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[](https://gitter.im/ACINQ/eclair)
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**Eclair** (French for Lightning) is a Scala implementation of the Lightning Network. It can run with or without a GUI, and a JSON-RPC API is also available.
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This software follows the [Lightning Network Specifications (BOLTs) ](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lightning-rfc ). Other implementations include [c-lightning ](https://github.com/ElementsProject/lightning ) and [lnd ](https://github.com/LightningNetwork/lnd ).
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---
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:construction: Both the BOLTs and Eclair itself are still a work in progress. Expect things to break/change!
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:rotating_light: If you intend to run Eclair on mainnet:
- Keep in mind that it is beta-quality software and **don't put too much money** in it
- Eclair's JSON-RPC API should **NOT** be accessible from the outside world (similarly to Bitcoin Core API)
- Specific [configuration instructions for mainnet ](#mainnet-usage ) are provided below (by default Eclair runs on testnet)
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---
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## Lightning Network Specification Compliance
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Please see the latest [release note ](https://github.com/ACINQ/eclair/releases ) for detailed information on BOLT compliance.
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## Overview
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
## Installation
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### Configuring Bitcoin Core
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:warning: Eclair requires Bitcoin Core 0.16.3 or higher. If you are upgrading an existing wallet, you need to create a new address and send all your funds to that address.
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Eclair needs a _synchronized_ , _segwit-ready_ , **_zeromq-enabled_** , _wallet-enabled_ , _non-pruning_ , _tx-indexing_ [Bitcoin Core ](https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin ) node.
Eclair will use any BTC it finds in the Bitcoin Core wallet to fund any channels you choose to open. Eclair will return BTC from closed channels to this wallet.
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Run bitcoind with the following minimal `bitcoin.conf` :
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```
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testnet=1
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server=1
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rpcuser=foo
rpcpassword=bar
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txindex=1
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zmqpubrawblock=tcp://127.0.0.1:29000
zmqpubrawtx=tcp://127.0.0.1:29000
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addresstype=p2sh-segwit
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```
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:warning: If you are using Bitcoin Core 0.17.0 you need to add following line to your `bitcoin.conf` :
```
deprecatedrpc=signrawtransaction
```
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### Installing Eclair
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Eclair is developed in [Scala ](https://www.scala-lang.org/ ), a powerful functional language that runs on the JVM, and is packaged as a JAR (Java Archive) file. We provide 2 different packages, which internally use the same core libraries:
* eclair-node, which is a headless application that you can run on servers and desktops, and control from the command line
* eclair-node-gui, which also includes a JavaFX GUI
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To run Eclair, you first need to install Java, we recommend that you use [OpenJDK 11 ](https://jdk.java.net/11/ ). Eclair will also run on Oracle JDK 1.8, Oracle JDK 11, and other versions of OpenJDK but we don't recommend using them.
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Then download our latest [release ](https://github.com/ACINQ/eclair/releases ) and depending on whether or not you want a GUI run the following command:
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* with GUI:
```shell
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java -jar eclair-node-gui-< version > -< commit_id > .jar
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```
* without GUI:
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```shell
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java -jar eclair-node-< version > -< commit_id > .jar
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```
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### Configuring Eclair
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#### Configuration file
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Eclair reads its configuration file, and write its logs, to `~/.eclair` by default.
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To change your node's configuration, create a file named `eclair.conf` in `~/.eclair` . Here's an example configuration file:
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```
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eclair.chain=testnet
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eclair.node-alias=eclair
eclair.node-color=49daaa
```
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Here are some of the most common options:
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name | description | default value
-----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------
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eclair.chain | Which blockchain to use: *regtest* , *testnet* or *mainnet* | testnet
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eclair.server.port | Lightning TCP port | 9735
eclair.api.enabled | Enable/disable the API | false. By default the API is disabled. If you want to enable it, you must set a password.
eclair.api.port | API HTTP port | 8080
eclair.api.password | API password (BASIC) | "" (must be set if the API is enabled)
eclair.bitcoind.rpcuser | Bitcoin Core RPC user | foo
eclair.bitcoind.rpcpassword | Bitcoin Core RPC password | bar
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eclair.bitcoind.zmqblock | Bitcoin Core ZMQ block address | "tcp://127.0.0.1:29000"
eclair.bitcoind.zmqtx | Bitcoin Core ZMQ tx address | "tcp://127.0.0.1:29000"
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eclair.gui.unit | Unit in which amounts are displayed (possible values: msat, sat, bits, mbtc, btc) | btc
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Quotes are not required unless the value contains special characters. Full syntax guide [here ](https://github.com/lightbend/config/blob/master/HOCON.md ).
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→ see [`reference.conf` ](eclair-core/src/main/resources/reference.conf ) for full reference. There are many more options!
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#### Java Environment Variables
Some advanced parameters can be changed with java environment variables. Most users won't need this and can skip this section.
