Start9 Tutorial: setup a bitcoin node and personal server.
![Start9 Tutorial: setup a bitcoin node and personal server.](/content/images/size/w2000/2024/07/Start9_tutorial_bitcoin_node2.png)
What is Start9?
Start9 is a private personal server that can run a variety of services like a Bitcoin Node, Lightning Node, Mempool Explorer, Password Managers, and much more.
This allows you to reclaim your sovereignty and privacy by reducing your reliance on 3rd party servers.
StartOS is the operating system that makes this all work. Just like how IOS allows you to run application on your iPhone, StartOS lets your run different services on your personal server.
Buy or build?
Buy
You can buy a prebuilt Start9 Server with good specs direct from the Start9 store.
This server will run StartOS with ease, and reduces the risk of buying hardware that does not effectively run StartOS.
You can use link or code "SOUTH" to get 5% off your purchase:
store.start9.com/discount/SOUTH
Build
You can build your own Start9 server from Scratch if you like to DIY. Simply buy the computer parts necessary, and flash StartOS onto this computer. Direct from Start9's docs, here are the recommended requirements:
- Quad-Core CPU 2.5Ghz+ (boost)
- 8GB+ RAM
- 1TB+ Storage
Here is a list of hardware that is known to work with StartOS:
![](https://community.start9.com/uploads/default/original/1X/2dcde8aa6ad3ce3d7873096ee4b3e5395e19a7b5.png)
Here is how to build a server:
![](https://docs.start9.com/latest/_static/img/thumbnail.png)
How to setup a Start9:
Running a personal server is a complex task. Start9 makes it super easy with StartOS, their free and open source operating system.
Here is how to setup Start9 and run a bitcoin node: