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Table of Contents
How to use Testnet on Windows?
Step 1 - Create a Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
First, we need to create a Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).
- Go to the windows store and download the “Ubuntu” app.
- While it downloads, go to the Windows Start Button and type: “Turn Windows features on or off” and select “Windows Subsystem for Linux”, click OK. Then, reboot your system.
- Open the command prompt and type
wsl –set-default-version 1
. WSL1 better supports access to your ntfs-formatted windows drives through the automatic mount points/mnt/<drive letter>
, including network shares, which makes file transfers and access between Linux and Windows much easier when we start plotting. - Open the Ubuntu app. This will prompt an install, which will take a few minutes.
- Once finished, create a username and set a password (the password input won’t preview).
You are now able to use the Linux CLI in Windows!
Make sure to install the latest updates for your security with
sudo apt update
and sudo apt full-upgrade
.
For more information see: https://www.windowscentral.com/install-windows-subsystem-linux-windows-10
Step 2 - Installing Chia
You may now proceed to follow the procedure outlined in the Chia Network wiki install instructions.
Note: you don’t need to install the GUI parts, as our CLI obviously won’t have a use for it.
Below you find the relevant code:
# Install Git
sudo apt install git -y
# Checkout the source and install
git clone https://github.com/Chia-Network/chia-blockchain.git -b latest –recurse-submodules
cd chia-blockchain
sh install.sh
. ./activate
Step 3 - Prepare the config.yaml
- Initialize the chia process by:
chia init
- point to testnet7 instead of mainnet:
chia configure -t t
Now comes a tricky part. Using chia configure -t t
doesn’t change all the ports instantly.
the previous step only changed the target network from mainnet to testnet7 and the external port from 8444 to 58444 in config.yaml. All other internal TCP ports are 8XXX, just like your Windows running the mainnet instance. This will lead to TCP ports conflicts.
To change this, we need to go to the config.yaml file and change all 8xxx ports to 58xxx ports (about 10 occurences) and change the 55400 to 58400 (2 occurences). You can do this by
- using
nano ~/.chia/mainnet/config/config.yaml
in the Linux CLI
Safe your changes using ctrl+O and then hit enter. Use ctrl+X to close the nano instance and return to your Linux CLI.
- or by navigating in the Windows File Explorer to
\\wsl$\Ubuntu 20.04\home\<username>\ .chia\mainnet\config\config.yaml and changing the config.yaml using Notepad. Safe the config.yaml file after the edits.
Step 4 - Start Chia on testnet7
It’s time to start synching the testnet7 blockchain and the wallet. This is done by using
chia start farmer
.
If you get an error, try to retrace the previous steps. Still having issues? Our experts will support you in our Discord channel
See if all processes started correctly by using ps -Af | grep chia
use the command chia show -s -c
to see how far you have synched and to see your connected peers.
add chia show -a testnet-node.chia.net:58444
to add a fast peer.
Now you need to wait until you finished synching to testnet7, this will take approximately one day.
In the meantime, try to get your hands on some TXCH (testnet Chia) by asking your friends. Don’t have friends? No problem, you can always ask us on Discord. You can find your keys by using chia keys show
.