Bitcoin: Ubuntu cannot use external SSD for Bitcoin data directory

Here is the article:

Unable to Use External SSD for Bitcoin datadir in Ubuntu

As a Bitcoin enthusiast and a beginner with a full node setup on Ubuntu, I’ve encountered a frustrating issue that has been plaguing my system. After setting up an external SSD drive to store the entire Bitcoin blockchain, I was eager to explore ways to optimize my data storage. However, every attempt to use it for the datadir (directory) of my Bitcoin node has ended in failure.

The Problem

When you install a full node on Ubuntu, you need to specify the datadir, which is where your node stores its Bitcoin data. The default datadir is usually located at /var/lib/mysqld or /var/lib/bitcoin, but for a full node, we want to use an external drive specifically designed for storing large datasets like the entire blockchain. This can be a separate SSD drive from the host machine.

The Solution

After some research and experimentation, I discovered that setting the datadir using command-line options is not enough to resolve this issue. To overcome this hurdle, we need to configure the full node’s data storage manually.

Here are the steps to fix this problem:

• Edit the /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50-cloud-init file: This file controls the Ubuntu system’s configuration and can be used to set up external drives as primary or secondary storage.

• Set APT_STORAGE_PREFIX variable: Add the following line to the /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50-cloud-init file: APT_STORAGE_PREFIX=/mnt/bitcoin. Replace /mnt/bitcoin with the path to your external SSD drive.

• Update APT: Run sudo apt update in a terminal to ensure that you have the latest package lists.

Additional Tips

• Make sure to create a dedicated user for your full node, e.g., bitcoin, and set their home directory to /home/bitcoin.

• Update your package list using sudo apt upgrade or sudo apt full-upgrade to ensure that any outdated packages are removed.

• If you’re using a different storage device (e.g., an LVM partition), be sure to update the /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50-cloud-init file accordingly.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve explored the issue of using external SSD drives for Bitcoin datadir in Ubuntu and provided a solution. By modifying the /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50-cloud-init file and updating APT, you can ensure that your full node’s data storage is optimized for large datasets like the Bitcoin blockchain.

I hope this helps fellow Bitcoin enthusiasts and Ubuntu users overcome this frustrating issue!