qortal/TestNets.md

How to build a testnet

Create testnet blockchain config

• You can begin by copying the mainnet blockchain config src/main/resources/blockchain.json
• Insert "isTestChain": true, after the opening {
• Modify testnet genesis block

Testnet genesis block

• Set timestamp to a nearby future value, e.g. 15 mins from 'now' This is to give yourself enough time to set up other testnet nodes
• Retain the initial ISSUE_ASSET transactions!
• Add ACCOUNT_FLAGS transactions with "andMask": -1, "orMask": 1, "xorMask": 0 to create founders
• Add at least one REWARD_SHARE transaction otherwise no-one can mint initial blocks! You will need to calculate rewardSharePublicKey (and private key), or make a new account on mainnet and use self-share key values
• Add ACCOUNT_LEVEL transactions to set initial level of accounts as needed
• Add GENESIS transactions to add QORT/LEGACY_QORA funds to accounts as needed

Testnet settings.json

• Create a new settings-test.json
• Make sure to add "isTestNet": true,
• Make sure to reference testnet blockchain config file: "blockchainConfig": "testchain.json",
• It is a good idea to use a separate database: "repositoryPath": "db-testnet",
• You might also need to add "bitcoinNet": "TEST3", and "litecoinNet": "TEST3",

Other nodes

• Copy testchain.json and settings-test.json to other nodes
• Alternatively, you can run multiple nodes on the same machine by:
  • Copying settings-test.json to settings-test-1.json
  • Configure different repositoryPath
  • Configure use of different ports:
    • "apiPort": 22391,
    • "listenPort": 22392,

Starting-up

• Start up at least as many nodes as minBlockchainPeers (or adjust this value instead)
• Probably best to perform API call DELETE /peers/known
• Add other nodes via API call POST /peers <peer-hostname-or-IP>
• Add minting private key to node(s) via API call POST /admin/mintingaccounts <minting-private-key> This key must have corresponding REWARD_SHARE transaction in testnet genesis block
• Wait for genesis block timestamp to pass
• A node should mint block 2 approximately 60 seconds after genesis block timestamp
• Other testnet nodes will sync *as long as there is at least minBlockchainPeers peers with an "up-to-date" chain`
• You can also use API call POST /admin/forcesync <connected-peer-IP-and-port> on stuck nodes

Dealing with stuck chain

Maybe your nodes have been offline and no-one has minted a recent testnet block. Your options are:

• Start a new testnet from scratch
• Fire up your testnet node(s)
• Force one of your nodes to mint by:
  • Set a debugger breakpoint on Settings.getMinBlockchainPeers()
  • When breakpoint is hit, change this.minBlockchainPeers to zero, then continue
• Once one of your nodes has minted blocks up to 'now', you can use "forcesync" on the other nodes

Tools

• qort tool, but use -t option for default testnet API port (62391)
• qort tool, but first set shell variable: export BASE_URL=some-node-hostname-or-ip:port
• qort tool, but prepend with one-time shell variable: BASE_URL=some-node-hostname-or-ip:port qort ......
• peer-heights, but use -t option, or BASE_URL shell variable as above