86 lines
4.5 KiB
Markdown
86 lines
4.5 KiB
Markdown
nix-bitcoin
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===
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Nix packages and nixos modules for easily installing Bitcoin nodes and higher layer protocols with an emphasis on security.
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This is a work in progress - don't expect it to be bug free or secure.
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The default configuration sets up a Bitcoin Core node and c-lightning. The user can enable spark-wallet in `configuration.nix` to make c-lightning accessible with a smartphone using spark-wallet.
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A simple webpage shows the lightning nodeid and links to nanopos letting the user receive donations.
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It also includes liquid-daemon.
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Outbound peer-to-peer traffic is forced through Tor, and listening services are bound to onion addresses.
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A demo installation is running at [http://6tr4dg3f2oa7slotdjp4syvnzzcry2lqqlcvqkfxdavxo6jsuxwqpxad.onion](http://6tr4dg3f2oa7slotdjp4syvnzzcry2lqqlcvqkfxdavxo6jsuxwqpxad.onion).
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The following screen cast shows a fresh deployment of a nix-bitcoin node.
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<p align="center">
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<a href="https://asciinema.org/a/223630/?speed=2&autoplay=1"><img src="https://asciinema.org/a/223630.png" height="500"></a>
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</p>
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The goal is to make it easy to deploy a reasonably secure Bitcoin node with a usable wallet.
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It should allow managing bitcoin (the currency) effectively and providing public infrastructure.
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It should be a reproducible and extensible platform for applications building on Bitcoin.
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Available modules
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---
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By default the `configuration.nix` provides:
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* bitcoind (pruned) with outbound connections through Tor and inbound connections through a hidden
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service. By default loaded with banlist of spy nodes.
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* [clightning](https://github.com/ElementsProject/lightning) with outbound connections through Tor, not listening
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* includes "nodeinfo" script which prints basic info about the node
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* adds non-root user "operator" which has access to bitcoin-cli and lightning-cli
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In `configuration.nix` the user can enable:
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* a clightning hidden service
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* [liquid-daemon](https://github.com/blockstream/liquid)
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* [lightning charge](https://github.com/ElementsProject/lightning-charge)
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* [nanopos](https://github.com/ElementsProject/nanopos)
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* an index page using nginx to display node information and link to nanopos
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* [spark-wallet](https://github.com/shesek/spark-wallet)
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* [electrs](https://github.com/romanz/electrs)
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* recurring-donations, a module to repeatedly send lightning payments to recipients specified in the configuration.
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The data directories of the services can be found in `/var/lib` on the deployed machines.
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Installation
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---
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The easiest way is to run `nix-shell` (on a Linux machine) in the nix-bitcoin directory and then create a [NixOps](https://nixos.org/nixops/manual/) deployment with the provided `network.nix` in the `network` directory.
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Fix the FIXMEs in configuration.nix and deploy with nixops in nix-shell.
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See [install.md](docs/install.md) for a detailed tutorial.
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Security
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---
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* Nix package manager, NixOS and packages can be built from source to reduce reliance on binary caches.
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* Builds happen in a [sandboxed environment](https://nixos.org/nix/manual/).
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* Packages dependencies are [pinned](pkgs/nixpkgs-pinned.nix). Most packages are built from the [nixos stable channel](https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs-channels/tree/nixos-19.03), with a few exceptions that are built from the nixpkgs unstable channel.
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* nix-bitcoin merge commits are signed.
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* nix-bitcoin is built with a [hardened kernel](https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/master/nixos/modules/profiles/hardened.nix) by default.
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* Services operate with least privileges. They each have their own user and are restricted further with [systemd options](modules/nix-bitcoin-services.nix).
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* There's a non-root user *operator* to interact with the various services.
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Note that nix-bitcoin is still experimental.
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Also, by design if the machine you're deploying *from* is insecure, there is nothing nix-bitcoin can do to protect itself.
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Hardware requirements
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---
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* Disk space: 300 GB (235GB for Bitcoin blockchain + some room)
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* Bitcoin Core pruning is not supported at the moment because it's not supported by c-lightning. It's possible to use pruning but you need to know what you're doing.
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* RAM: 2GB of memory
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Tested hardware includes [pcengine's apu2c4](https://pcengines.ch/apu2c4.htm)
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Usage
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---
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For usage instructions, such as how to connect to spark-wallet, electrs and the ssh Tor Hidden Service, see [usage.md](docs/usage.md).
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Troubleshooting
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---
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If you are having problems with nix-bitcoin check the [FAQ](docs/faq.md) or submit an issue. We are always happy to help.
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Docs
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---
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* [FAQ](docs/faq.md)
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* [Install instructions](docs/install.md)
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* [Usage instructions](docs/usage.md)
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