Topic: Planning to download Bitcoin Core [RESOLVED] (Read 81 times)
I have got answers to my 3 questions from the above discussion. Now my confusion is completely clear. Now I am confident to download and install Bitcoin Core. Thanks, everyone for helping me with the information. Since I got the answer I am closing my thread to keep the forum clean. If I face any problem with Bitcoin Core in the future I will unlock this thread and will ask for help again.
I am planning to download Bitcoin Core but before that, I have some confusion and questions.
Quote from bitcoincore.org
It's good that you learned somehow and came to Bitcoincore.org website to download Bitcoin Core. Bitcoin is a decentralized project and its source code can be stored on many websites. Download it from Bitcoincore.org is good but you need to verify the downloaded file before using it.Quote from bitcoincore.org
You can see their guides there https://bitcoincore.org/en/download/
If you skipped it, now it's time for reading.
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1. How to enable pruning
It's easy and I recall that Bitcoin Core software will give you a default setting for prune node when you install the wallet software the first time.Quote
2. Is it necessary to run the full node?
It's easy but you need to have enough disk space, RAM and your processor.Many questions and technical answers are there.
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3. What benefits will I get if I run full node?
Pros and Cons of Bitcoin Node types (Full node and Prune node) 
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IMVJust saw this
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planning to download Bitcoin Core but before that, I have some confusion and questions.
But incase OP already download Quote
Bitcoin Client Software and Version Number: Bitcoin Core 27.0
[/s]And if true uninstalling and redownloading won't prompt the pruning again i think [correct me if I'm wrong please]
IMO it's up to debate. Although it's more important to state that pruned node doesn't depend on third party (aside from Bitcoin Core developer).
It is not really up for debate. Full nodes are by definition nodes that fully validates the network rules, this was established years ago when it is compared against simplified verification wallets, aka. SPV wallets. Ideally, you don't have to trust anyone, not even the developers because you can read the code and see what goes on during the validation, and the usage of the wallet. 
Bitcoin Client Software and Version Number: Bitcoin Core 27.0
Operating System: Windows 11 64-bit
System Hardware Specs: 3.60 GHz AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core Processor with 16 GB RAM and 60 GB free SSD drive space.
Description of Problem:
1. How to enable pruning
2. Is it necessary to run the full node?
3. What benefits will I get if I run full node?
The first time you open Bitcoin Core, it'll display a "Welcome Screen", there you can set both prune settings and the custom data directory.Operating System: Windows 11 64-bit
System Hardware Specs: 3.60 GHz AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core Processor with 16 GB RAM and 60 GB free SSD drive space.
Description of Problem:
1. How to enable pruning
2. Is it necessary to run the full node?
3. What benefits will I get if I run full node?
This is best answer since it seems OP haven't run Bitcoin Core yet. And for reference, here's example screenshot of the welcome screen.
The apperance would be slightly different since i use Linux, while OP use Windows. And take note you'll need almost extra 12GB of free storage space to store folder called "chainstate", which is necessary to run prune node.
Actually it's always better to run a full node if you can, since you are not going to be depending on a third party to verify a block and as mocacinno said it improve decentralisation of the Bitcoin network.
Pruned nodes are also full nodes.IMO it's up to debate. Although it's more important to state that pruned node doesn't depend on third party (aside from Bitcoin Core developer).
The upside of running your own node is that you've verified every block yourself, all the way to the first (genesis) block. By running a node you're also part of the decentralisation of the network. Oh yeah, one more big upside is that you're able to increase your privacy if you set everything up right.
The biggest downside (in my opinion) of running a pruned node is that you should not import other keys/addresses. If your node is forced to rescan the blockchain, it has to download every block again, since a pruned node removed most blocks after parsing.
Decentralization is subjective, since you're only having a small portion of the blocks, you are not contributing that much to the network and just marginally. People won't exactly be able to rely on you for IBD for example, though they can still get whatever you've got on the disk. Privacy wise, it would require quite a bit more than running a pruned node and using it. Further setup is required.The biggest downside (in my opinion) of running a pruned node is that you should not import other keys/addresses. If your node is forced to rescan the blockchain, it has to download every block again, since a pruned node removed most blocks after parsing.
You can import keys and addresses without triggering rescan. Afterwards, you can just rescan a portion of the blockchain and it won't require a reindex.
2. Is it necessary to run the full node?
3. What benefits will I get if I run full node?
2) No. Most people can do with a SPV node, if they're okay with sacrificing a bit of security and privacy. In fact, SPV clients are safe and secure for everyday use and if you can't run a full node, you can consider running an SPV wallet like Electrum.3. What benefits will I get if I run full node?
3) You can validate every block and have a bit more privacy than SPV clients. It's a tradeoff but you would have to spend more time validating and more storage as well.
Actually it's always better to run a full node if you can, since you are not going to be depending on a third party to verify a block and as mocacinno said it improve decentralisation of the Bitcoin network.
Pruned nodes are also full nodes.
Bitcoin Client Software and Version Number: Bitcoin Core 27.0
Operating System: Windows 11 64-bit
System Hardware Specs: 3.60 GHz AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core Processor with 16 GB RAM and 60 GB free SSD drive space.
