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Command Line Options

ia edited this page Apr 18, 2018 · 53 revisions

Command line options

$ geth --help
>
NAME:
   gethc3.5 - the go-ethereum command line interface

USAGE:
   gethc3.5 [options] command [command options] [arguments...]
VERSION:
   v3.5.0
COMMANDS:
   import					import a blockchain file
   export					export blockchain into file
   dump-chain-config, dumpchainconfig		dump current chain configuration to JSON file [REQUIRED argument: filepath.json]
   upgrade-db, upgradedb			upgrade chainblock database
   remove-db, removedb				Remove blockchain and state databases
   dump						dump a specific block from storage
   rollback, roll-back, set-head, sethead	rollback [block index number] - set current head for blockchain
   monitor					Geth Monitor: node metrics monitoring and visualization
   account					manage accounts
   wallet					ethereum presale wallet
   console					Geth Console: interactive JavaScript environment
   attach					Geth Console: interactive JavaScript environment (connect to node)
   js						executes the given JavaScript files in the Geth JavaScript VM
   status					status - get the status of the current node
   make-dag, makedag				generate ethash dag (for testing)
   gpu-info, gpuinfo				gpuinfo
   gpu-bench, gpubench				benchmark GPU
   version					print ethereum version numbers
   help, h					Shows a list of commands or help for one command

ETHEREUM OPTIONS:
  --data-dir, --datadir "/Users/ia/Library/EthereumClassic"	Data directory for the databases and keystore
  --chain value							Identifier of blockchain network to use (default='mainnet', test='morden').
											Relevant data for this blockchain will correlate to subdirectories under your base data directory (--datadir), by ie $HOME/Library/EthereumClassic/mainnet/.
											If using a custom identity (i.e. --chain=custom), there must be a valid JSON chain configuration file at <datadir>/custom/chain.json
											 (default: "mainnet")
  --keystore 							Directory for the keystore (default = inside the datadir)
  --network-id value, --networkid value				Network identifier (integer, 0=Olympic, 1=Homestead, 2=Morden) (default: 1)
  --testnet							Morden network: pre-configured test network with modified starting nonces (replay protection)
  --dev								Developer mode: pre-configured private network with several debugging flags
  --identity value						Custom node name
  --fast							Enable fast syncing through state downloads
  --light-kdf, --lightkdf					Reduce key-derivation RAM & CPU usage at some expense of KDF strength
  --cache value							Megabytes of memory allocated to internal caching (min 16MB / database forced) (default: 128)
  --blockchain-version value, --blockchainversion value		Blockchain version (integer) (default: 3)

ACCOUNT OPTIONS:
  --unlock value			Comma separated list of accounts to unlock
  --password value			Password file to use for non-inteactive password input
  --index-accounts, --indexaccounts	Enable key-value db store for indexing large amounts of key files

API AND CONSOLE OPTIONS:
  --rpc							Enable the HTTP-RPC server
  --rpc-addr value, --rpcaddr value			HTTP-RPC server listening interface (default: "localhost")
  --rpc-port value, --rpcport value			HTTP-RPC server listening port (default: 8545)
  --rpc-api value, --rpcapi value			API's offered over the HTTP-RPC interface (default: "eth,net,web3")
  --ws							Enable the WS-RPC server
  --ws-addr value, --wsaddr value			WS-RPC server listening interface (default: "localhost")
  --ws-port value, --wsport value			WS-RPC server listening port (default: 8546)
  --ws-api value, --wsapi value				API's offered over the WS-RPC interface (default: "eth,net,web3")
  --ws-origins value, --wsorigins value			Origins from which to accept websockets requests
  --ipc-disable, --ipcdisable				Disable the IPC-RPC server
  --ipc-api value, --ipcapi value			API's offered over the IPC-RPC interface (default: "admin,debug,eth,miner,net,personal,shh,txpool,web3")
  --ipc-path, --ipcpath "geth.ipc"			Filename for IPC socket/pipe within the datadir (explicit paths escape it)
  --rpc-cors-domain value, --rpccorsdomain value	Comma separated list of domains from which to accept cross origin requests (browser enforced)
  --js-path loadScript, --jspath loadScript		JavaScript root path for loadScript and document root for `admin.httpGet` (default: ".")
  --exec value						Execute JavaScript statement (only in combination with console/attach)
  --preload value					Comma separated list of JavaScript files to preload into the console

