Troubleshooting Ethereum Mining on Ubuntu 14.04 with cgminer
As a beginner in Bitcoin mining, you’re likely eager to get started and begin earning rewards. However, issues with setting up cgminer on Ubuntu 14.04 can hinder your progress. In this article, we’ll walk through the steps to resolve common problems and help you successfully run Ethereum mining on your system.
Understandingcgminer
Before diving into troubleshooting, let’s quickly understand what cgminer is. cgminer is a command-line interface for mining cryptocurrencies using the SHA-256 algorithm. It allows users to install a pool of miners on their system to solve complex mathematical equations in exchange for cryptocurrency rewards.
Installing cgminer on Ubuntu 14.04
To start, you need to install cgminer on your Ubuntu 14.04 system. You can do this by running the following command:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install cgminer
Common Issues with cgminer Installation
Before proceeding, let’s troubleshoot some common issues that might be causing problems with cgminer installation:
- Waiting for USB hotplug devices: This issue is often related to the operating system not recognizing the USB device when it’s plugged in. Ensure that your USB device is recognized by the operating system and try running
cgminercommand multiple times to see if the issue resolves.
- Error messages: If you encounter error messages during cgminer installation or while running the mining pool, check the console output for clues. You can use tools like
dmesgto capture and analyze the error messages.
Troubleshooting Steps
To resolve these issues, try the following troubleshooting steps:

Step 1: Wait for USB hotplug devices
- Ensure that your USB device is recognized by the operating system.
- Try unplugging and replugging the device multiple times to see if it resolves the issue.
Step 2: Check console output
- Run
dmesgto capture and analyze the error messages:
sudo dmesg | grep cgminer
This will display any error messages related to cgminer installation or mining pool issues.
- Check for errors that might indicate a problem with your system’s USB device.
Step 3: Update dependencies
- If you encounter an error message like « libudev-dev » not found, ensure that the Ubuntu 14.04 repository is up-to-date by running:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install libudev-dev
- Try updating your package index and installing missing dependencies:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install --fix-missing
Step 4: Run cgminer with debug mode
- To get more detailed information about the mining process, try running
cgminerin debug mode:
./cgminer -o stratum+tcp://www.albamine.net:3333 -u -w
This will display debugging output that might help identify issues.
Step 5: Check pool configuration
- Ensure that your mining pool is set up correctly:
sudo cgminer --pool=" --username="" --password=""
Check the pool’s configuration and ensure it matches your setup.
Step 6: Verify system logs
- Check your system logs for any errors or warnings related to mining:
sudo journalctl -u systemd-minion
This will display information about the minion process, including any errors that might be occurring.
By following these troubleshooting steps and checking your console output, you should be able to resolve common issues with cgminer installation on Ubuntu 14.04 and get started with Ethereum mining on your system.