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:warning: Using separate `datadir` is mandatory if you want to run **several instances of eclair** on the same machine. You will also have to change ports in `eclair.conf` (see above).
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name | description | default value
----------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------
eclair.datadir | Path to the data directory | ~/.eclair
eclair.headless | Run eclair without a GUI |
eclair.printToConsole | Log to stdout (in addition to eclair.log) |
For example, to specify a different data directory you would run the following command:
```shell
java -Declair.datadir=/tmp/node1 -jar eclair-node-gui-< version > -< commit_id > .jar
```
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#### Logging
Eclair uses [`logback` ](https://logback.qos.ch ) for logging. To use a different configuration, and override the internal logback.xml, run:
```shell
java -Dlogback.configurationFile=/path/to/logback-custom.xml -jar eclair-node-gui-< version > -< commit_id > .jar
```
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## JSON-RPC API
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method | params | description
------------- |----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------
getinfo | | return basic node information (id, chain hash, current block height)
connect | nodeId, host, port | open a secure connection to a lightning node
connect | uri | open a secure connection to a lightning node
open | nodeId, fundingSatoshis, pushMsat = 0, feerateSatPerByte = ?, channelFlags = 0x01 | open a channel with another lightning node, by default push = 0, feerate for the funding tx targets 6 blocks, and channel is announced
Audit: Keep track of sent/received/relayed payments and relay/network fees (#654)
Added a new `AuditDb` which keeps tracks of:
- every single payment (received/sent/relayed)
- every single network fee paid to the miners (funding, closing, and all commit/htlc transactions)
Note that network fees are considered paid when the corresponding tx has reached `min_depth`, it makes sense and allows us to compute the fee in one single place in the `CLOSING` handler. There is an exception for the funding tx, for which we consider the fee paid when the tx has successfully been published to the network. It simplifies the implementation and the tradeoff seems acceptable.
Three new functions have been added to the json-rpc api:
- `audit`: returns all individual payments, with optional filtering on timestamp.
- `networkfees`: returns every single fee paid to the miners, by type (`funding`, `mutual`, `revoked-commit`, etc.) and by channel, with optional filtering on timestamp.
- `channelstats`: maybe the most useful method; it returns a number of information per channel, including the `relayFee` (earned) and the `networkFee` (paid).
The `channels` method now returns details information about channels. It makes it far easier to compute aggregate information about channels using the command line.
Also added a new `ChannelFailed` event that allows e.g. the mobile app to know why a channel got closed.
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updaterelayfee | channelId, feeBaseMsat, feeProportionalMillionths | update relay fee for payments going through this channel
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peers | | list existing local peers
channels | | list existing local channels
channels | nodeId | list existing local channels opened with a particular nodeId
channel | channelId | retrieve detailed information about a given channel
Audit: Keep track of sent/received/relayed payments and relay/network fees (#654)
Added a new `AuditDb` which keeps tracks of:
- every single payment (received/sent/relayed)
- every single network fee paid to the miners (funding, closing, and all commit/htlc transactions)
Note that network fees are considered paid when the corresponding tx has reached `min_depth`, it makes sense and allows us to compute the fee in one single place in the `CLOSING` handler. There is an exception for the funding tx, for which we consider the fee paid when the tx has successfully been published to the network. It simplifies the implementation and the tradeoff seems acceptable.
Three new functions have been added to the json-rpc api:
- `audit`: returns all individual payments, with optional filtering on timestamp.
- `networkfees`: returns every single fee paid to the miners, by type (`funding`, `mutual`, `revoked-commit`, etc.) and by channel, with optional filtering on timestamp.
- `channelstats`: maybe the most useful method; it returns a number of information per channel, including the `relayFee` (earned) and the `networkFee` (paid).
The `channels` method now returns details information about channels. It makes it far easier to compute aggregate information about channels using the command line.
Also added a new `ChannelFailed` event that allows e.g. the mobile app to know why a channel got closed.
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channelstats | | retrieves statistics about channel usage (fees, number and average amount of payments)
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allnodes | | list all known nodes
allchannels | | list all known channels
allupdates | | list all channels updates
allupdates | nodeId | list all channels updates for this nodeId
receive | description | generate a payment request without a required amount (can be useful for donations)
receive | amountMsat, description | generate a payment request for a given amount
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receive | amountMsat, description, expirySeconds | generate a payment request for a given amount that expires after given number of seconds
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parseinvoice | paymentRequest | returns node, amount and payment hash in a payment request
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findroute | paymentRequest | returns nodes and channels of the route for this payment request if there is any
findroute | paymentRequest, amountMsat | returns nodes and channels of the route for this payment request and amount, if there is any
findroute | nodeId, amountMsat | returns nodes and channels of the route to the nodeId, if there is any
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send | amountMsat, paymentHash, nodeId | send a payment to a lightning node
send | paymentRequest | send a payment to a lightning node using a BOLT11 payment request
send | paymentRequest, amountMsat | send a payment to a lightning node using a BOLT11 payment request and a custom amount
checkpayment | paymentHash | returns true if the payment has been received, false otherwise
checkpayment | paymentRequest | returns true if the payment has been received, false otherwise
close | channelId | close a channel
close | channelId, scriptPubKey | close a channel and send the funds to the given scriptPubKey
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forceclose | channelId | force-close a channel by publishing the local commitment tx (careful: this is more expensive than a regular close and will incur a delay before funds are spendable)"
Audit: Keep track of sent/received/relayed payments and relay/network fees (#654)
Added a new `AuditDb` which keeps tracks of:
- every single payment (received/sent/relayed)
- every single network fee paid to the miners (funding, closing, and all commit/htlc transactions)
Note that network fees are considered paid when the corresponding tx has reached `min_depth`, it makes sense and allows us to compute the fee in one single place in the `CLOSING` handler. There is an exception for the funding tx, for which we consider the fee paid when the tx has successfully been published to the network. It simplifies the implementation and the tradeoff seems acceptable.