NETWORKING OPTIONS:
  --bootnodes value				Comma separated enode URLs for P2P discovery bootstrap
  --port value					Network listening port (default: 30303)
  --max-peers value, --maxpeers value		Maximum number of network peers (network disabled if set to 0) (default: 25)
  --max-pend-peers value, --maxpendpeers value	Maximum number of pending connection attempts (defaults used if set to 0) (default: 0)
  --nat value					NAT port mapping mechanism (any|none|upnp|pmp|extip:<IP>) (default: "any")
  --no-discover, --nodiscover			Disables the peer discovery mechanism (manual peer addition)
  --nodekey value				P2P node key file
  --nodekey-hex value, --nodekeyhex value	P2P node key as hex (for testing)

MINER OPTIONS:
  --mine						Enable mining
  --miner-threads value, --minerthreads value		Number of CPU threads to use for mining (default: 2)
  --miner-gpus value, --minergpus value			List of GPUs to use for mining (e.g. '0,1' will use the first two GPUs found)
  --auto-dag, --autodag					Enable automatic DAG pregeneration
  --etherbase value					Public address for block mining rewards (default = first account created) (default: "0")
  --target-gas-limit value, --targetgaslimit value	Target gas limit sets the artificial target gas floor for the blocks to mine (default: "4712388")
  --gas-price value, --gasprice value			Minimal gas price to accept for mining a transactions (default: "20000000000")
  --extra-data value, --extradata value			Freeform header field set by the miner

GAS PRICE ORACLE OPTIONS:
  --gpo-min value, --gpomin value		Minimum suggested gas price (default: "20000000000")
  --gpo-max value, --gpomax value		Maximum suggested gas price (default: "500000000000")
  --gpo-full value, --gpofull value		Full block threshold for gas price calculation (%) (default: 80)
  --gpo-base-down value, --gpobasedown value	Suggested gas price base step down ratio (1/1000) (default: 10)
  --gpo-base-up value, --gpobaseup value	Suggested gas price base step up ratio (1/1000) (default: 100)
  --gpo-base-cf value, --gpobasecf value	Suggested gas price base correction factor (%) (default: 110)

LOGGING AND DEBUGGING OPTIONS:
  --verbosity value	Logging verbosity: 0=silent, 1=error, 2=warn, 3=info, 4=core, 5=debug, 6=detail (default: 3)
  --vmodule value	Per-module verbosity: comma-separated list of <pattern>=<level> (e.g. eth/*=6,p2p=5)
  --backtrace value	Request a stack trace at a specific logging statement (e.g. "block.go:271") (default: :0)
  --metrics value	Enables metrics reporting. When the value is a path, either relative or absolute, then a log is written to the respective file.
  --fake-pow, --fakepow	Disables proof-of-work verification

EXPERIMENTAL OPTIONS:
  --shh		Enable Whisper
  --natspec	Enable NatSpec confirmation notice

MISCELLANEOUS OPTIONS:
  --solc value							Solidity compiler command to be used (default: "solc")
  --doc-root, --docroot "/Users/ia"				Document Root for HTTPClient file scheme
  --log-dir, --logdir "/Users/ia/Library/EthereumClassic/logs"	Directory in which to write log files
  --oppose-dao-fork						Use classic blockchain (always set, flag is unused and exists for compatibility only)
  --help, -h							show help

Note that the default for datadir is platform-specific. See backup & restore for more information.

Examples

Accounts

See Account management

Import ether presale wallet into your node (prompts for password):

geth wallet import /path/to/my/etherwallet.json

Import an EC privatekey into an ethereum account (prompts for password):

geth account import /path/to/key.prv

Geth JavaScript Runtime Environment

See Geth javascript console

Bring up the geth javascript console:

geth --verbosity 5 --jspath /mydapp/js console 2>> /path/to/logfile

Execute test.js javascript using js API and log Debug-level messages to /path/to/logfile:

geth --verbosity 6 js test.js  2>> /path/to/logfile

Import/export chains and dump blocks

Import a blockchain from file:

geth import blockchain.bin

Dump block state information

Output a JSON-formatted array of states for all or specified accounts. Using the optional sorted argument will require significantly more memory consumption and time.

