Upgrading Your Bitcoin Core Node to the Latest Version

Hi all. Quick question here. Just got back to running my Bitcoin node after a break. Struggling with terrible ISP connection. Saw there's a new Bitcoin Core version out (v29.0). Can I update without messing up my setup? I'm on v27.0.

So that update is just a soft fork. Shouldn’t kick you off the network if you stick with the old version. If you don’t care about the new features, maybe just stay on your current version for now. But honestly, it probably won't fix your ISP issues anyway.

It shouldn’t mess things up. Just back up your block data after shutting down the Bitcoin Core. Then install the new version and it should pick up from where you left off. By the way, what device do you have?

Yeah, just follow those steps if you want the new version. Back up your wallet and settings just in case. Close the app before installing, You’re in Nigeria, right? You might be using Glo, I think.

Got it! ISP issues are a whole different ball game. I’m gonna switch my provider soon, others just suck. I downloaded the latest version but haven’t installed it yet. Feeling nervous about it... If I’m not sure, I might just stick with what I have until I finish downloading.

You can upgrade from 27 to 29.0 without losing your blockchain stuff. Run bitcoin-cli stop first to shut it down properly. Download v29.0 and install it on top of your current version. Make backups of your wallet just to be safe.

Right, it’s all about doing it properly. Just make sure to back up your block data, usually in "~\Appdata\local\bitcoin". I switched my block directory to my desktop during installation. You can keep syncing, then update later if it still worries you.

Let me know what specs you have. Could be helpful if you’re thinking of upgrading anything.

I need those specs too! What’s your RAM and SSD size?

Can't see the dbcache size in your pic, looks a bit small. Try boosting it to at least 1/4 or 1/2 of your RAM. Also, you can speed up sync by adding a line in your bitcoin.conf file.

Here's a little story... I took a backup from a month ago and pointed Bitcoin Core v27.0 at it. Closed it before it fully synced, then switched to v29.0. No issues, just kept syncing like before.

Depends on your RAM, but max dbcache is 16GB. If you have 16GB RAM, set it to about 5-6GB but in MB. SSD size should be at least 256-512GB if you’re using prune mode.

5120 MB for dbcache is decent. It’s divisible by 1024, so should work well. You could even allocate more if your system isn't heavily loaded.

I heard from the v29.0 notes that they removed the 16GiB limit for dbcache. If your RAM allows, you can set more now. But don’t push your system too hard.

Got it! Thanks for the heads up. I skimmed the notes earlier but missed that part. Just wondering if 64GiB is enough for fast IBD.

I updated early this morning, all good! Noticed the sync speed is better than before. But my specs could still use an upgrade. What other benefits does v29.0 have?

No need to stress about tweaking that setting. Default is par=0, so Bitcoin Core manages threads automatically. A good dbcache value helps more than fiddling with par.

I bumped it up yesterday after your suggestion, downloaded some blocks, saw a few changes. Been busy today, but I’ll check back later. Using an SSD but it's not huge, will monitor performance.

Optimized dbcache is key during IBD. Once at chain-tip, dbcache value matters less. Usually, you can stick with dbcache=1024 or default dbcache=450 at chain-tip.