Three new functions have been added to the json-rpc api:
- `audit`: returns all individual payments, with optional filtering on timestamp.
- `networkfees`: returns every single fee paid to the miners, by type (`funding`, `mutual`, `revoked-commit`, etc.) and by channel, with optional filtering on timestamp.
- `channelstats`: maybe the most useful method; it returns a number of information per channel, including the `relayFee` (earned) and the `networkFee` (paid).
The `channels` method now returns details information about channels. It makes it far easier to compute aggregate information about channels using the command line.
Also added a new `ChannelFailed` event that allows e.g. the mobile app to know why a channel got closed.
2018-07-25 16:47:38 +02:00
audit | | list all send/received/relayed payments
audit | from, to | list send/received/relayed payments in that interval (from < = timestamp < to )
networkfees | | list all network fees paid to the miners, by transaction
networkfees |from, to | list network fees paid to the miners, by transaction, in that interval (from < = timestamp < to )
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help | | display available methods
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## Docker
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A [Dockerfile ](Dockerfile ) image is built on each commit on [docker hub ](https://hub.docker.com/r/acinq/eclair ) for running a dockerized eclair-node.
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You can use the `JAVA_OPTS` environment variable to set arguments to `eclair-node` .
```
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docker run -ti --rm -e "JAVA_OPTS=-Xmx512m -Declair.api.binding-ip=0.0.0.0 -Declair.node-alias=node-pm -Declair.printToConsole" acinq/eclair
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```
If you want to persist the data directory, you can make the volume to your host with the `-v` argument, as the following example:
```
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docker run -ti --rm -v "/path_on_host:/data" -e "JAVA_OPTS=-Declair.printToConsole" acinq/eclair
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```
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## Mainnet usage
Following are the minimum configuration files you need to use for Bitcoin Core and Eclair.
### Bitcoin Core configuration
```
testnet=0
server=1
rpcuser=< your-rpc-user-here >
rpcpassword=< your-rpc-password-here >
txindex=1
zmqpubrawblock=tcp://127.0.0.1:29000
zmqpubrawtx=tcp://127.0.0.1:29000
addresstype=p2sh-segwit
```
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:warning: If you are using Bitcoin Core 0.17.0 you need to add following line to your `bitcoin.conf` :
```
deprecatedrpc=signrawtransaction
```
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You may also want to take advantage of the new configuration sections in `bitcoin.conf` to manage parameters that are network specific, so you can easily run your bitcoin node on both mainnet and testnet. For example you could use:
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```
server=1
txindex=1
addresstype=p2sh-segwit
deprecatedrpc=signrawtransaction
[main]
rpcuser=< your-mainnet-rpc-user-here >
rpcpassword=< your-mainnet-rpc-password-here >
zmqpubrawblock=tcp://127.0.0.1:29000
zmqpubrawtx=tcp://127.0.0.1:29000
[test]
rpcuser=< your-testnet-rpc-user-here >
rpcpassword=< your-testnet-rpc-password-here >
zmqpubrawblock=tcp://127.0.0.1:29001
zmqpubrawtx=tcp://127.0.0.1:29001
```
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### Eclair configuration
```
eclair.chain=mainnet
eclair.bitcoind.rpcport=8332
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eclair.bitcoind.rpcuser=< your-mainnet-rpc-user-here >
eclair.bitcoind.rpcpassword=< your-mainnet-rpc-password-here >
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```
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## Resources
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- [1] [The Bitcoin Lightning Network: Scalable Off-Chain Instant Payments ](https://lightning.network/lightning-network-paper.pdf ) by Joseph Poon and Thaddeus Dryja
- [2] [Reaching The Ground With Lightning ](https://github.com/ElementsProject/lightning/raw/master/doc/deployable-lightning.pdf ) by Rusty Russell
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- [3] [Lightning Network Explorer ](https://explorer.acinq.co ) - Explore testnet LN nodes you can connect to