Ethereum: No inbound connections on my bitcoin full node with TOR
Ethereum Node Issue: Unable to Accept Incoming Connections via TOR
As a Bitcoin enthusiast and Ethereum validator, you’re probably well aware of the intricacies of decentralized networks. However, when it comes to accepting incoming connections on a full node, you may run into issues with Tor, a popular tool for anonymizing internet traffic. In this article, we’ll dive into the details of setting up an Ethereum node with TOR and explore why you may not be receiving any incoming connections.
Background
Ethereum nodes are responsible for validating transactions and maintaining the Ethereum blockchain. In order to receive incoming connections (i.e. new transaction proposals), your node must establish connections with other nodes on the network. This process is known as “crosslinking.”
TOR Setup for Ethereum Nodes
To connect to Tor, you need to configure your full node with a Tor proxy server. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Download and Install Tor Client: You can download the latest version of Tor Browser from the official website.
- Configure your Tor client: Open the Tor browser and go to
Follow the instructions to set up your account and create a new browser session.
- Create a new wallet and add an onion address
: Generate a new Bitcoin wallet and create a new onion address (a type of public key) associated with it. You can do this by clicking “Add onion address” in the Tor browser settings.
Setting up an Ethereum node
Once you have your Tor configuration set up, you need to configure your full node to accept incoming Tor connections. Here’s what you need to do:
- Update your node software: Make sure your Ethereum node is running the latest software updates.
- Configure the node to use the Tor proxy: You can add the Tor onion address (e.g.u3ob433qu3ebkmsu.onion:8333
) as a peer in the node configuration file.
Launching a node on TOR
To run an Ethereum node on TOR, you need to install a separate Tor proxy server on your system. Here are the steps:
- Install Tor Proxy Server: You can download and install thetor-proxy
package from the official website.
- Configure your node to use a proxy server: Update your node configuration file (e.g./etc/ethtool.conf`) to include the Tor proxy address.
Troubleshooting No Received Calls
If you are not getting incoming connections despite configuring your node with TOR, there are a few potential issues to investigate:
- CG-NAT: Complete Gateway NAT (CG-NAT) is likely blocking incoming Tor traffic. You can try using a different Tor proxy server or disabling CG-NAT altogether.
- Node Configuration: Double-check that your node configuration file contains the correct peer address and Tor proxy address.
- Tor Version Compatibility
: Make sure your Ethereum node is running the latest and most compatible version of Tor.
Application
Establishing incoming connections to an Ethereum node can be a complex process, but with proper configuration and troubleshooting steps, you should be able to overcome any issues. If you are still having trouble after following these instructions, you may need to seek further assistance from the Ethereum community or a qualified network administrator.