running bitcoind for the first time - can't interact. keep getting command not found

0

running ps yields:

31793 pts/0     11:04:46 bitcoind

but commands like bitcoind getblocktemplate

yields:

bash: bitcoind: command not found...

I've attempted to add the src folder to my global path through the following command:

echo " export PATH=$PATH:/home/jpc/Code/WorkingCopies/bitcoin/src" >> ~/.profile

Thanks for any help.

user35061

Posted 2018-11-13T09:57:27.767

Reputation: 1

2

It sounds like this is more about basic Unix usage than anything specific to bitcoin. I would change into the directory where bitcoin-cli is located and run ./bitcoin-cli. Changing PATH like you did is probably not really a good idea, but that's a question for http://unix.stackexchange.com instead of here.

Nate Eldredge 2018-11-13T15:43:15.800

Answers

3

bitcoind is the server, you can interact with it using the command-line utility bitcoin-cli. For example:

bitcoin-cli getblocktemplate

See this question for more info.

chytrik

Posted 2018-11-13T09:57:27.767

Reputation: 10 276

using "bitcoin-cli getblocktemplate" still yields "bash: bitcoin-cli: command not found.user35061 2018-11-13T11:20:41.863

How did you start bitcoind ?Pieter Wuille 2018-11-13T11:51:36.043

I'm running Fedora. I was following various online guides (most of which were based on Ubuntu). I believe that the command that got it going after compiling was: "bitcoind -daemon" but later in my history I also see "src/bitcoind &"user35061 2018-11-14T02:27:22.300

0

I think you should recompile from source. Visit the bitcoin github repository for Fedora dependencies, you'll find them in doc/build-unix. Scroll down to Fedora. Decide whether you want bitcoin-qt or just the command line bitcoin-cli, and whether you really need wallet functionality.

Beware you will need a specific version of Berkeley DB for wallet compatibility. You can use the latest Berkeley DB though if you don't need or want that compatibility.

Download the source package from https://bitcoincore.org/en/download/. Go into your new src folder, then run

./autogen.sh
./configure --without-gui    # see doc/build-unix.md, also for deps
make check

sudo make install    # goes into /usr/local/bin, /usr/local/lib, by default

This will likely resolve any issues you have now. You can take the lib paths out of /etc/ld.so.conf and undo changes to your path in ~/.profile.

HTH, let us know how it goes :)

James Young

Posted 2018-11-13T09:57:27.767

Reputation: 23

Wow. Thanks for the detailed response. I am trying to put src/.libs path which is "/home/jpc/Code/WorkingCopies/bitcoin/src/.libs" in /etc/ld.so.conf using emacs (file was read only) and also the command: "echo "/home/jpc/Code/WorkingCopies/bitcoin/src/.libs" > /etc/ld.so.conf.d/local.conf (get "bash: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/local.conf: permission denied" I realize this is probably linux 101 type stuff. Trying to get up to speed...user35061 2018-11-14T14:20:57.953

You're welcome. It should be readable and writable by root only, and readable by anyone. Depends on the distribution. So you would need root privileges, or sudo vim or e.g. sudo nano /etc/ld.so.conf and add your /home/jpc/Code/WorkingCopies/bitcoin/src/.libs to it. Save and exit. Run sudo ldconfig. Now assuming your binaries are on your PATH, give it another shot and let us know? It's a bit of a shot in the dark, but it's worth a go. Good luck!James Young 2018-11-14T15:03:47.643

That worked, /etc/ld.so.conf now reads: include ld.so.conf.d/*.conf (newline) /home/jpc/Code/WorkingCopies/bitcoin/src/.libs (then ran sudo ldconfig) still getting: bitcoin-cli: command not found...user35061 2018-11-14T16:34:41.513

Still sounds like a PATH issue. Are you using /bin/bash? Try putting PATH="/home/jpc/Code/WorkingCopies/bitcoin/src:$PATH" in your ~/.profile at the end, then run source .profile. Stop any bitcoind you might have running, and try running bitcoind -daemon. Then bitcoin-cli getblockchaininfo and we'll see... Are you sure that's the absolute path to where bitcoind and bitcoin-cli binaries are? Good luck again!James Young 2018-11-15T02:47:39.940

0

commands like bitcoind getblocktemplate

See chytrik's answer - you should use the command-line client bitcoin-cli not the server bitcoind.

I've attempted to add the src folder to my global path

That is generally the wrong thing to do.

  • a src directory should contain source code. It isn't appropriate to have that on your $PATH.
  • start by using the full absolute path, e.g. /home/jpc/Code/WorkingCopies/bitcoin/src/bitcoin-cli getblocktemplate - if that works see below
  • binaries should be installed to somewhere like /usr/local/bin (or your distro's equivalent - see Linux Standard Base). Usually this is done using sudo make install but check instructions for bitcoin. That folder will already be on your $PATH.
  • Unless there's a lot of other binaries in a new folder, it is probably better to add an alias rather than make the shell search through a large folder for every command you type.

RedGrittyBrick

Posted 2018-11-13T09:57:27.767

Reputation: 4 815

Using the full absolute path might have provided a clue. When I do that with 'getblocktemplate' or 'getblockchaininfo' Fedora my prompt doesn't come back. Have to use ctrl c to exit. I'm happy to start with a fresh install if necessary or keep trouble shooting? Maybe that clue helps? Thank you!user35061 2018-11-14T18:13:33.313

0

I wasn't able to trouble shoot my original binary build, but I used the suggestion James Young made: Reinstall from the bitcoincore.org website tar image. I used the linux build instructions at:

https://bitcoin.org/en/full-node#other-linux-distributions

I just needed to update the release version in the commands.

Thank you for all the suggestions. I learned a few good things.

user35061

Posted 2018-11-13T09:57:27.767

Reputation: 1

Note: if you download binary files instead of compiling yourself, be sure to check the developer signatures on the .tar files.chytrik 2018-11-15T02:55:15.517