How to install an IOTA node on a Jelastic VPS in 10 minutes

Sonicx
7 min readMar 25, 2021

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!! GUIDE IN UPDATE state for latest version of IOTA node 1.3.3

!! PLEASE WAIT FOR NEW UPDATES!!

For staking, use standard iota nodes or tanglebay: https://tanglebay.com/nodes/

2021.12.29

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Updated on: November 23, 2021
Version guide: 2.1.3
Node: Hornet for IOTA 1.5 Chrysalis
Installation Type: Jelastic Marketplace (one click)

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Introduction

This guide aims to explain in an easy and accessible way to everyone how to install a Hornet node on the IOTA Chrysalis network through a VPS (Virtual Private Server).

Through a VPS on cloud you can run your node having total control of consumption and power needed, thanks to the Jelastic cloud system you spend only what you consume with no hidden costs.

By creating a node you help the IOTA network and the whole ecosystem, you can also validate your transactions without having to depend on someone else.

Special thanks go to Ruslan Synytsky and the entire Jelastic team for their help and availability and to the entire IOTA community for their support.

Step by step guide let’s get started!

1) Registration to Infomaniak cloud hosting service

In this guide I am relying on my favorite Swiss hosting service, Infomaniak.
If you want you can register via the refferal link, this way I will be able to support the IOTA network with new nodes ❤️

There are cheaper hosting, check the list at the bottom of the guide and decide where to install your node.

As an alternative to infomaniak we recommend => cloudjiffy.com

Sign up now

Register with your details

2) After registering, login and click on “Jelastic Cloud”

3) Select the type of account

Go ahead and choose the unlimited account (minimum about CHF/$ 20 recharge)

You can also choose the 14-day trial to test the Jelastic product, but you will not have a public IP address and there are several limitations that do not allow you to install a node.

4) Make the payment to load the credit

Move forward in the process using your preferred payment system

5) Wait until the Jelastic environment creation process is ready

Click on Access

6) Accessing your Jelastic cloud environment

Via the Infomaniak dashboard, click on “Sign in to Jealstic Cloud

7) You have entered your Jelastic environment!

Click on “Marketplace

8) Install the IOTA node with one click

After opening the Marketplace go to the “Microservices” menu and click on the IOTA icon to start the installation.

9) Let’s start the installation of the IOTA node

Leave the default settings and press “Install

Wait a few minutes for installation (you have to be patient the installation can take 2 to 5 minutes or so.)

When this window appears the installation is finished

Data for logging into the node dashboard

10) Check the access data on your email

After installation, you will receive an email with the login details displayed above.

11) Accessing the dashboard

Access the dashboard using your login details

Login form
Peers are valid
Wait for node synchronization
Node synchronized successfully

Congratulations, you have installed your first IOTA node! 😀🎉

Helpful Information:

> Other hosting

Do you want to install your node on another Hosting? Check out the list of available hosts with Jelastic system and compare prices.

If you want to save money we recommend using https://cloudjiffy.com/
Install a node easily at a cost of $0.01 per hour ~ $7 per month, the installation process on Jelastic is identical.

> How to add and find new peers (optional)

Since IOTA Hornet node version 1.0.5 there is autopeering.
If you need to add peers manually follow these instructions:

The IOTA network is a distributed network in which data is broadcasted among IOTA nodes. IOTA nodes broadcast messages to other IOTA nodes using a gossip protocol. To be able to participate in a network communication, each node has to establish a secure connection to some other nodes in the network — to its peer neighbors — and mutually exchange messages. This is the way how the data is spread within the IOTA network.

How to add new peers

  1. Click on the “Peers” icon
Dashboard Home

2. Add a new peer

Button for adding new peers

3. Insert the following peer:

ADDRESS: /ip4/103.217.220.155/tcp/15600
ID:
12D3KooWMXwmLCx2uToNUCoffVThvVrDdf9onmkQvpwvnZDCAJwe
Add a peer

4. The node should already be synchronized with the default peers, check that all peers are active

A recommended number of peer neighbors is 4–6, since some of them can be offline from time to time, for this reason we may need to add others in addition to those mentioned in the guide.

How to find new Peers

  1. Open this website > https://nodesharing.wisewolf.de/

2. Copy your public IP address

3. Copy your peering ID from the node dashboard

Peering ID

4.Paste your public IP

5. Paste the peer ID

6. You are provided with new peers that you can add to your node!

Another way to find peers is to go to discord’s #nodesharing channel and swap with users.

> How to manage and open network ports (optional)

In this guide there is no need to open ports.

Doors to open:

TCP 15600
TCP 8081

Disable access to all ports

> How to edit cloudlets

It is recommended to leave the default setting. Change it only if you are sure of the power needed.

The installation from Markeltplace Jelastic is set to 24 cloudlets (3GB RAM and 9.6 GHz CPU)

We can lower or raise the resources needed at will.

  1. Go to ‘Change Environment Topology’ settings

2. Adjust to desired level. The node will be briefly restarted.

> How to restart a node

To restart the node click on the “Restart Node” icon

> How to stop the environment

If we don’t want to use our environment we must remember to stop it, otherwise the environment on the virtual server will continue to run consuming credit.

We can then restart the container whenever we want.
(Remember, though, that an IOTA node must always be active to function properly)

> How to see how many resources my node consumes:

Through the Jelastic control panel just position here to see the real consumption

You can access statistics to see consumption over time, so you can adjust scalability to suit your needs

> Official Hornet documentation:

> About Jelastic cloud

For more information about Jelastic Cloud you can watch the video of the live session on the iota node installation (old version pre-chrysalis)

https://jelastic.com/

> Responsibility and usage:

The author of the guide is not responsible for using the information incorrectly leading to unforeseen consequences and technical problems that may occur on the services. For any further information please read the official IOTA documentation and contact the hosting companies.

> For any questions contact me on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/IotaSonic

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