Dark on Nostr: I’d recommend getting a standalone mini PC with minimum 2GB SSD, 32MB RAM, and an ...
I’d recommend getting a standalone mini PC with minimum 2GB SSD, 32MB RAM, and an i7 processor, wired to the same router as your regular desktop PC. Load StartOS on it and run 3 nodes on it: A Bitcoin full node, a Lightning node using LND, and a Lightning node using Core Lightning. Have the whole setup, including your router and modem plugged into an uninterruptible power supply that will run everything for a number of hours in the event of a local grid issue. Use your regular desktop PC as a terminal to talk to and administer your nodes and the other utilities available in StartOS. You will have to download the security certificate from your node and install it onto your desktop PC and any other devices you wish to use to communicate with your nodes. (ie your phone connected to your LAN or out in the world via TOR.
As far as opening channels, there’s no getting around it. If you want to route successful Lightning transactions, you need the connectivity and the BTC liquidity that at least 3 well funded and connected channels can provide. It’s a little nerve wracking dumping the equivalent of two months worth of stacking into your Lightning node. But as long as you are performing regular backups and recording all of your passwords and credentials in a way that you can’t lose them, it is pretty safe. I am trying to regard the BTC that I use to fund channels and learn the mechanics of the system with as “tuition”. But it’s tuition that you’ll get back, as long as you don’t make a mistake sending Sats to the wrong address or losing physical or network access to your machine. Learning Lightning has proven challenging. I wouldn’t add complexity to the exercise by trying to dual purpose your mining hardware. Good luck. And PS, the Start9 community forums are a godsend. It’s a great company. #start9 #sovereigncomputing
As far as opening channels, there’s no getting around it. If you want to route successful Lightning transactions, you need the connectivity and the BTC liquidity that at least 3 well funded and connected channels can provide. It’s a little nerve wracking dumping the equivalent of two months worth of stacking into your Lightning node. But as long as you are performing regular backups and recording all of your passwords and credentials in a way that you can’t lose them, it is pretty safe. I am trying to regard the BTC that I use to fund channels and learn the mechanics of the system with as “tuition”. But it’s tuition that you’ll get back, as long as you don’t make a mistake sending Sats to the wrong address or losing physical or network access to your machine. Learning Lightning has proven challenging. I wouldn’t add complexity to the exercise by trying to dual purpose your mining hardware. Good luck. And PS, the Start9 community forums are a godsend. It’s a great company. #start9 #sovereigncomputing