Running a Node

This guide covers how to set up and run a full TALER blockchain node.

What is a TALER Node?

A TALER node is a full participant in the blockchain network that:

• Validates Transactions: Verifies all transactions according to consensus rules
• Maintains Blockchain: Stores the complete transaction history
• Relays Data: Forwards valid transactions and blocks to other nodes
• Supports Network: Contributes to network decentralization and security
• Enables Mining/Staking: Allows you to participate in block generation

Running a node helps secure the TALER network and gives you full control over your blockchain interactions.

Ways to Run a TALER Node

You can run a TALER node using several methods depending on your needs:

1. GUI Wallet (taler-qt) - For Desktop Users

Best for: Personal use, wallet management, and casual staking

Run the graphical wallet application taler-qt on your desktop computer:

• Full GUI interface for wallet management
• Built-in node that syncs with the blockchain
• Easy setup for beginners
• Suitable for personal computers

Keep wallet running 24/7 for continuous node operation and staking.

Learn more: Wallet Setup Guide

2. Command Line (talerd) - For Server Deployment

Best for: Dedicated servers, VPS, headless systems

Run the daemon talerd on a server without GUI:

• Configure via taler.conf configuration file
• Run on local computer or VPS
• Lower resource usage (no GUI)
• Remote management via RPC

Learn more: Command Line (talerd) Documentation

3. Systemd Service - For Linux Servers (Recommended for VPS)

Best for: Production VPS deployment, automatic startup

Run talerd as a system service:

• Automatic startup on boot
• Process management by systemd
• Service supervision and restart on failure
• Log management
• Professional server setup

Learn more: Systemd Configuration in Node CLI guide

4. Docker Compose - For Containerized Deployment (Recommended for VPS)

Best for: Easy upgrades, reproducible deployments, VPS hosting

Run TALER node in Docker container:

• Easy updates: docker compose pull && docker compose up -d
• Isolated environment
• Reproducible configuration
• Simplified backup and migration
• No dependency conflicts

Learn more: Docker Deployment Guide

Choosing the Right Method

Recommendation:

• Desktop users: Use taler-qt GUI wallet
• VPS/Server users: Use Docker Compose for easiest management
• Advanced users: Use systemd service for full control

Prerequisites

Before running a TALER node, ensure your system meets these requirements:

Hardware Requirements

• CPU: 2+ cores recommended (4+ cores for mining)
• RAM: Minimum 4GB (8GB+ recommended)
• Disk Space:
  • Full node: 20GB+ (blockchain grows over time)
  • Pruned node: 2GB+ (with -prune option)
• Network: Stable internet connection with at least 1 Mbps upload/download

Software Requirements

• Operating System: Windows 10/11, macOS (Apple Silicon), or Linux (x64/ARM64)
• Port Access: Port 23153 (mainnet) must be accessible for incoming connections

Download TALER Node Software

Step 1: Visit the Release Page

Download the latest TALER node software from the community-driven GitHub repository:

Latest Release: GitHub Releases

Step 2: Choose Your Platform

Select the appropriate package for your operating system:

Installation

Windows Installation

1. Extract the archive:

   • Right-click the downloaded taler-*-win64.zip file
   • Select “Extract All…”
   • Choose a destination folder (e.g., C:\TALER)

2. Locate the daemon:

   • Navigate to the extracted folder
   • Find talerd.exe (the node daemon)

macOS Installation

1. Extract the archive:

   tar -xzvf taler-*-macos-arm64.tar.gz
   cd taler-*
   

2. Install to system (optional):

   sudo mv bin/* /usr/local/bin/
   sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/talerd
   

3. Or run from extracted directory:

   chmod +x bin/talerd
   ./bin/talerd
   

Linux Installation

1. Extract the archive:

   tar -xzvf taler-*-linux-x64.tar.gz
   cd taler-*
   

2. Install to system (optional):

   sudo install -m 0755 -o root -g root -t /usr/local/bin bin/*
   

3. Or run from extracted directory:

   chmod +x bin/talerd
   ./bin/talerd
   

Starting Your Node

Basic Node Start

Windows:

talerd.exe

macOS / Linux:

talerd

On first launch, talerd will:

1. Create the data directory (if it doesn’t exist)
2. Connect to the TALER network
3. Begin downloading the blockchain
4. Start validating and relaying transactions

Data Directory Locations

By default, TALER stores blockchain data in:

• Windows: %APPDATA%\TALER\
• macOS: ~/Taler/
• Linux: ~/.taler/

Common Node Configurations

Custom Data Directory

Specify a custom location for blockchain data:

talerd -datadir=/path/to/custom/directory

Pruned Node (Reduced Disk Usage)

Run a pruned node to save disk space (stores only recent blocks):

talerd -prune=2000

This keeps approximately 2GB of blockchain data instead of the full chain.

Testnet Node

Run a node on the test network for development:

talerd -testnet

Allow Incoming Connections

To maximize network support, allow incoming connections:

talerd -listen=1 -maxconnections=128

Make sure port 23153 is open in your firewall.

Monitoring Your Node

Check Node Status

Use taler-cli to check your node status:

taler-cli getinfo

This displays:

• Current block height
• Number of connections
• Network hash rate
• Wallet balance (if wallet loaded)

View Connection Count

taler-cli getconnectioncount

Check Blockchain Sync Progress

taler-cli getblockchaininfo

Shows:

• Current block vs. network height
• Verification progress percentage
• Chain size on disk

Monitor Logs

Linux/macOS:

tail -f ~/.taler/debug.log

Windows:

type %APPDATA%\TALER\debug.log

Network Ports

Mainnet

• P2P Network: 23153 (TCP)
• RPC Port: 23152 (localhost only by default)

Testnet

• P2P Network: 33153 (TCP)
• RPC Port: 33152 (localhost only by default)

To accept incoming connections, ensure port 23153 (mainnet) or 33153 (testnet) is accessible through your firewall.

Stopping Your Node

Graceful Shutdown

Use taler-cli for clean shutdown:

taler-cli stop

This ensures:

• Database is properly closed
• Connections are cleanly terminated
• No blockchain corruption

Force Stop (Not Recommended)

If taler-cli stop doesn’t work:

Linux/macOS:

killall talerd

Windows:

taskkill /IM talerd.exe

Note: Force stopping may require reindexing on next start.

Configuration File

Create taler.conf in your data directory for persistent settings:

Example taler.conf:

# Network settings
listen=1
maxconnections=128
port=23153

# RPC settings
server=1
rpcuser=yourusername
rpcpassword=yourpassword
rpcport=23152
rpcallowip=127.0.0.1

# Performance
dbcache=1024
maxmempool=300

# Pruning (optional)
prune=2000

Location:

• Windows: %APPDATA%\TALER\taler.conf
• macOS: ~/Taler/taler.conf
• Linux: ~/.taler/taler.conf

Next Steps

• Command Line: Learn advanced talerd options in the Node CLI guide
• Docker Deployment: Run TALER node in containers with Docker
• Mining & Staking: Participate in block generation in Mining & Staking