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README: remove --fast and --cache flags and clarify default sync mode (
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…ethereum#16043)

* Remove --fast flag and clarify default

`--fast` is no longer a flag it's `--syncmode "fast"` and that is the default

* Remove --cache flag

--cache=512 is no longer required as of 1.8 as the default has been increased

* README: Minor cache amount fix, mention Rinkeby
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MysticRyuujin authored and karalabe committed Feb 10, 2018
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Showing 1 changed file with 17 additions and 12 deletions.
29 changes: 17 additions & 12 deletions README.md
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Expand Up @@ -56,16 +56,14 @@ the user doesn't care about years-old historical data, so we can fast-sync quick
state of the network. To do so:

```
$ geth --fast --cache=512 console
$ geth console
```

This command will:

* Start geth in fast sync mode (`--fast`), causing it to download more data in exchange for avoiding
processing the entire history of the Ethereum network, which is very CPU intensive.
* Bump the memory allowance of the database to 512MB (`--cache=512`), which can help significantly in
sync times especially for HDD users. This flag is optional and you can set it as high or as low as
you'd like, though we'd recommend the 512MB - 2GB range.
* Start geth in fast sync mode (default, can be changed with the `--syncmode` flag), causing it to
download more data in exchange for avoiding processing the entire history of the Ethereum network,
which is very CPU intensive.
* Start up Geth's built-in interactive [JavaScript console](https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/wiki/JavaScript-Console),
(via the trailing `console` subcommand) through which you can invoke all official [`web3` methods](https://github.com/ethereum/wiki/wiki/JavaScript-API)
as well as Geth's own [management APIs](https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/wiki/Management-APIs).
Expand All @@ -80,12 +78,11 @@ entire system. In other words, instead of attaching to the main network, you wan
network with your node, which is fully equivalent to the main network, but with play-Ether only.

```
$ geth --testnet --fast --cache=512 console
$ geth --testnet console
```

The `--fast`, `--cache` flags and `console` subcommand have the exact same meaning as above and they
are equally useful on the testnet too. Please see above for their explanations if you've skipped to
here.
The `console` subcommand have the exact same meaning as above and they are equally useful on the
testnet too. Please see above for their explanations if you've skipped to here.

Specifying the `--testnet` flag however will reconfigure your Geth instance a bit:

Expand All @@ -102,6 +99,14 @@ over between the main network and test network, you should make sure to always u
for play-money and real-money. Unless you manually move accounts, Geth will by default correctly
separate the two networks and will not make any accounts available between them.*

### Full node on the Rinkeby test network

The above test network is a cross client one based on the ethash proof-of-work consensus algorithm. As such, it has certain extra overhead and is more susceptible to reorganization attacks due to the network's low difficulty / security. Go Ethereum also supports connecting to a proof-of-authority based test network called [*Rinkeby*](https://www.rinkeby.io) (operated by members of the community). This network is lighter, more secure, but is only supported by go-ethereum.

```
$ geth --rinkeby console
```

### Configuration

As an alternative to passing the numerous flags to the `geth` binary, you can also pass a configuration file via:
Expand All @@ -125,10 +130,10 @@ One of the quickest ways to get Ethereum up and running on your machine is by us
```
docker run -d --name ethereum-node -v /Users/alice/ethereum:/root \
-p 8545:8545 -p 30303:30303 \
ethereum/client-go --fast --cache=512
ethereum/client-go
```

This will start geth in fast sync mode with a DB memory allowance of 512MB just as the above command does. It will also create a persistent volume in your home directory for saving your blockchain as well as map the default ports. There is also an `alpine` tag available for a slim version of the image.
This will start geth in fast-sync mode with a DB memory allowance of 1GB just as the above command does. It will also create a persistent volume in your home directory for saving your blockchain as well as map the default ports. There is also an `alpine` tag available for a slim version of the image.

Do not forget `--rpcaddr 0.0.0.0`, if you want to access RPC from other containers and/or hosts. By default, `geth` binds to the local interface and RPC endpoints is not accessible from the outside.

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