Linux for mining

Cryptocurrency mining requires not only powerful hardware, but also an optimal operating system. The OS determines which programs can be installed, how difficult it is to set up the farm for the first time, etc. Therefore, the choice should not be rushed. Installing Linux for mining Ether, you should take into account the specifics of the system. It practically does not waste the computing resources of the equipment. But the choice of software is less, and customization is more complicated than on Windows.

Pros and cons of mining on Linux

One of the selection criteria is comprehensibility. It is recommended to use a system with which the miner knows how to work. The table collects the pros and cons of Linux, according to the opinion of miners.

Choice of build

Linux is available under the GNU GPL license. This permission allows free installation and modification of software. The OS kernel is available to all users, so experienced miners can set up and run the farm without spending money on software. Additional functions for mining coins are available only in paid versions of Linux. They will be useful for investors who do not know how to configure the farm themselves and do not want to spend a lot of time on the first launch. There are 5 popular Linux builds for mining:

• Linux Mint. The professional OS for cryptocurrency mining is used by more than 3 million miners. The system has a built-in software manager, which will simplify the installation of software. In addition, the developers actively develop the OS and listen to the opinions of users.
• HiveOS. This build was created specifically for miners. It has enough built-in features that are necessary exactly for mining tokens (monitoring regs, customizing the configuration of video cards, remote farm management from your phone, etc.). HiveOS can be used for free if you connect no more than 3 regs.
• ethOS. The distribution is distributed on a paid basis for $39 per license. Its peculiarity is the possibility to deploy the system on a USB-drive.
• nvOC and rxOC. These OSes practically do not differ from each other and are close to pure Ubuntu. However, the developers have built into them drivers, miners and settings profiles for quick start of the farm. The first variant is created for NVIDIA graphics cards, while the second one is for AMD.

A common feature of mining builds is the lack of full access to the system. Some of the functionality that is available in pure Linux is blocked in them.

Necessary equipment

To create your own farm and become part of the cryptocommunity, you do not need to spend a lot of money on top ASICs or GPUs. Even inexpensive laptops released after 2018-2019 meet the minimum system requirements.

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It should be taken into account that the necessary minimum is specified in the assembly. If the computer is weaker, you will not be able to mine for technical reasons. However, you should not focus on this configuration. You need more powerful video cards (for example, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090). Otherwise, you will not be able to get a steady income.

When assembling a farm or computer for mining, you need to remember that cryptocurrencies created for graphics gas pedals have a larger DAG-file. If the GPU doesn’t have enough memory to store the data, mining will become impossible. To keep the farm from becoming obsolete too quickly, a graphics gas pedal should have 6GB of VRAM or more.

Cryptocurrency wallets on Linux

The profitability of the farm is determined not only by the processing power, but also by the reliability of other parts of the business. You need to choose a cryptocurrency wallet that is suitable for Linux and has reliable security.

Developers have created few programs specifically for Linux, but there are quite a few cross-platform solutions. All desktop applications are non-custodial wallets. Only the account creator has access to tokens.

You can use any convenient wallet to store coins – they are close in functionality. Beginners should consider 3 popular options:

If the miner plans to create a powerful farm and work with large amounts in cryptocurrency, it is recommended to use a hardware wallet for cold storage. It is safer because it does not have a constant connection to the internet. The only disadvantage of Ledger Nano S and analogs is the high cost. Hardware wallets sell for $50 or more.

Applications for mining on Linux in 2024

To mine coins, special software is required. Before you can mine on Linux, you need to unpack and configure software that will solve cryptographic tasks. There are more than 40 programs available online, of which 5 programs for Linux are worth highlighting.

CGMiner

A functional open-source system suitable for earning cryptocurrencies on processors, video cards and ASICs. CGMiner users can control cooling, CPU and GPU right in the program. The developers have provided a function of remote access to the equipment.

A special feature of CGMiner is a hash rate higher than that of analogs. To increase the efficiency of mining, the developers optimized the solution of tasks on the farm.

BFGMiner

This application is suitable for experienced users who know how to customize the operating system and maintain integrated circuits. With the help of the program, you can only mine on ASICs and FPGAs. Like other popular applications, BFGMiner includes features for statistics collection, remote monitoring.

EasyMiner

The software has a visual interface and the community has created a lot of instructions, so it is suitable for beginners. The feature of EasyMiner is a shell application that works together with other miners. The software is actively used for mining alone and in pools.

MinerGate

This application is also suitable for beginners. The developers of the miner simplified the installation and initial setup, and cryptocurrency mining is conducted in the MinerGate pool. There are versions of the software for Windows, Linux, macOS and Android.

MinerGate offers a unique tool that allows you to test the mining of different coins and automatically identifies tokens with high income. It takes into account the network load, pool commission and cryptocurrency exchange rate.

Cpuminer-multi

This tool was created on the basis of a simple cpuminer, but with a focus on multi-threaded processor architecture. It mines coins more efficiently than the standard version. At the same time, there are no external differences. To configure the program is as easy as the basic cpuminer.

Instructions for setting up Linux for mining

To start mining cryptocurrency, you need to assemble a farm and configure the software on it. A cryptocurrency wallet, drivers, etc. will be needed. It is worthwhile to break down the preparation for mining on Linux by steps.

Installation and configuration of the wallet

Extracted coins can not be stored simply on the card. For digital assets you need a wallet, so the preparation of the software part of the farm starts with it. It is worth to break down the software installation on the example of Electrum. Instructions:

1. Download the distribution.
2. Open the Linux console and enter sudoapt-getinstall python3-setuptools python3-pip. This command is needed to download the files without which the program will not work.
3. Type python3 -m pipinstall-userElectrum-4.3.2.tar.gz to install the wallet itself.