$ geth dump [sorted] [blockHash|blockNum],[blockHash|blockNum] [address],[address]

Upgrade chainblock database

When the consensus algorithm is changed blocks in the blockchain must be reimported with the new algorithm. Geth will inform the user with instructions when and how to do this when it's necessary.

geth upgradedb

Mining and networking

Start two mining nodes using different data directories listening on ports 30303 and 30304, respectively:

geth --mine --miner-threads 4 --data-dir /usr/local/share/ethereum/30303 --port 30303
geth --mine --miner-threads 4 --data-dir /usr/local/share/ethereum/30304 --port 30304

Start an rpc client on port 8000:

geth --rpc --rpc-port 8000 --rpccorsdomain "*"

Launch the client without network:

geth --maxpeers 0 --no-discover --networdid 3301 js justwannarunthis.js

Resetting the blockchain

Use the rollback command to purge blocks antecedent to genesis. For an example above:

geth --data-dir /usr/local/share/ethereum/30304 rollback 0

To nuke the chaindata entirely (including genesis), you can use:

rm -rf --data-dir /usr/local/share/ethereum/30304/chaindata

Sample usage in testing environment

The lines below are meant only for test network and safe environments for non-interactive scripted use.

geth --datadir /tmp/eth/42 --password <(echo -n notsosecret) account new 2>> /tmp/eth/42.log
geth --datadir /tmp/eth/42 --port 30342  js <(echo 'console.log(admin.nodeInfo().NodeUrl)') > enode 2>> /tmp/eth/42.log
geth --datadir /tmp/eth/42 --port 30342 --password <(echo -n notsosecret) --unlock primary --miner-threads 4 --mine 2>> /tmp/eth/42.log

Attach

Attach a console to a running geth instance. By default this happens over IPC on the default IPC endpoint but when necessary a custom endpoint could be specified:

geth attach                   # connect over IPC on default endpoint
geth attach ipc:/some/path    # connect over IPC on custom endpoint
geth --chain=morden attach    # connect to default Morden IPC endpoint
geth attach http://host:8545  # connect over HTTP
geth attach ws://host:8546    # connect over websocket

External chain configuration and handling multiple chains

--chain NAME

This flag can also be used to activate the Morden Testnet configuration via --chain=morden or --chain=testnet; both flag values will assume a default sub-datadir at /morden. This command plays nicely with --data-dir, too.

There are a couple of chain ids that are blacklisted, like "nodes", "chaindata", "dapp", and so forth, because they conflict with existing directory structure namespaces.

Flagged values for --chain=kittyCoin must have a corresponding <home>/EthereumClassic/kittyCoin/chain.json.

$ geth --chain morden [-flags] [command]
$ geth --chain morden --data-dir path/to/etc/data [command]

$ geth --chain kittyCoin [command]

Private network

--chain can be used in establishing and maintaining private blockchains and networks; configuration with an external JSON file allows fine-grained control over establishing a genesis block, implementing protocol upgrades (as fork features), and designating bootnodes.

Note: As of Geth 3.5, the chain configuration file for a private network must located at <datadir>/custom/chain.json.

Please find below the default Testnet configuration with comments (non-JSON-friendly).

The identity (not chain ID, like 61, 62, or 1) of the chain; this must match the parent subdirectory.

{
  "id": "kitty",

Human readable. The only optional key/value in the file.

  "name": "Kitty Net",

Establish a genesis block. alloc is optional; it establishes starting accounts and balances. Blank values here are also optional.

  "genesis": {
    "nonce": "0x00006d6f7264656e",
    "timestamp": "",
    "parentHash": "",
    "extraData": "",
    "gasLimit": "0x2FEFD8",
    "difficulty": "0x020000",
    "mixhash": "0x00000000000000000000000000000000000000647572616c65787365646c6578",
    "coinbase": "",
    "alloc": {
      "0000000000000000000000000000000000000001": {
        "balance": "1"
      },
      "0000000000000000000000000000000000000002": {
        "balance": "1"
      },
      "0000000000000000000000000000000000000003": {
        "balance": "1"
      },
      "0000000000000000000000000000000000000004": {
        "balance": "1"
      },
      "102e61f5d8f9bc71d0ad4a084df4e65e05ce0e1c": {
        "balance": "1606938044258990275541962092341162602522202993782792835301376"
      }
    }
  },

Designate variable specifications for fork-based protocol upgrades, ie EIP/ECIPs.

  "chainConfig": {
    "forks": [
      {
        "name": "Homestead",
        "block": 494000,
        "requiredHash": "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
        "features": [
          {
            "id": "difficulty",
            "options": {
              "type": "homestead"
            }
          },
          {
            "id": "gastable",
            "options": {
              "type": "homestead"
            }
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "name": "GasReprice",
        "block": 1783000,
        "requiredHash": "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
        "features": [
          {
            "id": "gastable",
            "options": {
              "type": "eip150"
            }
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "name": "The DAO Hard Fork",
        "block": 1885000,
        "requiredHash": "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
        "features": []
      },
      {
        "name": "Diehard",
        "block": 1915000,
        "requiredHash": "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
        "features": [
          {
            "id": "eip155",
            "options": {
              "chainID": 62
            }
          },
          {
            "id": "gastable",
            "options": {
              "type": "eip160"
            }
          },
          {
            "id": "difficulty",
            "options": {
              "length": 2000000,
              "type": "ecip1010"
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "badHashes": [
      {
        "Block": 383792,
        "Hash": "0x9690db54968a760704d99b8118bf79d565711669cefad24b51b5b1013d827808"
      },
      {
        "Block": 1915277,
        "Hash": "0x3bef9997340acebc85b84948d849ceeff74384ddf512a20676d424e972a3c3c4"
      }
    ]
  },

Bootnodes for establishing a connection to a network. In enode format.

  "bootstrap": [
    "enode://fb28713820e718066a2f5df6250ae9d07cff22f672dbf26be6c75d088f821a9ad230138ba492c533a80407d054b1436ef18e951bb65e6901553516c8dffe8ff0@104.155.176.151:30304",
    "enode://afdc6076b9bf3e7d3d01442d6841071e84c76c73a7016cb4f35c0437df219db38565766234448f1592a07ba5295a867f0ce87b359bf50311ed0b830a2361392d@104.154.136.117:30403",
    "enode://21101a9597b79e933e17bc94ef3506fe99a137808907aa8fefa67eea4b789792ad11fb391f38b00087f8800a2d3dff011572b62a31232133dd1591ac2d1502c8@104.198.71.200:30403",
    "enode://fd008499e9c4662f384b3cff23438879d31ced24e2d19504c6389bc6da6c882f9c2f8dbed972f7058d7650337f54e4ba17bb49c7d11882dd1731d26a6e62e3cb@35.187.57.94:30304"
  ]
}

dump-chain-config PATH

Aids in establishing a base configuration file for a private network.

This command is only compatible with dumping default configurations (currently Mainnet and Morden Testnet).

$ geth [-flags] dump-external-config put/it/here/customnet.json

$ geth --data-dir my/etc/data dump-external-config put/it/here/customnet.json
$ geth --chain=morden dump-external-config put/it/here/customnet.json
$ geth --bootnodes=enode://asdfasdf@12.123.12.12:12345 dump-external-config ./put/it/here/customnet.json

rollback NUMBER

Where 42 is the block number to rollback to. Uses blockchain.SetHead() method. This is a destructive action! It will purge block data antecedent to the provided block; syncing will begin with your new head block. Probably mostly useful for development and testing.

api MODULE METHOD JSONARGS

Connect to a running geth instance over IPC and call any API method. Returns standard JSON-formatted response or error.

For example, eth_getBlockByNumber could be called as:

# TTY1
geth --chain example-net

# TTY2
## Use space-separated JSON-formatted raw values
geth --chain example-net api eth getBlockByNumber '"latest"' true
## ... or use a single JSON-formatted string
geth --chain example-net api eth getBlockByNumber '"latest", true'

geth atxi-build

Builds address-transactions indexes for existing chaindata. The command is idempotent.

Running a complete chain index from block 0 -> 5220000 on a 2009 Macbook Pro with 1GB cache took 3h30m, averaging ~300 blocks/second and ~1800 txs/second, and the /indexes database is 2.0GB.

$ geth atxi-build
Parameters
  1. --start=QUANTITY - custom floor at which to begin indexing. If unset, the build command will use it's persistent placeholder if the command has been run before.
  2. --stop=QUANTITY - custom ceiling at which to finish indexing. If unset, default value is blockchain head.
  3. --step=QUANTITY - custom increment for batching writes to db and setting persistent progress placeholder. Default value is 10000.

geth --atxi

Flag required to enable address-transaction indexing during sync and import, and to enable associated API for a geth instance.

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