Set up my first node, any advice?

General Discussions
1

Hi all,

Just got my first node set up!

Running on Raspberry Pi 5 8GB, 2TB SSD drive, enclosure with heat sink and fan. Also got a powered USB hub.

My overall interest will mainly be around:

  • Bitcoin Core Node
  • Maybe a Lightning Node
  • Home media server (family photo/video archive)

  1. First, I’m just curious if there’s anything I should be doing first thing. For example, maybe security related, etc.?

  2. Second, I’m wondering what is considered the best app for a family photo archive? Think along the lines of Google Photos sort of thing… something where I can consolidate multiple years worth of family memories. Would be good if my wife could access it somehow to help organize it. Would also be amazing if it could be viewed on other devices in the home, like our TV. Anything like that?

  3. Third… because there will be important things on the drive… what is the best way to make backups of the SSD drive so if something happens I have a backup to fall back on? Is there a good way to make a clone of the drive?

  4. Fourth, even though I already have a 2TB drive, I’m already thinking ahead on what to do to expand storage on the future if/when needed. Would this be as simple is just plugging in another USB drive into one of the USB ports, and Umbrel would recognize an additional drive connected and use it in addition to the first? What’s the best way to handle this?

That’s it for now.

Thanks!

2

Hi there!

Congratulations on setting up your first node! That’s a fantastic project, and it sounds like you’ve got a solid setup with your Raspberry Pi.

  1. Security Recommendations:
    For your initial setup, here are a few key security measures to consider:
  • Change Default Passwords: Ensure that you change any default passwords for your Raspberry Pi and any software you install.
  • Firewall: Set up a firewall (like ufw on Linux) to restrict access to only necessary ports.
  • Regular Updates: Keep your Raspberry Pi and any installed software up to date to protect against vulnerabilities.
  • SSH Key Authentication: If you plan to use SSH for remote access, consider setting up key-based authentication instead of password authentication for added security.
  1. Family Photo Archive App:
    For a family photo and video archive that’s accessible and easy to manage, consider using:
  • Nextcloud: It’s a powerful self-hosted cloud solution that allows you to store photos and videos, share them easily with family members, and access them from various devices.
  • PhotoPrism: This is a great option for organizing and viewing your photos, featuring powerful search and filtering capabilities.
  • Jellyfin: Although primarily a media server, it can handle photos as well, providing a user-friendly interface for your media library.
  • Immich: A self-hosted photo and video backup solution that focuses on ease of use and accessibility, perfect for family archives.
  1. Backup Solutions:
    To back up your SSD drive, consider using backup apps from the Umbrel app store:
  • Duplicati: A versatile backup solution that can encrypt and back up your files to various cloud storage services. You can schedule automatic backups and manage them through its interface.
  • FileBrowser: While primarily a file manager, it enables easy management and copying of files, assisting in creating manual backups of your important data.
  1. Expanding Storage:
    Yes, expanding storage is quite simple! You can plug in an additional USB drive, and with most software like Umbrel, it should recognize the new drive automatically. Make sure to format the new drive correctly (usually ext4 for Linux) to ensure compatibility. You can also set up a RAID configuration if you’re looking for redundancy.

If you have any further questions or need help with specific steps, feel free to ask!

1 Like
3

thanks for the thoughtful reply! Very good response, appreciate it.

In regard to expanding storage, when you talk about the formatting, wht would you recommend to do this? Let’s say the new drive arrives in the mail tomorrow… what do I do? Format it using my MacOS Disk Utility? Some other method? Or would Umbrel do this when I plug it in for the first time? How would this work?

I’d also be interested in learning how to do a RAID potentially… but would have no idea how to implement this on my setup right now.

One thing I was thinking of for doing backups, is maybe using Balena Etcher to do a clone from my node drive to another connected drive. Of course, I’d have to shut down my node, then hook up the drive to my Mac, then hook it back in once I’m done… but might be good way to do this periodically?

4

You’re very welcome! I’m glad the info was helpful!

1. Formatting the New Drive:
If you’re getting a new drive, formatting it on your Mac using Disk Utility is a good idea, as this will ensure it’s ready for use with Umbrel. Here’s how:

  • Use Disk Utility on MacOS:
    1. Connect the drive to your Mac.
    2. Open Disk Utility, select the new drive, and choose Erase.
    3. Select Format as exFAT if you may use it with different systems. However, ext4 is generally recommended for Umbrel because it’s native to Linux. Unfortunately, Disk Utility doesn’t support ext4 formatting, so if that’s your preferred format, you’ll need to use a tool like Etcher (Balena’s USB burning tool which it seems like you’re familiar with) to prepare an ext4 drive on Linux, or format it directly on a Raspberry Pi.

Alternative:
When you plug it into your Umbrel node for the first time, check if Umbrel prompts you to format it; some versions of Umbrel may offer formatting options, but if not, using Disk Utility or other tools is the way to go.

2. Setting Up RAID on Raspberry Pi:
Setting up RAID on a Raspberry Pi can add redundancy, but it’s a bit more involved. For a beginner-friendly approach, you can set up RAID 1 (mirroring), which duplicates data across two drives to protect against single-drive failure. There are guides online that walk through these steps in detail. It’s a good idea to read up on RAID types and make sure this setup aligns with your backup goals.

3. Cloning with Balena Etcher for Periodic Backups:
Your idea to use Balena Etcher is solid! Cloning periodically by shutting down your node, cloning the drive to an external backup, and reconnecting everything afterward is a reliable way to protect your data.

Happy to help further.

1 Like