Ethereum: Bitcoind in testnet mode not in sync

As a Bitcoin enthusiast and developer, I have encountered issues with the synchronization of the Ethereum testnet, bitcoind. In this article, we will explore why this happens and what solutions can be implemented to fix the issue.

The Problem

When running bitcoind in testnet mode, the synchronization process does not work properly. The rpcport setting is set to 8332, which is a common value for the Bitcoin testnet RPC port. However, this may not be sufficient for the Ethereum mainnet RPC port (8545).

Why this happens

The problem lies in the way bitcoind handles synchronization with the testnet. When running in testnet mode, bitcoind attempts to download blocks from the testnet chain and update its local state accordingly. However, this process can be slow and does not always synchronize with the mainnet RPC server.

Solution: Adjust rpcport

To fix this, we need to adjust the rpcport setting in bitcoin.conf to match the mainnet RPC port (8545). You can edit your configuration file like this:

rpcport=8545 
Update to match the mainnet RPC port

This change will tell bitcoind to listen for incoming connections on port 8545, which is the default RPC port for the Ethereum mainnet.

More tips

• Make sure you run bitcoind in testnet mode by setting rpcport to 8332 and listenaddr=0.0.0.0.

• You can also try using the -testnet flag when starting bitcoind, like this: bitcoind -testnet -rpcport=8545.

Example Use Case

Here is an updated example configuration file:

[conference]
rpcport=8545 
Mainnet RPC port
listenaddr=0.0.0.0 
Allow connections from all IP addresses
[net]
rpcmaxsize=1048576 
Set the maximum size for incoming requests

Conclusion

In this article, we identified and fixed the issue of bitcoind not syncing with the Ethereum mainnet in testnet mode. By adjusting the rpcport setting to match Ethereum’s default RPC port (8545), you should be able to resolve the sync issue. Remember to update your configuration file accordingly and try running bitcoind in testnet mode using the -testnet flag.

If you encounter sync issues after making these changes, please provide more details about your configuration, including your bitcoind version and any error messages you may receive.