Author

Topic: copy wallet.dat to another node (Read 157 times)

HCP
legendary
Activity: 2086
Merit: 4314
March 29, 2020, 03:07:38 AM
#7
If your wallet.dat is an "HD" wallet, then no you don't need to make new copies every month or after every new transaction. It will just "work" when you copy it back to an active node. That is indeed the standard method of backing up your wallet in Bitcoin Core. "Make copy of wallet.dat".

Check the bottom right corner of Bitcoin Core for the HD symbol:



If you don't have the HD symbol (or it has an X through it)... then things become slightly more complicated Undecided
jr. member
Activity: 45
Merit: 22
March 29, 2020, 01:10:49 AM
#6
ok copied over to other node, re-scanned about 550 blocks (took a few seconds) and showed correct balance!  thanks

so really i can just make one copy of my wallet.dat file, keep it offline for years potentially.  Then copy it back to an active node if ever the active wallet.dat becomes corrupted or entire device blows up.

no need to make a copy of the wallet.dat file once a month or after every new transaction?



legendary
Activity: 2394
Merit: 5531
Self-proclaimed Genius
March 28, 2020, 10:10:36 PM
#5
I should be able to send/receive BTC from both nodes right?  and each of the wallet.dat files should show all transactions made no matter what node they were made on? am i thinking about that right?
Right, the wallet file doesn't contain your bitcoins, it has your keys to be able to spend your bitcoins that are stored in the blockchain.
Copying it over other/multiple nodes won't be an issue.
jr. member
Activity: 45
Merit: 22
March 28, 2020, 11:43:51 AM
#4
Yes, but make sure that Bitcoin Core isn't running while copying and pasting the file.
It's fine for non-HD wallet too.

It will trigger a 'rescan' that could take a while to complete though.
Also, do not do that if your client was pruned because it will sync from scratch unless you still have the blocks where your wallet's inputs are.

not pruned. full blockchain on both nodes.   i'll give it a go. thanks

I should be able to send/receive BTC from both nodes right?  and each of the wallet.dat files should show all transactions made no matter what node they were made on? am i thinking about that right?
legendary
Activity: 3612
Merit: 1564
March 28, 2020, 08:30:00 AM
#3
If your goal is only to see the balance, but you have serious security concern, you could either :
1. Import the address to another node which only used to watch your wallet balance (assuming you don't use re-use address or have specific address to be watched)
2. Use another client such as Electrum if you re-use address, since Electrum support import master public key (xpub), while Bitcoin Core don't

1. Core will keep creating new addresses so watching only some addresses will not work.

2. Core uses hardened derivation so you can't derive the addresses using the xpub. Furthermore Electrum only supports one address type per wallet while core supports all 3 (p2pkh, p2wpkh, p2wpkh-p2sh). So using Electrum for this won't work.

The best way is what the OP originally proposed - using the same wallet with core on more than one device. As long as its an HD wallet all the derived addresses should be the same.
legendary
Activity: 2394
Merit: 5531
Self-proclaimed Genius
March 27, 2020, 11:54:18 PM
#2
Yes, but make sure that Bitcoin Core isn't running while copying and pasting the file.
It's fine for non-HD wallet too.

It will trigger a 'rescan' that could take a while to complete though.
Also, do not do that if your client was pruned because it will sync from scratch unless you still have the blocks where your wallet's inputs are.
jr. member
Activity: 45
Merit: 22
March 27, 2020, 11:32:38 PM
#1
can i copy the wallet.dat generated by one node to use on another node?  i think since it is an HD wallet it should be okay.

i really just want to be able to see my wallet balance on each separate device i am running nodes on.

would also act like a back up too i guess right?
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