I'm attempting to work my way through Alex Van de Sande's three-part series on how to build a cryptocurrency, democracy and central bank on the blockchain.
I downloaded the Mist Wallet, Linux 64 version 0.3.8. However, whenever I choose testnet from the menu the app closes. After reading the readme.txt, it seems that I have to change something called the IPC path. Is that why the app keeps closing? I do see the geth.ipc file in the directory indicated. Where do I make the necessary change to IPC path? Is it also necessary to change network id and data directory as seems to be indicated? What are those fields?
Also, it says something about needing at least 1 ether to use the wallet on testnet. Does that mean I cannot mine on the testnet, and get started with the tutorial, unless I have ether?
Thank you.
0 ·
Comments
If it is such a simple answer it makes me wonder why no one has popped in here to say so, which makes me wonder if the question is so basic that I shouldn't even be using Mist, which makes me wonder why Alex recommended using it to get acquainted with Ethereum.
Basically I switched between the Main and the Testnet back and forth and tried all possibilities.
First I needed a password to create. (switch back and forth) Then “There is no original wallet found …” – cancel. Now there should be an account. Wait for the “blocks” to be 0. (I had to switch back and forth because the blocks got stuck – maybe my internet connection is not the best). Now I did start mining and had after 1 hour 20 TestEther . https://test.ether.camp/ did not work for me.
I hope you find a way too.
you can run geth like that to create a testnet:
geth --testnet
http://ethereum.stackexchange.com/a/236/87
Here is the first in the article series I mentioned: https://blog.ethereum.org/2015/12/03/how-to-build-your-own-cryptocurrency/. It all sounds very simple.
Unfortunately, the link you included is members only.
Note: That is with the understanding it is still not to be considered a stable release.
For me it is: Ethereum-Wallet-win32-x64-0-3-8/resources/node/geth/geth.exe
Or Ethereum-Wallet-win32-x64-0-3-8/resources/node/eth/eth.exe
Launch these with the --testnet flag before you launch mist itself.
And no, Mist is not designed to run out of the box stand-alone. you always need a node running. The pre-releases ship one for now.
In what file do I change the --testnet flag?
Thanks
Jon
Perhaps this is just a bug in the software and the answers above and readme are referring to running in terminal?
That means to get started with Mist you do NOT have to own ether.
I am running Ubuntu 14.04.3 / Linux Mint 17.2.
First, open the command line and run geth on the testnet. I used this command:
/home/[your user name]/[your/pathto/ethereum]/resources/node/geth/geth --testnet
Syncing will start after you have run the above command. The testnet has to sync even if you have synced to the mainnet. Currently, the testnet is about 1/3 the number of blocks as the mainnet.
Leave geth open and while waiting, you can open Ethereum-Wallet (Mist). You will notice that you do not have an account. Even if you have already created a 'live' account, you will have to create another account. My guess is you can't have accounts that transact both on the live and test nets. A good way to look at it is that even though you only have one Mist program you actually have two versions of it. One for the mainnet and one for the testnet. Depending upon whether you open geth on the testnet or mainnet you will get the testnet-Mist or mainnet-Mist when you open the Ethereum Wallet (Mist).
Once you are synced and have created an account, copy your etherbase address.
Then close Mist and close geth.
To start mining, go back to the command line and type:
/home/[your user name]/[your/pathto/ethereum]/resources/node/geth/geth --testnet --etherbase '[your etherbase address]' --mine
This reopens geth, sets it to the testnet, designates the account address you want the mining rewards sent, and starts mining.
Leaving geth open, you can now open Mist and see mining rewards adding to your balance.
To sum up: f you do not have any ether and want to transact with Mist, until the bug is fixed, each time you will have to manually open geth on the testnet and then open Mist.
Please let me know if I can explain something better.
geth --testnet
Once block sync is underway, I right click Ethereum Wallet and 'run as administrator' otherwise I get the errors as per OP.
Hope this helps.
Do you have any other recommendations/workarounds for this issue?