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
1.ZEL Collateral (10K Basic / 25K Super / 100K BAMF)
2.Controller wallet (ZelCore or ZelCash Swing Wallet)
3.VPS running Linux Ubuntu 18.04 (benchmark requirements can't be guaranteed for servers that the team hasn't tested)
4.SSH client such as Putty​
Contents
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
(Consider choosing a data center not near you to help decentralize the network)
 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'
CONFIRM IP
BOOTSTRAP
SPROUT KEY
PARAMS
1ST COUNTDOWN
STARTING DAEMON AND SYNCING ZELNODE WITH BLOCKCHAIN
2ND COUNTDOWN
WELCOME TO ZELNODES
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
You can also view your ZelNode on the block explorer https://explorer.zel.cash/zelnodes
(It will show up as 'PRE_ENABLED' for at least 3-4 hours, and could take up to 48 hrs for 1st reward)
 CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THE COMMUNITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Before Getting Started

Last modified 3yr ago