z-address on the node

Secure Node - maintain a stake address with at least 42 ZEN - be able to perform challenges in less than 300 seconds - uptime of 92% or greater

Super Node - a stake address with at least 500 ZEN - be able to perform challenges in 150 seconds or - uptime of 96% or greater

See the Secure Node About page or Super Node About page on the tracking servers for full details about compliance.

Version 0.3.0

This version is also used for Super Nodes. A selection is made during the setup for the type of node.

Along with some additional logging and formatting, this version also replaces the bitcoin-core and zcash node modules with a stdrpc module for communication with zend.

This version will check the zen configuration file to see if it is running on testnet during the setup process. There is no longer a need to edit the init.json file.

UPDATE STEPS:

These are update instructions. If you are doing a new install see the New Installation instructions further down or in the online Installation Guide

Check the version of nodejs

1. Run the following command
   • node -v

• Suggested version is 8.11.x since it will have long term support. Node.js versions greater than this have not been tested but should work.

To update or change run:
  * sudo n lts

Update nodetracker

NOTE: for backward compatibility the folder remains 'secnodetracker' even for Super Nodes.

1. Change to the secnodetracker folder and update the tracker application. This may be '~/zencash/secnodetracker' if the install guides were followed.

   • cd ~/zencash/secnodetracker
   • git fetch origin
   • git checkout master
   • git pull

If git complains about overwriting a file use: git checkout -- filename
    e.g. git checkout -- package.json
Then run the last 3 above commands again.

2. Add node.js environment variable when updating the npm modules.This will stop the next step from installing development libraries. Install new nodejs module and remove old ones.

   • NODE_ENV=production npm install

3. Run setup (this will refresh the list of servers) in the tracker's config folder. You should be able to accept all the previous values. There are two new propmts: the node type (secure or super) and an optional category. The category can be used to help filter your nodes (if you have many) in certain API calls.

   • node setup

4. Stop the tracker application and restart it

   • Ctrl-c
   • node app
   • or restart using your management application such as PM2

NEW INSTALLATION

If you have followed Installation Guide for creating a Secure or Super Node, you should be ready to install this on your node.

You will need about 0.04 zen in the node's wallet in a private address. Send multiple small amounts (0.01 each) to work around an issue with 0 balances due to waiting for change to return after a challenge. Alternately create an additional private z-address and split the amount between them.

The private z-address needs to be created manually if not present (zen-cli z_getnewaddress). If already present the balance is checked when the app starts and the address is displayed on the tracker console or in the logs.

You will also need a transparent address in a wallet (not on the node) with at least 42 zen for a secure node or 500 zen for a super node. This balance will be checked during node registration on the server. This is not the address shown on the console (the t-address on the console is used as part of the node's identity). The stake address is also the payout address.

Note: real mainnet ZEN transparent addresses (t-address) start wtih a 'zn' (testnet addresses star with a 'zt').

These instructions should be run as the user created in the guide (not root).

Install npm and Node.js

Log into your node computer or vps. The following commands install Node.js (a javascript virtual machine) and NPM (Node Package Manager)

• Suggested version is 8.11.x since it will have long term support. Node.js versions greater than this have not been tested but should work.

• sudo apt-get install npm
• sudo npm install -g n
• sudo n lts

Clone this repository

If you followed the Guides you should have a ~/zencash folder with the zen folder in it. Put this repository in the zencash folder too or the folder of your choice. Note: if you would like to name the folder during the clone process, append the folder name to the clone command. The default is 'secnodetracker'.

• cd ~/zencash
• git clone https://github.com/ZencashOfficial/secnodetracker.git

or to specify a folder name git clone https://github.com/ZencashOfficial/secnodetracker.git nodetracker

Install the nodejs modules

Use the environment variable to keep from installing development libraries. If a different folder was specified substitute its name

• cd secnodetracker
• NODE_ENV=production npm install

Run setup

You will need your staking address (with at least 42 ZEN for secure or 500 ZEN for super) and an email address for alerts (if you do not want alerts enter 'none' for the email address or leave it blank). During setup press Enter to accept the default or enter new information when prompted. See the Note below on finding the zen.conf file if is is not in its standard location.

There is a prompt for an optional category. This allows a node operator with multiple nodes to group them together.

• node setup

Start the tracking app

Once setup is complete, start the tracker manually or with your system configuration or nodejs process monitor such as PM2.

• node app

Follow any instructions shown on the console. Rerun setup if needed: it will remember your previous values. Use Ctrl-c to break out of the app.

NOTE: There should only be 1 instance of the tracking app running at a time. It is also best to wait to start the tracker until the blockchain is fully synced.

Check the node on the Tracking Server

Check your node on one of the tracking servers using the Nodes>All Nodes page or the Nodes>My Nodes page. Secure Nodes - https://securenodes.zensystem.io Super Nodes - https://superenodes.zensystem.io

For any issues or help with a node, submit a ticket to Support

For community support, ask questions in the ZenCash Discord #securenodes channel.

Instructions on installing a monitoring tool like nodemon or PM2 may be found separately.

Locating zen.conf There are two optional environment variables that may be used to locate zen.conf which is needed for rpc configuration.

• ZENCONF - if this is found it must contain the full path to zen.conf including the file name.
• ZEN_HOME - if this is found it should be a base path. '/.zen/zen.conf' is appended to it.

• If the above two are not found the operating system is used for the home path.
• The search is then peformed in the following order:
  • oshome + "/.zen/zen.conf";
  • oshome + "/zencash/.zen/zen.conf";
  • oshome + "/AppData/Roaming/Zen/zen.conf";