When the unpacking of the files is finished, a shortcut will appear on your desktop. After the first launch, you need to configure the wallet at once:

1. Select the automatic connection method and click on “Next”.
2. Enter the account name. It will be useful only for identifying a specific wallet, if the user plans to create several.
3. Specify the type of storage.
4. Create a passphrase and write it down on paper. It is not worth storing it on a PC, as a virus can get on the computer. Physical media is more reliable and secure.
5. Enter the mnemonic phrase.
6. Specify the access code for the application.

Installing drivers

Video cards need updated software to optimize their performance. If the client uses NVIDIA, he can install drivers in 5-7 minutes according to the instructions:

1. Open the software page on the company’s website.
2. Specify Linux x64 operating system.
3. Find the .run file package and save the folder link.
4. In the Linux console, type the command wget http://ru.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x8664/390.48/NVIDIALinuxx8664390.48.run. Linux has its own program for fast downloading software from the Internet.
5. Type the command chmod +x NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-390.48.run.
6. Specify a password for authorization.
7. Enter the sudoapt-get install makegcc request to download the missing data.
8. Write sudo ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-390.48.run in the console to initiate the installation.

Overclocking the graphics card

To make the graphics gas pedal more efficient at mining cryptocurrency and consume less power, investors change the basic settings. Linux allows you to control the GPU without restrictions. Instructions for overclocking:

1. Open the console.
2. Enter the command sudo nvidia-xconfig -a -cool-bits=31 -allow-empty-initial-configuration -enable-all-gpus. The computer will automatically reboot after completing the prompt.
3. Open the console again.
4. Send the query nvidia-settings -a ‘[gpu:0]/GPUMemoryTransferRateOfffset[3]=600’ to change the memory overclock.
5. Enter nvidia-settings -a ‘[gpu:0]/GPUGraphicsClockOffset[3]=120’ to customize the microkernel frequency increase on the compute boards.
6. Use the command nvidia-settings -a ‘[fan:0]/GPUTargettFanSpeed=65’ to select the rotation speed of the integrated cooler.
7. Specify the sudo nvidia-smi -pl 85 prompt to set the maximum power consumption in watts.
8. Reboot the farm.

Installing the miner

When the user has already selected the program, it remains to unpack it on the computer and configure it. Instructions on how to prepare CGMiner for Bitcoin mining:

1. Download the software to the farm and install it by clicking on the distribution.
2. After unzipping, find the directory with CGMiner.
3. Create a text file and open it through the Notepad program.
4. Specify a name for the document and save it with the .bat extension.
5. Click on the file and select the “Edit” function.
6. Enter in it the configuration -sha-256 -o [address of the mining pool] -u [name of the vorker] -p [password of the account in the pool].
7. Save the bat file.

Network selection

Not all coins are equally profitable to mine. To determine the approximate profitability taking into account the available equipment, it is worth using calculators. In 2023, the following assets are popular among home miners:

Extraction of different tokens has its own nuances. In 2023, Bitcoin is mined only on ASICs, and ETC – on video cards.

Cryptocurrencies are mined on networks with different hashing mechanisms. Bitcoin circulates on the blockchain with the SHA-256 algorithm, while ETHW is handled by Ethash.

Choosing a pool

Home solo mining became impossible due to too many connected farms. In order to make a stable income, users began to gather in pools. In search of a platform, it is worth remembering that they differ in several criteria:

• Choice of coins.
• Commission.
• Payout model.
• The total power of connected devices.

In 2023, miners mainly work with pools such as ViaBTC, Antpool, NiceHash, ETHpool. There are less popular analogs that have similar conditions and payment models.

Starting mining

If the user works with console software, you need a command to start. The creators of the software specify it in the instructions. You should enter the command in the console and press the Enter key. In the case of programs that have a graphical shell, you need to click on the “Start” button, “Start” or similar.

Building a mining farm under Linux

Creating rigs under Linux has no specifics, if compared with Windows. The order of actions differs little even from the assembly of a standard PC. Instructions:

1. Put the motherboard on the skeleton and connect the RAM cards, CPU to it.
2. Apply thermal paste to the CPU. For this purpose, it is recommended to use a plastic spatula.
3. Put the HDD or SSD, power supply and place the video cards.
4. Connect the PSU to the motherboard and GPU.
5. Connect the first video card to the motherboard through the PCI-E x16 slot, and the rest – through a raiser to PCI-E x1.
6. Attach the external fans.

You should also use a plug. This device imitates the connection of the monitor to the farm, so the video cards will work stably without unnecessary parts. It externally resembles a small flash drive.

Features of mining on AMD on Linux

On Linux, digital assets are comfortable to mine with any devices. Before running Ether mining on Linux on AMD, it is worth considering that different types of drivers are used on Ubuntu:

• AMDGPU-PRO. Proprietary software contains all the settings and functions that are required for token mining.
• AMDGPU. This type of driver is considered the best if additional OpenCL packages are standing on the farm.
• Mesa. The software was integrated into the Linux kernel, but it is no longer used. Mesa is suitable only for outdated AMD Radeon.

Ethereum mining on Linux

It is worth saying that ETH is not mined on this OS. After the network upgrade, Ethereum switched to the PoS model. However, it is still possible to mine ETHW, ETC on Linux. At the same time, it is worth mining them exactly on Linux, since experienced users are able to customize the system’s operation in detail and increase income.

Because of the many built-in programs and utilities, Windows is inferior to Linux by about 2-7 MH/s on different video cards. Even a small advantage matters, as it is harder to make money from mining in 2023 than it was 5-7 years ago.

Author: Saifedean Ammous, an expert in cryptocurrency economics.