Blockcast Node Auto-Installer Script

This script automates the setup and installation of a Blockcast node on Debian/Ubuntu-based Linux systems. It aims to simplify the process by handling dependency installation, Docker setup, Blockcast software deployment, and guiding the user through the necessary registration steps.

Features

• Automated Dependency Installation: Installs required system packages.
• Docker & Docker Compose Setup: Installs Docker CE and Docker Compose plugin (skips if Docker is already installed and functional).
• Blockcast Software Deployment: Clones or updates the official Blockcast node repository.
• Service Management: Automatically starts the Blockcast services using Docker Compose.
• Guided Account Registration: Includes a step with a referral link to guide users through Blockcast account creation/login before node registration.
• Location Data Fetching: Automatically retrieves public IP and location data (City, Region, Country, Coordinates) to assist with node registration.
• Automated Node Initialization: Runs blockcastd init to obtain the unique Node Registration URL.
• User-Friendly Output: Provides color-coded, step-by-step output with clear instructions and status messages.
• Interactive Pauses: Pauses for mandatory manual steps that require web browser interaction.

Source Documentation

This script is based on and automates many of the steps outlined in the official Blockcast Node installation documentation:

• Official Guide: Blockcast Installation Documentation

Prerequisites

• Operating System: A Debian/Ubuntu-based Linux system (e.g., Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, Ubuntu 22.04 LTS).
• Permissions: sudo privileges are required to install packages and manage services.
• Internet Connection: Required for downloading packages, cloning the repository, and interacting with the Blockcast platform.
• Basic Command-Line Knowledge: Familiarity with using the Linux terminal.
• Required Tools: The script will attempt to install git, jq, curl, and awk if they are not found. Having them pre-installed can be beneficial.

How to Use

1. Download the Script:

   wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/WINGFO-HQ/Blockcast/refs/heads/main/blockcast.sh && chmod +x blockcast.sh && blockcast.sh

Installation Process Overview

The script performs the following steps:

1. Prerequisite Checks: Verifies if essential command-line tools are installed and prompts for installation if missing.
2. System Update & Dependencies: Updates package lists, upgrades existing packages, and installs necessary system dependencies.
3. Docker Setup: Checks for an existing Docker installation. If not found or not working, it installs Docker CE, Docker CLI, Containerd, and the Docker Compose plugin. Adds the current user to the docker group (logout/login might be needed for changes to take effect for non-sudo docker commands).
4. Blockcast Software Setup:
   • Clones the Blockcast node software from the official GitHub repository (or updates it if already cloned).
   • Starts the Blockcast services (blockcastd, redis) using docker compose up -d.
5. Blockcast Account Registration (Manual Web Step):
   • The script will display a dashboard register link: https://app.blockcast.network?referral-code=xTCw3m.
   • It will instruct you to open this link in your browser to create a new Blockcast account or log into an existing one.
   • The script will pause and wait for you to press [Enter] before proceeding. This step is crucial as node registration usually requires an active account session.
6. Node Initialization & Information Gathering:
   • Fetches your public IP address and estimated location details (City, Region, Country, Coordinates) using ipinfo.io.
   • Runs the docker compose exec blockcastd blockcastd init command to initialize your node locally and generate a unique Node Registration URL.
7. Node Registration on Dashboard (Manual Web Step):
   • The script will display the Node Registration URL obtained from the previous step.
   • It will instruct you to copy this URL and paste it into your web browser (where you should already be logged into your Blockcast account).
   • You will then need to fill in your node's details on the Blockcast dashboard, using the location information provided by the script as a guide.
   • After completing the form on the website, your node should appear online in the dashboard after a few minutes.

Important Notes

• Sudo Usage: This script uses sudo for package installation and service management. Please review the script if you have any concerns.
• Port Usage: Ensure that port 18080 (or the port configured in Blockcast's docker-compose.yml if you modify it) is not already in use by another application on your server.
• Manual Web Steps: The script automates command-line tasks. However, Blockcast account creation/login and the final node registration on the web dashboard are manual steps that require your interaction with a web browser.
• OS Compatibility: The script is designed and tested for Debian/Ubuntu-based systems due to its use of apt-get.
• URL Extraction: The script attempts to automatically extract the "Register URL" from the output of the blockcastd init command. This relies on a specific output format. If Blockcast changes this output format, the script's URL extraction logic might need an update. A fallback to generic extraction and displaying the full output is included.
• Idempotency: The script attempts to be idempotent where possible (e.g., skipping Docker installation if already present, pulling updates if the repo exists).

Customization

The following variables are defined at the top of the script and can be modified if necessary:

• BLOCKCAST_REPO: The URL of the Blockcast node GitHub repository.
• BLOCKCAST_DIR: The local directory name where the repository will be cloned.

Basic Troubleshooting

• Service Failures: If Blockcast services fail to start after docker compose up -d, navigate to the blockcast directory (default) and check the logs:

  cd blockcast
  docker compose logs -f

• Permissions: If you encounter permission issues with Docker commands after the script adds your user to the docker group, you might need to log out and log back in, or open a new terminal session.
• Internet Connection: Ensure a stable internet connection throughout the process.
• Dependencies: If any core dependencies fail to install, the script will warn you. You may need to investigate and install them manually.