Creating your Config File - Monero

Gemini said

To mine Monero (XMR) on an Ubuntu VM, you'll need two main things: a Wallet (to receive your earnings) and a Miner (the software that does the work).

The industry standard for Monero mining is XMRig. Here is a streamlined guide to getting set up.

1. Create a Wallet

Before you start the VM, you need an address to send the Monero to.

Recommendation: Download the official Monero GUI Wallet or Monero CLI from getmonero.org.

Important: Save your 25-word seed phrase offline. If you lose this, you lose your money.

The Address: Look for a long string starting with a 4 or 8. You will need this for the miner configuration.

2. Prepare your Ubuntu VM

Open your terminal in Ubuntu and update your packages:

Bash

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Install the necessary dependencies to build and run the miner:

Bash

sudo apt install git build-essential cmake libuv1-dev libssl-dev libhwloc-dev -y

3. Install XMRig (The Miner)

We will clone the source code and compile it. This is safer and often more efficient than downloading pre-compiled binaries.

Clone the repository:

Bash

git clone https://github.com/xmrig/xmrig.git

Build the software:

Bash

mkdir xmrig/build && cd xmrig/build

cmake ..

make -j$(nproc)

Note: $(nproc) uses all available CPU cores to speed up the compilation.

4. Configure and Start Mining

Mining "Solo" (on your own) is nearly impossible unless you have a massive server farm. Most people use a Mining Pool.

Pick a Pool: Popular options include SupportXMR or Nanopool.

Launch the Miner:

Run the following command, replacing the placeholders with your info:

Bash

sudo ./xmrig -o pool.supportxmr.com:4444 -u YOUR_WALLET_ADDRESS -p VM_Worker

-o: The pool URL.

-u: Your Monero wallet address.

-p: A name for your "worker" so you can identify this VM on the pool's website.

Why use sudo? XMRig needs sudo to enable "Huge Pages," which can increase your mining speed (hashrate) by up to 20-30%.

Performance Tips for VMs

CPU Cores: Ensure you have assigned at least 2 cores to your VM. Monero mining is CPU-heavy.

L3 Cache: Monero’s algorithm (RandomX) relies heavily on CPU cache. If your VM host is sharing a CPU with many other tasks, your hashrate will drop significantly.

AES-NI: Ensure "AES-NI" (hardware encryption acceleration) is enabled in your VM settings (usually found under CPU virtualization settings).

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Creating your Config File

In your xmrig/build directory, create a new file:

Bash

nano config.json

Copy and paste the following template into the editor (make sure to replace the user field with your actual wallet address):

JSON

{
    "autosave": true,
    "cpu": true,
    "opencl": false,
    "cuda": false,
    "pools": [
        {
            "url": "pool.supportxmr.com:4444",
            "user": "YOUR_WALLET_ADDRESS_HERE",
            "pass": "VM_Worker",
            "keepalive": true,
            "tls": true
        }
    ]
}

Press Ctrl + O, Enter to save, and Ctrl + X to exit.

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Understanding the Setup

To give you a better idea of how your VM interacts with the Monero network, here is a breakdown of the mining architecture:

• Your VM: Runs the XMRig software, solving complex mathematical puzzles.

• The Pool: Combines your "hashrate" with thousands of others to find blocks faster.

• The Blockchain: Once the pool finds a block, the reward is split and sent to your wallet.

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How to Run and Monitor

Now, you can start mining with a simple command:

Bash

sudo ./xmrig

Helpful Keyboard Shortcuts while XMRig is running:

• h: View your current Hashrate (how fast you are mining).

• r: See the Results (how many "shares" the pool has accepted from you).

• c: Check the Connection status to the pool.

• s: View a quick Summary of your hardware performance.

A Note on VM Mining

Since you are using a VM, keep an eye on your host machine's temperature. Mining pushes CPUs to 100% load, which can cause thermal throttling or loud fan noise on laptops and small desktops.

Setting up a systemd service is the "pro" way to do this. It ensures that if your VM restarts (due to an update or a crash), the miner kicks back in immediately without you having to log in and start it manually.

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Create the Service File

1. Open a new service file:

   Bash

   sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/xmrig.service
   

2. Paste the following configuration: (Note: Adjust the ExecStart path if your xmrig folder is located somewhere other than your home directory).

   Ini, TOML

   [Unit]
   Description=Monero Miner Service
   After=network.target
   
   [Service]
   Type=simple
   # Replace 'user' with your Ubuntu username
   User=root
   Group=root
   WorkingDirectory=/home/user/xmrig/build
   ExecStart=/home/user/xmrig/build/xmrig
   Restart=always
   RestartSec=10
   
   [Install]
   WantedBy=multi-user.target
   

3. Save and Exit: Ctrl + O, Enter, then Ctrl + X.

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Enable and Start the Miner

Run these commands to tell Ubuntu to recognize the new service and start it up:

Bash

# Reload the system to recognize the new service
sudo systemctl daemon-reload

# Enable the service to start on boot
sudo systemctl enable xmrig

# Start the miner now
sudo systemctl start xmrig

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Monitoring Your Miner

Since the miner is now running in the background, you won't see the colorful XMRig dashboard by default. Here is how you check on it:

• To check status: sudo systemctl status xmrig

• To see the live logs (the miner output): journalctl -f -u xmrig

• To stop it: sudo systemctl stop xmrig

How the Reward System Works

When mining in a pool, you are contributing "shares." Your earnings aren't instant; pools usually have a minimum payout (e.g., 0.1 XMR).

Most Monero pools use PPLNS (Pay Per Last N Shares), which rewards loyalty. If you turn your miner off and on frequently, you might earn slightly less than if you leave it running 24/7.

To track your progress, you don't need to log into your VM every time. Since you are using a pool, all your stats are public (but anonymous) on the pool’s website.

1. How to Monitor Your Progress

Most pools, including SupportXMR, have a "Dashboard" feature.

• Step 1: Go to SupportXMR.com.

• Step 2: Paste your Wallet Address into the search bar at the top or the "Track Progress" field.

• Step 3: You will see a live dashboard showing:

  • Hashrate: The speed of your VM.

  • Pending Balance: How much XMR you've earned that hasn't been paid out yet.

  • Total Paid: The amount already sent to your wallet.

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2. Mobile Monitoring

If you want to check your VM from your phone, there are dedicated apps that pull data from the pool's API:

• MinerBox (Android/iOS): A highly-rated app where you can add your wallet address and get push notifications if your VM goes offline.

• Monero Pool Monitor: Simple apps that strictly show your hashrate and balance.

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3. Understanding Payouts

Pools don't send money every minute. They wait until you hit a Minimum Payout Threshold.

• Default: Usually 0.1 XMR.

• Adjusting: You can often lower this to 0.01 XMR in the pool settings, though you may have to pay a small transaction fee for very low payouts.

Pro Tip: If your hashrate seems "bouncy" on the website, don't worry. Pools calculate your speed based on the "shares" you submit. Since a VM might solve a puzzle quickly then take a break, the website shows a calculated average, not the raw CPU speed.

4. When to Expect Your First Payout

Depending on the power of your VM, it might take a few days or even weeks to hit that first 0.1 XMR.