Topic: [Tutorial] Primecoin Getting Started and Basic Commands (Read 1466 times)

Updates:
* Added hq client.
* Added how to get your balance.
* Added backing up and moving Primecoin

This is a quick guide on how to download, install and operate Primecoin.

[Links]

You can download the client for Windows or Linux here:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/primecoin/?source=dlp

A GPU miner is being worked on here:

https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/xpm-working-on-a-gpu-miner-for-primecoin-new-thread-273637

Weekly updates on Primecoin development are here:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=114994.40

You can exchange Primecoin for prepaid debit cards here:

http://www.visa4crypto.com/

Participate on the official forum here:

http://www.ppcointalk.org/

[End links]

To download for Windows, click the green Download button.

To download for Linux, go to the Files tab and click the version that matches the version you want (usually the highest version).

The Linux version contains the binaries for both 64 bit and 32 bit systems and the source so you do not need to compile from source unless you have special environmental conditions.

To get started on Windows:

1. Download the installer.
2. Run the installer.
3. Open the installer.
4. Wait for the chain to syncronize.

The client will provide updates as the chain is synchronizing. 6 weeks, 5 weeks, etc.

For some reason the Windows client will not start generating (the Primecoin equivalent to Bitcoin's "hashing") until you run a command in the debug window. To do so:

1. Go to Help.
2. Click Debug Window.

This is the console where you will execute all commands to the Primecoin daemon.

3. Type this command to use all CPU cores:


If you want to use a specific number of cores, instead of -1, type the number of cores.

You can then type getmininginfo to see the status of generation.



"primespersec" is your generation rate.

If you want to turn generation off you can use:


This allows you to keep the wallet running without generating to receive/send transactions, messages, etc.

You are now generating. Transactions will appear in the Overview window. When you get paid for generating it will appear as an incoming transaction.



To get started on Linux:

1. Download the client.


Replace the URL with the actual URL for the latest client from Sourceforge.

2. Unarchive the client.


3. Install the client.


Replace [version] with the version of primecoin you downloaded.

Replace [architecture] with 32 or 64 depending on whether your system is 32 or 64 bit.

4. Make the daemon a service.


5. Start generating.


Primecoin will start as a daemon (background service) and will continue to run if you exit the shell.

Basic Commands

To get a list of commands type:


To get help with a command type:


To stop the daemon type:


To get your mining status type:


To get your balance type:


This tells you how much primecoin currency you have in your wallet.

To see your transactions (including rewards for generating) type:


To send primecoins to another address type:


For example:


Backing up and Moving Primecoin

• If you want to move Primecoin, install the Primecoin wallet software on the target computer and drop wallet.dat into the install folder.
• To backup your wallet, make a copy of the file wallet.dat.

End of Tutorial

• If you find this tutorial useful, you can use the above command to send me 1 primecoin, currently worth about 50 cents.
• If you have any questions please let me know.
• If you see any errors in my tutorial please let me know.

If you find this tutorial useful please send a donation to:

Bitcoin: 1LJU4GnHSM4ovdLNfaz4CmsacuznJewDh3
Primecoin: AGx4qUkpKGLtBAib7AwzMyvRRFWChfnSdC