# Appendix I: Understanding Bitcoin Standup

[§2.1: Setting Up a Bitcoin Core VPS with StackScript](02_1_Setting_Up_a_Bitcoin-Core_VPS_with_StackScript.md) explains the process of creating a Bitcoin node using [Bitcoin-Standup-Scripts](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/Bitcoin-Standup-Scripts). The following appendix explains what the major sections of the script do. You may wish to follow along in [Linode Standup](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/Bitcoin-Standup-Scripts/blob/master/Scripts/LinodeStandUp.sh) in another window.

## Step 1: Hostname

Your host's name is stored in `/etc/hostname` and set with the `hostname` command. It also appears in `/etc/hosts`.

## Step 2: Timezone

Your host's timezone is stored in `/etc/timezone`, then an appropriate file from `/usr/share/zoneinfo/` is copied to `/etc/localtime`

## Step 3: Updating Debian

The `apt-get` package manager is used to bring your machine up to date and to install `gnupg`, `git`, the random-number generators `haveged` and `xxd`,  and the uncomplicated firewall `ufw`. 

The `apt-get` commands are run with `-y`, which should force all questions to be answered "yes", and allow the script to be run without interaction (e.g., as a StackScript). That failed with the Debian 13 update, with some questions going unanswered and locking up the script, so the `-o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confdef" -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confold"` options were added to say, "We're really serious, no questions!"

Your machine is setup to automatically stay up to date with `echo "unattended-upgrades unattended-upgrades/enable_auto_updates boolean true" | debconf-set-selections`.

## Step 4: Setting Up a User

A `standup` user is created, which will be used for your Bitcoin applications. It also has `sudo` permissions, allowing you to take privileged actions with this account.

If you supplied a Standup SSH key, it will allow you access to this account (otherwise, you must use the password you created in setup).

If you supplied an IP address, `ssh` access will be limited to that address, per `/etc/hosts.allow`.

## Step 5: Setting Up Tor

Tor is installed to provide protected (hidden) services to access Bitcoin's RPC commands through your server. See [§14.1: Verifying Your Tor Setup](14_1_Verifying_Your_Tor_Setup.md) for more information on your Tor Setup.

If you supplied an authorized client for the hidden services, access will be limited to that key, per `/var/lib/tor/standup/authorized_clients`. If you did not, [§14.2](14_2_Changing_Your_Bitcoin_Hidden_Services.md) explains how to do so at a later date.

## Step 6: Installing Bitcoin

Bitcoin is installed in `~standup/.bitcoin`. Your configuration is stored in `~standup/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf`.

Be sure that the checksums verified per [§2.1](02_1_Setting_Up_a_Bitcoin-Core_VPS_with_StackScript.md), otherwise you could be exposed to a supply-chain attack.

## Step 7: Installing QR Encoder

To keep everything compatible with [GordianSystem](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/GordianSystem) a QR code is created at `/qrcode.png`. This can be read from a QuickConnect client such as [GordianWallet](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/GordianWallet-iOS).

## Conclusion — Understanding Bitcoin Standup

Bitcoin Standup uses scripts to try and match much of the functionality of a [GordianNode](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/GordianNode-macOS). It should provide you with a secure Bitcoin environment built on a foundation of Bitcoin Core and Tor for RPC communications.

## What's Next?

If you were in the process of creating a Bitcoin node for use in this course, you should return to [§2.1](02_1_Setting_Up_a_Bitcoin-Core_VPS_with_StackScript.md).

If you are reading through the appendices, continue with [Appendix II: Compiling Bitcoin from Source](A2_0_Compiling_Bitcoin_from_Source.md).