Configuring Bitcoin Core to Seamlessly Connect to a Node

As a full node participant, establishing a consistent connection to a specific node is crucial to maintaining the integrity and security of the P2P network. In this article, we will walk you through the process of configuring Bitcoin Core (BC) to always connect to a specific node.

Understanding Node Configuration

In Bitcoin, nodes are responsible for validating transactions and broadcasting them to the network. When configuring BC, you need to configure your node to periodically connect to specific nodes. This is done via the httpd configuration file, which controls the Bitcoin Core web interface.

Configuring a DMZ

To avoid exposing the master node to the public internet, we have created a DMZ (demilitarized zone) for our full node X. This allows us to control incoming connections and ensure that only necessary traffic reaches our node.

In the etc directory, create a new file called x.conf. Open this file in your favorite text editor:

,,biting

sudo nano /etc/x.conf

Add the following configuration to enable DMZ mode:
,,biting









Enable DMZ mode
[httpd]
zone = xdmz

Configure incoming connections (allow only necessary traffic)
incoming_connections = 

Replace with the public IP address or hostname of your node. You can get this information by checking your node’s logs or viewing its configuration file.

Configuring incoming connections

When DMZ mode is enabled, BC only responds to incoming connections directed to the xdmz zone. To specify a specific node, you need to add the IP address to the incoming_connections list.

For example, if your node is running at IP address “192.168.1.100”, you can add the following:

,,beating

incoming_connections = 192.168.1.100

Run Bitcoin Core in DMZ mode
Once the configuration is complete, start Bitcoin Core using the standard command:

sudo systemctl start bitcoin core

You can also use a service manager such as systemctl to manage node startup and shutdown:
,,beating
sudo systemctl enable bitcoin core

Test your configuration

To verify that your configuration is working properly, you can test your connection using the “httpd” web interface. Open a web browser and go to “ (replace “” with your node’s public IP address).

If everything is set up correctly, you should see the Bitcoin Core dashboard.

Best Practices

When setting up a full node, keep the following in mind:

• Make sure your DMZ is set up correctly and is secure.

• Regularly update your node to ensure you have the latest security patches.

• Consider implementing additional security measures such as encryption or firewall rules to protect your node from unauthorized access.

By following these steps, you can configure Bitcoin Core to always connect to a specific node, ensuring seamless communication with the P2P network. Happy node!