A Beginner's Guide to Mining on Conflux Network

Conflux Network is a public, open-source blockchain protocol designed for high throughput and scalability. This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step walkthrough for setting up your node and starting to mine on the Conflux Network, tailored for users of all technical backgrounds. We'll cover the entire process from obtaining a wallet to configuring and running your mining software on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.

Before you begin, it's crucial to understand the network's different phases. The mainnet, known as Pontus, is live. However, mining typically occurs on the testnet, a separate environment for development and testing where rewards are issued in test tokens. Always ensure you are downloading the correct software from the official Conflux GitHub repository to guarantee security and authenticity.

Preparation: Setting Up Your Conflux Wallet

The first step in your mining journey is to secure a wallet address where your mining rewards will be deposited. For security reasons, using a browser-based web wallet is not recommended. Instead, we advise using the official ConfluxPortal browser extension. This tool acts as a secure gateway to interact with decentralized applications (DApps) on the Conflux ecosystem and manages your private keys locally on your device.

Once installed, create a new wallet and carefully safeguard your private key or seed phrase. Your public wallet address, which will look something like 0x1b5c..., is what you will use for mining configuration. It is essential to note that Conflux updated its address format; normal wallet addresses now begin with "0x1" instead of "0x". This change is visual only and does not affect your private key or funds.

👉 Explore secure wallet options

Installing and Configuring on Windows

Getting started with mining on a Windows PC involves a straightforward process of downloading, configuring, and running the node software.

Downloading the Required Software

Navigate to the official Conflux releases page on GitHub. Locate the latest version of the testnet client (e.g., v0.6.0-rc-3), click on "Assets," and download the Windows-specific archive file (usually a .zip file).

Initial Setup and File Preparation

After downloading, extract the contents of the ZIP file. It is good practice to create a dedicated folder for your Conflux node to keep files organized. For instance, you can create a folder named conflux on your C: drive and extract the contents of the downloaded package into it. The resulting directory structure should look like this:

conflux
 └── run
     ├── conflux.exe
     ├── default.toml
     └── log.yaml

Configuring Your Node for Mining

The critical step is editing the default.toml configuration file to enable mining and direct rewards to your wallet.

Open the default.toml file located in the run folder using a text editor like Notepad.
Enable Mining: Find the line # start_mining=true. Remove the # symbol to uncomment this line, activating the mining function.
Set Your Reward Address: Find the line # mining_author="...". Remove the # and replace the placeholder text inside the quotes with your public wallet address, omitting the "0x" prefix. For example, if your address is 0x14aa17059a0f2dbf539d1cdec662177af963a078, the line should read:
mining_author="14aa17059a0f2dbf539d1cdec662177af963a078"
Set Your Public IP: Locate the public_address configuration. Replace the xx.xx.xx.xx:32323 placeholder with your own public IP address, ensuring you add the :32323 port number. You can find your public IP by simply searching "what is my IP" on Google.
Save the changes and close the file.

Starting and Stopping the Mining Process

To begin mining:

Open the Command Prompt (cmd).
Navigate to your Conflux directory using the command: cd C:\conflux\run
Start the node with the command: conflux --config default.toml --full 2>stderr.txt
The console will start displaying synchronization and mining logs.

To stop the process, simply press Ctrl+C in the Command Prompt window or close the window.

Installing and Configuring on macOS

The process for macOS users is similar but involves using the Terminal application.

Downloading and Preparing Files

Download the macOS version from the same official GitHub releases page. The downloaded file will typically be named something like conflux_mac_v0.6.0-rc-3.zip. By default, it will be in your "Downloads" folder. For simplicity, open Terminal and run the following commands to create a dedicated folder and extract the files:

cd ~/Downloads
mkdir -p conflux
unzip conflux_mac_v0.6.0-rc-3.zip -d conflux

This will create the necessary directory structure (Downloads/conflux/run/).

