Ethereum: No inbound connections on my bitcoin full node with TOR

Ethereum Node Issue: Unable to Accept Inbound Connections via TOR

As a Bitcoin enthusiast and Ethereum validator, you’re likely no stranger to the intricacies of decentralized networks. However, when it comes to accepting inbound connections on your full node, you may encounter issues with Tor, a popular tool for anonymizing internet traffic. In this article, we’ll delve into the details of setting up an Ethereum node with TOR and explore why you might be experiencing no inbound connections.

Background

Ethereum nodes are responsible for validating transactions and maintaining the Ethereum blockchain. To receive inbound connections (i.e., new transaction proposals), your node needs to establish a connection with other nodes on the network. This process is known as “networking.”

TOR Configuration for Ethereum Nodes

To connect to Tor, you’ll need to configure your full node with a Tor proxy server. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Download and install the Tor client: You can download the latest version of the Tor browser from the official website.

• Configure the Tor client

  : Launch the Tor browser and go to Follow the instructions to set up your account and create a new browser session.

• Create a new wallet and add an onion address: Generate a new Bitcoin wallet and create a new onion address (a type of public key) associated with it. You can do this by clicking on "Add an onion address" in the Tor browser settings.

Setting up Your Ethereum Node

Once you have your Tor configuration set up, you'll need to configure your full node to accept inbound connections from Tor. Here's what you need to do:

• Update your node software: Ensure that your Ethereum node is running with the latest software updates.

• Configure the node to use a Tor proxy server

  

  : You can add the Tor onion address (e.g.,u3ob433qu3ebkmsu.onion:8333) as a network peer in the node's configuration file.

Running Your Node on TOR

To run your Ethereum node on TOR, you'll need to install a separate Tor proxy server on your system. Here are the steps:

• Install the Tor proxy server: You can download and install thetor-proxypackage from the official website.

• Configure your node to use the proxy server: Update your node's configuration file (e.g.,/etc/ethtool.conf`) to include the Tor proxy address.

Troubleshooting No Inbound Connections

If you’re experiencing no inbound connections despite setting up your node with TOR, there are a few potential issues to investigate:

• CG-NAT: A Complete Gateway NAT (CG-NAT) is likely blocking incoming Tor traffic. You can try using a different Tor proxy server or disabling the CG-NAT altogether.

• Node configuration: Double-check that your node’s configuration file includes the correct network peer and Tor proxy address.

• Tor version compatibility: Ensure that your Ethereum node is running with the latest compatible Tor version.

Conclusion

Establishing inbound connections on your Ethereum node can be a complex process, but with the right setup and troubleshooting steps, you should be able to overcome any issues. If you’re still experiencing problems after following these instructions, it may be worth seeking further assistance from the Ethereum community or a qualified network administrator.