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class="anchor-heading" aria-labelledby="how-to-run-a-monero-xmr-node"><svg viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#svg-link"></use></svg></a> How to run a Monero (XMR) node</h1><p>We strongly recommend running your own Monero node! Here is a simple guide for running a Monero node with Ubuntu.</p><h2 id="select-hardware"> <a href="#select-hardware" class="anchor-heading" aria-labelledby="select-hardware"><svg viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#svg-link"></use></svg></a> Select hardware</h2><p>You don’t need fancy hardware to run a node that is only meant to handle your basic personal use, but we recommend the following:</p><ul><li>At least 256 GB of storage on an SSD<li>At least dual core, ideally quad core<li>At least 2 GB of RAM, ideally 4 GB<li>At least 10 Mbps connection, with at least 100 GB of monthly data</ul><p>We recommend running the node on your <strong>home network</strong>.</p><h2 id="install-ubuntu"> <a href="#install-ubuntu" class="anchor-heading" aria-labelledby="install-ubuntu"><svg viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#svg-link"></use></svg></a> Install Ubuntu</h2><p>You can use another OS, but we will use Ubuntu for this guide.</p><p>Download the <a href="https://ubuntu.com/download/server">latest Ubuntu “LTS” release here</a>. For this guide, we are using the command line only version.</p><p>You will need to add this image to a flash drive. Here are guides for the operating system you are currently using:</p><ul><li><a href="https://tutorials.ubuntu.com/tutorial/tutorial-create-a-usb-stick-on-windows">Windows</a><li><a href="https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-macos">MacOS</a><li><a href="https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-ubuntu">Ubuntu</a></ul><p>Attach the flash drive to your Monero node computer, and <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-boot-from-a-usb-drive-or-cd-on-any-computer-5991848">boot from USB</a>.</p><p>Follow the instructions to install Ubuntu Server. After you are done, turn off the computer, remove the flash drive, and turn it back on. Make sure it boots to the newly installed Ubuntu operating system.</p><h2 id="update-and-harden-ubuntu"> <a href="#update-and-harden-ubuntu" class="anchor-heading" aria-labelledby="update-and-harden-ubuntu"><svg viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#svg-link"></use></svg></a> Update and harden Ubuntu</h2><p>Run these commands (one at a time) to update and harden Ubuntu:</p><div class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge"><div class="highlight"><pre class="highlight"><code>sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade -y sudo apt-get install -y ufw curl curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh sudo sh get-docker.sh sudo usermod -aG docker $USER su - $USER sudo ufw default deny incoming sudo ufw default allow outgoing sudo ufw allow 18080/tcp sudo ufw allow 18081/tcp sudo ufw enable </code></pre></div></div><p>These will install Docker and enable a firewall.</p><h2 id="install-monerod"> <a href="#install-monerod" class="anchor-heading" aria-labelledby="install-monerod"><svg viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#svg-link"></use></svg></a> Install monerod</h2><p>The Monero node software is called <code class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge">monerod</code>.</p><p>You will need to decide if you want other people to be able to use your node for syncing and sending transactions. Doing so is good for the Monero network, but it will cost you more bandwidth.</p><h3 id="if-you-do-want-others-to-be-able-to-access-your-node"> <a href="#if-you-do-want-others-to-be-able-to-access-your-node" class="anchor-heading" aria-labelledby="if-you-do-want-others-to-be-able-to-access-your-node"><svg viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#svg-link"></use></svg></a> If you DO want others to be able to access your node</h3><p>Run the following command:</p><div class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge"><div class="highlight"><pre class="highlight"><code>docker run -d --restart unless-stopped --name="monerod" -p 18080:18080 -p 18081:18081 -v bitmonero:/home/monero sethsimmons/simple-monerod:latest --rpc-restricted-bind-ip=0.0.0.0 --rpc-restricted-bind-port=18081 --no-igd --no-zmq --enable-dns-blocklist --public-node </code></pre></div></div><h3 id="if-you-dont-want-others-to-be-able-to-access-your-node"> <a href="#if-you-dont-want-others-to-be-able-to-access-your-node" class="anchor-heading" aria-labelledby="if-you-dont-want-others-to-be-able-to-access-your-node"><svg viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#svg-link"></use></svg></a> If you DON’T want others to be able to access your node</h3><p>Select a username and a strong password. Replace <code class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge">user:pass</code> at the end of the command below with your selected username and STRONG password. For example (<strong>don’t use this!</strong>), replace it with <code class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge">monero:ryfP3IsKG6uZRiXp9zRB</code>.</p><div class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge"><div class="highlight"><pre class="highlight"><code>docker run -d --restart unless-stopped --name="monerod" -p 18080:18080 -p 18081:18081 -v bitmonero:/home/monero sethsimmons/simple-monerod:latest --rpc-bind-ip=0.0.0.0 --rpc-bind-port=18081 --no-igd --no-zmq --enable-dns-blocklist --rpc-login:user:pass </code></pre></div></div><h3 id="for-all-cases"> <a href="#for-all-cases" class="anchor-heading" aria-labelledby="for-all-cases"><svg viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#svg-link"></use></svg></a> For all cases</h3><p>Copy/paste the following entire block as a single command:</p><div class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge"><div class="highlight"><pre class="highlight"><code>docker run -d \ --name watchtower --restart unless-stopped \ -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock \ containrrr/watchtower --cleanup \ monerod tor </code></pre></div></div><h2 id="configuring-your-router-firewall"> <a href="#configuring-your-router-firewall" class="anchor-heading" aria-labelledby="configuring-your-router-firewall"><svg viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#svg-link"></use></svg></a> Configuring your router firewall</h2><p>If you want your Monero node to be reachable outside of your local network, you will need to enable port forwarding on your router.</p><p>You will need to forward these ports:</p><ul><li>18080 (TCP only, not UDP)<li>18081 (TCP only, not UDP)</ul><p>There are many router-specific guides on <a href="https://portforward.com/router.htm">portforward.com</a>.</p><p>Make sure to use a modern router from a reputable brand that is still getting security updates! Update the router firmware, and select a STRONG router password!</p><h2 id="updates"> <a href="#updates" class="anchor-heading" aria-labelledby="updates"><svg viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#svg-link"></use></svg></a> Updates</h2><p>Your Monero node will automatically update to the latest Monero version! You will want to periodically update Ubuntu:</p><div class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge"><div class="highlight"><pre class="highlight"><code>sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade -y </code></pre></div></div><h2 id="credits"> <a href="#credits" class="anchor-heading" aria-labelledby="credits"><svg viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#svg-link"></use></svg></a> Credits</h2><p>Thanks to Seth for Privacy for their <a href="https://sethforprivacy.com/guides/run-a-monero-node/">node guide</a> and their <a href="https://hub.docker.com/r/sethsimmons/simple-monerod">Docker image</a>.</p><hr /><p>Not ready to run your own Monero node yet? Check out a list of popular Monero remote nodes at <a href="https://nodes.monero.com">nodes.monero.com</a>.</p><hr><footer><p><a href="#top" id="back-to-top">Back to top</a></p><p class="text-small text-grey-dk-100 mb-0">Copyright © Cake Labs LLC using Just the Docs</p><div class="d-flex mt-2"><p class="text-small text-grey-dk-000 mb-0"> <a href="https://github.com/cake-tech/monerocom-guides/tree/main/docs/tutorials/monero-node.md" id="edit-this-page">Edit this page on GitHub</a></p></div></footer></div></div><div class="search-overlay"></div></div>