Configuration Steps

The configuration process is identical to the Windows guide. Navigate to the run folder in your Finder (Downloads/conflux/run/), right-click on the default.toml file, and open it with a text editor. Modify the start_mining, mining_author, and public_address lines exactly as described in the Windows section. Save the file once you are done.

Running and Terminating the Node on Mac

To start your node:

Open Terminal.
Run the following commands:
```
cd ~/Downloads/conflux/run
ulimit -n 10000
./conflux --config default.toml
```
To stop mining, return to the Terminal window and press Control+C.

Installing and Configuring on Linux

Linux users can also easily set up a Conflux mining node via the command line.

Acquisition and Extraction of Software

Download the Linux build from the Conflux GitHub releases page. Using the terminal, create a directory and extract the package. The commands may look like this:

mkdir -p ~/conflux
unzip conflux_linux_v0.6.0-rc-3.zip -d ~/conflux
cd ~/conflux/run

Configuration and Execution

Configure the default.toml file using a terminal-based text editor like nano or vim. Apply the same changes to the start_mining, mining_author, and public_address parameters as outlined for Windows and macOS.

To start the node, run the following command from within the ~/conflux/run directory:
./conflux --config default.toml --full 2>stderr.txt

Synchronizing with the Latest Testnet Code

The Conflux testnet undergoes periodic updates. To ensure your node runs smoothly and remains compatible, you must keep your client software up to date.

Check for Updates: Regularly visit the Conflux-Chain GitHub repository to see if a new version has been released.
Delete Old Files: Before updating, it is safest to delete the entire contents of your conflux/run folder to avoid file conflicts.
Install New Release: Download the latest release package for your operating system. Extract the new files into your conflux folder, replacing the old ones.
Reconfigure: After updating, you must reopen your default.toml file and reconfigure your public_address, start_mining, and mining_author settings, as they may have been reset to default.
Relaunch: Restart your node using the appropriate command for your OS.

Understanding Mining Logs and Statistics

Once your node is running, the terminal will output log information that helps you monitor its status. Key things to look for include:

Block Synchronization: Messages showing inserted_block_count: xxx indicate that your node is successfully synchronizing with the network, which is especially important when first started.
Mining Status: A log entry stating mode: false signifies that your node has finished syncing historical data and is actively participating in the mining process.
Epoch Number: You will see an epoch:424480 line. This number represents the current epoch your node is working on. A continuously increasing epoch number confirms that mining is ongoing and your node is processing new blocks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the Conflux mainnet and testnet?

The mainnet is the live, production blockchain where transactions have real economic value. The testnet is a separate network used for testing and development, where tokens have no real-world value. Mining on the testnet allows you to test the process and earn test tokens.

I see my wallet address now starts with '0x1' instead of '0x'. Did I lose my funds?

No, your funds are safe. Conflux implemented a new address format for clarity. This was only a visual change to easily distinguish between regular wallets (0x1) and smart contracts (0x8). Your private key remains unchanged and still controls your original address.

Why is my node not mining?

First, ensure you correctly uncommented the start_mining=true line in the default.toml file. Second, verify that your mining_author address is entered without the "0x" prefix. Finally, check your logs; your node must fully synchronize with the network (shown by mode: false) before it begins mining.

How do I find my public IP address for the configuration?

Simply use a search engine like Google. Typing "what is my IP" will display your public IP address at the top of the search results. Copy this address and add :32323 to it for the configuration.

Is mining on the testnet profitable?

No, mining on the testnet does not generate real, valuable cryptocurrency. It is designed for educational purposes, testing network functionality, and allowing developers to experiment with the protocol without financial cost.

Do I need a powerful computer to mine on Conflux?

While more powerful hardware may perform better, the Conflux network is designed to be accessible. You can run a node and participate in mining on a standard modern laptop or desktop computer, as the mining process is not solely dependent on raw computational power like in Proof-of-Work systems.