Description of Problem:
1. How to enable pruning
2. Is it necessary to run the full node?
3. What benefits will I get if I run full node?
The first time you open Bitcoin Core, it'll display a "Welcome Screen", there you can set both prune settings and the custom data directory.Operating System: Windows 11 64-bit
System Hardware Specs: 3.60 GHz AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core Processor with 16 GB RAM and 60 GB free SSD drive space.
Description of Problem:
1. How to enable pruning
2. Is it necessary to run the full node?
3. What benefits will I get if I run full node?
Those setting will be applied to Bitcoin-qt (GUI) which the 'pruned block storage' option can be edited later in its settings.
Bitcoind (daemon) will use the default datadir or the datadir settings in your bitcoin.conf file or command line arg.
Be advised that even with the lowest possible prune value of 550MiB, your Bitcoin data directory will still take at least 12GB of storage due to other data specially the UTXO-set which is now larger than 10GB.
So take that size in consideration when deciding on your prune block storage setting.
For bitcoin-qtwith GUI go to your
settings>options
You should see your prune settings like this
Edited out
If not you can also set it using the bitcoin.conf just as it's been mentioned
Quote
2. Is it necessary to run the full node?
Not really but if you have the storage you can just run you full node to save you from redownloading the blockchain again when you encounter Error like this
Actually it's always better to run a full node if you can, since you are not going to be depending on a third party to verify a block and as mocacinno said it improve decentralisation of the Bitcoin network.
Also this thread will be helpful to you Questions about pruned nodes.
Also this thread will be helpful to you Questions about pruned nodes.
You either have to edit your bitcoin.conf file and add the line prune= or start bitcoind with the parameter --prune=. In windows, you could probably make a shortcut to your bitcoind.exe or your bitcoin-qt.exe, edit said shortcut and add -prune= to the command line itself, then use said shortcut to start your daemon or gui... Afterwards, you could look in the directory structure that was generated for the bitcoin.conf file and add the prune= to said file, so you cannot start your client without pruning by mistake.
Do realise a pruned node will still download all blocks, but it will prune those blocks after they've been parsed, so they don't occupy all that much space on your disk.
The upside of running your own node is that you've verified every block yourself, all the way to the first (genesis) block. By running a node you're also part of the decentralisation of the network. Oh yeah, one more big upside is that you're able to increase your privacy if you set everything up right.
The biggest downside (in my opinion) of running a pruned node is that you should not import other keys/addresses. If your node is forced to rescan the blockchain, it has to download every block again, since a pruned node removed most blocks after parsing.
Personally, i'd probably advice you to just buy a bigger disk to store everything (if feasible offcourse)... A 1Tb disk is pretty cheap nowadays.
Ps: you don't have to wait to long to check if pruning was enabled correctly, just look at your debug.log file in a file editor, it should mention the fact that Pruning was enabled.
Do realise a pruned node will still download all blocks, but it will prune those blocks after they've been parsed, so they don't occupy all that much space on your disk.
The upside of running your own node is that you've verified every block yourself, all the way to the first (genesis) block. By running a node you're also part of the decentralisation of the network. Oh yeah, one more big upside is that you're able to increase your privacy if you set everything up right.
The biggest downside (in my opinion) of running a pruned node is that you should not import other keys/addresses. If your node is forced to rescan the blockchain, it has to download every block again, since a pruned node removed most blocks after parsing.
Personally, i'd probably advice you to just buy a bigger disk to store everything (if feasible offcourse)... A 1Tb disk is pretty cheap nowadays.
Ps: you don't have to wait to long to check if pruning was enabled correctly, just look at your debug.log file in a file editor, it should mention the fact that Pruning was enabled.
I am planning to download Bitcoin Core but before that, I have some confusion and questions.
Quote from bitcoincore.org
600 GB of data will be downloaded but I don't have that much space on my PC. Now it says to enable pruning but I don't understand how to do it.
Bitcoin Client Software and Version Number: Bitcoin Core 27.0
Operating System: Windows 11 64-bit
System Hardware Specs: 3.60 GHz AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core Processor with 16 GB RAM and 60 GB free SSD drive space.
Description of Problem:
1. How to enable pruning
2. Is it necessary to run the full node?
3. What benefits will I get if I run full node?
Any Related Addresses: N/A
Any Related Transaction IDs: N/A
Screenshot of the problem: N/A
Log Files from the Bitcoin Client: N/A
Quote from bitcoincore.org
Quote
Bitcoin Core requires a one-time download of about 600GB of data plus a further 5-10GB per month. By default, you will need to store all of that data, but if you enable pruning, you can store as little as 10GB total without sacrificing any security. For more information about setting up Bitcoin Core, please read the full node guide.
600 GB of data will be downloaded but I don't have that much space on my PC. Now it says to enable pruning but I don't understand how to do it.
Bitcoin Client Software and Version Number: Bitcoin Core 27.0
Operating System: Windows 11 64-bit
System Hardware Specs: 3.60 GHz AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core Processor with 16 GB RAM and 60 GB free SSD drive space.
Description of Problem:
1. How to enable pruning
2. Is it necessary to run the full node?
3. What benefits will I get if I run full node?
Any Related Addresses: N/A
Any Related Transaction IDs: N/A
Screenshot of the problem: N/A
Log Files from the Bitcoin Client: N/A
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