How to Setup a Darknode via Digital Ocean (DO) on Windows

Step 1: Destroy old Darknode(s)

1. If you have any previously deployed Darknodes; deregister, refund and destroy by following these instructions.

2. After this has been fully completed, delete the entire .darknode backup folder on your computer. It is no longer relevant if you have completed the above steps.

3. Confirm the API token that correspond to the old Darknode has been deleted via your VPS account.

Step 2: Starting Fresh | Create a Digital Ocean Account and API Token

1. If you don't have one already, create an account on Digital Ocean | https://www.digitalocean.com​

2. Enter your personal and payment information

3. Once completed it will bring you to the DO ‘mainhub’

   1. Click 'API' on the bottom left-hand side menu

   2. Click ‘Generate New Token’, with default settings, both write and read checked.

      1. If needed, follow the official DO Instructions for more detail: https://www.digitalocean.com/docs/api/create-personal-access-token/​

   3. Save your API Token Address in a secure location! Make sure you keep these values secure, anyone with access to them will be able to control your Darknode.

   4. Move to the next step below

Step 3: Installing the Necessary Windows Software

1. Follow the below instructions:

2. Click Start and type Powershell. Right-click and launch Windows PowerShell as an administrator. Run this command: dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart

3. This will activate "Windows Subsystem for Linux" optional feature. After this, restart your computer.

4. Once restarted, open Microsoft Store and search for Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. Click on it and from the distribution's page, select "Get".

5. Open up Ubuntu app on Desktop once installed and then you will be asked to:

   1. Launch Ubuntu and create a user account and password for your new Linux distribution but clicking this link.

6. Close terminal and proceed below

Step 4: Install the Darknode CLI on Your Computer

1. Open your Ubuntu terminal

   1. Input password you created above in step Step 3.5.1

   2. Insert this text to install the CLI, by pasting: curl https://www.github.com/renproject/darknode-cli/releases/latest/download/install.sh -sSfL | sh

2. Wait a minute or two. Once successfully installed, you'll see some green text.

Step 5: Deploy your Darknode

1. Close and then re-open the Terminal app on your computer

2. If everything goes well, you should see 3.0.14 when you run darknode --version command.

3. Then copy and paste the following: darknode up --name MY-FIRST-DARKNODE --do --do-token YOUR-API-TOKEN

4. Replace ‘MY-FIRST-DARKNODE’ and ‘YOUR-API-TOKEN’ by

   1. Input a name for your Darknode but make sure it has no spaces in it or is not too long.

   2. Input your Digital Ocean API Token found in step 2 *Example of what this would look like: darknode up --name darknodesteve --do --do-token 1111aca25cc77d84299e3b8a0f76f2ec33a27b1782adc2a7a96f0468116edf46

   ​

5. Press enter and wait approximately 3-5 minutes while your Darknode is installed.

   1. Don’t touch anything, let the CLI works its magic and wait patiently!

   2. When completed, you will be provided a link (in green) within the terminal.

   3. If a webpage does not open automatically, please copy and paste the (relatively long green) link into the web-browser, which will take you to the new Command Center!

   4. Some tips to keep in mind

      1. If you see "Register Darknode (Public Key Required)". Copy/paste the link directly from Ubuntu, input that into your web browser and all should work well.

      2. Turn off all ad blockers (and "shields" if using Brave).

      3. If using a Ledger via MetaMask, make sure your “Contract Data” is turned on.

Step 6: Register and launch your Darknode on the Command Center (CC)

1. Sign into MetaMask and then bookmark your CC Webpage!

2. Before proceeding, make sure you have 100K REN in your MetaMask wallet along with 0.1 ETH (recommended amount) for your Darknode's GAS.

   1. Please be aware you must register using the CC with MetaMask. You can use Hardware wallets via MetaMask but we have seen issues in the past with drivers updates, etc.. so proceed with caution and make sure your contract data setting is turned on.

      Note: One cannot just send REN to your Darknode because this will not cause it to be registered.

3. Sign into MetaMask as you normally would and ensure the above REN and ETH are in your account.

4. Register your Darknode

   1. Click the ‘REGISTER YOUR DARKNODE’ button (top left) in the CC.

   2. Submit your 100K Ren via MetaMask instructions, sign transactions, etc.

   3. Wait a few minutes while your Darknode registers, sign the needed MetaMask transactions for GAS, etc.

   4. Once completed, you will be notified that your ‘Registration is in Progress’

   5. Wait patiently for your Darknode to be fully registered (can take up to 31 days)

   6. In the meantime, top-up your Darknode up with GAS via the ‘GAS BALANCE’ section

      1. Click the arrow ‘>’ and submit 0.1 ETH (recommended amount) for GAS.

   7. The CC will not function fully until the Darknode has been fully registered, so don't be alarmed if you explore the CC and buttons don't function properly. Just wait to explore until your registration is complete.

5. Once you've added ETH to your Darknode, wait patiently, but in the interim:

   1. Back up your Darknode file but inputting this into your Terminal and pressing enter (Windows OS via Ubuntu):

cp -r .darknode/ /mnt/c/Users/Administrator/Desktop/2020xxxx

(Note: Replace ‘Administrator’ with their windows username). A backup folder will appear on your desktop/documents folder. Save this folder somewhere safe!

A backup folder will then appear on your Desktop, save this somewhere safe!

1. After the 31 day waiting period, check back on the CC and click the registration button.

   1. Review the NETWORK INFORMATION tab on the right-hand side of the CC for details. The CC should also note that you Darknode is 'Registered' on the left.

Step 7: Congrats, you're all done and remember to periodically check on your Darknode and refill it with ETH as needed.