Setting up a ZelNode on a DigitalOcean VPS

This guide will assist you in setting up a ZelNode on a DigitalOcean VPS running Ubuntu 18.04.5 x 64

Use Goose's video guide in conjunction with these steps to help answer any questions by clicking here

If you require further assistance contact the support team on Discord or Telegram English / Chinese / Russian

Requirements

ZEL Collateral (10K Basic / 25K Super / 100K BAMF)
Controller wallet (ZelCore or ZelCash Swing Wallet)
VPS running Linux Ubuntu 18.04 (benchmark requirements can't be guaranteed for servers that the team hasn't tested)
SSH client such as Putty

Section A : Preparing ZelCore Wallet
Section B : Creating DigitalOCean VPS
Section C : Downloading and Installing Putty
Section D : Connecting VPS and Installing ZelNode Script
Section E : Connecting and Starting ZelNode

Section A: Preparing ZelCore Wallet

Step 1 (if necessary)

Download the current ZelCore wallet based on your OS by clicking here

Step 2

First time users of a ZEL full node need to download the bootstrap file to decrease sync time by clicking here

Step 3

Open your ZelCore wallet and choose 'ZelCash' (Click 'My Assets' and add 'ZelCash' if not already displayed in 'Portfolio' screen)

Step 4

'Full Node'

Step 5

'Launch Full Node'

Step 6

'Launch ZelCash' when prompted

Step 7

Go into 'Tools' after wallet is 100% synced

Step 8

Open ZelNodes Management

Step 9

Setup ZelNodes

Step 10

'Backup all addresses' (use a text file to save info, and store in multiple secure locations)

Step 11

Set automatic logout to 'Never'

Step 12

Continue to the next step after zelcash.conf info is generated

Step 13

Choose which type of ZelNode you are going to set up

Proceed to the next section, leave ZelCore wallet open to continue setting up in future steps

Section B: Creating DigitalOcean VPS

Step 1

Register at DigitalOcean (use this referral link to receive a $100 credit that's good for 2 months)

Step 2

After you have your account setup go here to create your ZelNode droplet

Step 3

Choose server type: 'Ubuntu 18.04'

Step 4

Choose Droplet (Basic/Super/BAMF)

Step 5

Step 6

Section C: Downloading and Installing Putty

Step 1

Download Putty here

Step 2

Select the correct installer depending upon your operating system, and follow the install instructions

Section D: Connecting VPS and Installing ZelNode Script

Step 1

Copy your VPS IP (located within Droplets tab)

Step 2

Open the Putty terminal and fill in the "Host Name" box with the IP address of your VPS

Step 3

Once you hit 'Open' a security alert will open up (click yes)

Step 4

Type "root" as the login/username

Step 5

Copy the root password that DigitalOcean emailed you

Step 6

Paste the password into the Putty terminal by right clicking (it will not show the password so just press enter)

Step 7

Enter password for root (UNIX password same as Step 5)
Make new password and confirm

Step 8

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get upgrade -y

Step 9

Adduser to secure your VPS, by adding a new username so you aren't running everything as root
Run the command below and use a username that you want associated with this server ('whodatbamf1' is an example, you need to generate your own username)

adduser YOURUSERNAME

Step 10

You will then need to make a new password associated with your new username. Hit 'Enter' for the next 5 lines after your new password has been set, then 'Y' to save your information.

Step 11

Grant sudo permissions for your adduser by running the command below to activate it

usermod -aG sudo YOURUSERNAME

Step 12

Reboot server with the following command

sudo reboot -n

Close Putty terminal while server reboots

Section E : Connecting and Starting ZelNode (ZelCore and VPS)

Step 1 (ZelCore)

Go back to your ZelCore wallet and enter your VPS IP address

Step 2 (ZelCore)

Name your ZelNode

Step 3 (ZelCore)

Save your private key that is generated in ZelCore and enter on VPS when prompted

Step 4 (VPS)

Log back into your VPS with the new username and password from Section D: Steps 9 and 10

DO NOT RUN THE INSTALL SCRIPT AS ROOT, ONLY RUN IT AS THE NEW USER THAT WAS MADE IN STEP 9!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Step 5 (VPS)

Paste the code below into the Putty terminal then press enter

wget https://apt.zel.cash/zelnodev4.0.sh && chmod +x zelnodev4.0.sh && ./zelnodev4.0.sh

HUGE SHOUTOUT TO GOOSE, SKYSLAYER AND DK808 FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THIS INSTALL SCRIPT

Step 6 (VPS)

Confirm IP and enter ZELNODE KEY from Step 3 and hit 'Enter'

Step 7

Go to the ZelCash block explorer

https://explorer.zel.cash/

Step 8 (VPS)

Press any key, then CTRL-C when the blocks match explorer in Step 7

Step 9 (VPS)

Run the following cmd, and proceed to Step 10 when you get 'Synchronization finished'

zelcash-cli znsync status

Step 10 (ZelCore)

Activate your ZelNode

Successfully started will show if everything is done properly ('startzelnode local false' isn't needed)

(It will take at least 15 confirms for your ZelNode to show up in 'MY ZELNODES')

Step 10

Run the following command in VPS to confirm that your ZelNode is showing 'Status 4' (If VPS does not show successfully started, wait 5 minutes and run the command again. Repeat if necesary)

zelcash-cli getzelnodestatus