You have decided to take the leap into Bitcoin mining, and you have found that the best way to make a real profit with Bitcoin is through using an ASIC miner rig. However, even though you might know how the basics of mining works, you do not really know anything about setting up these machines. It can seem quite complex, but it doesn’t have to be as daunting as many people make it out to be.
The ASIC mining miners are specifically for Bitcoin, which is nice, as it can provide the benefit of power and speed when compared with CPU, GPU, and FGPA. While there may be some differences when it comes to setting up different brands and models of ASIC miners, you will find that the process tends to be quite similar from one to another.
Setup Tips
You first need to make sure that you have the right amount of power to run the miner properly. Check to see what the power requirements are for the miner that you have chosen. The AntMiner S9, for example, will require 1275 watts of power. For this type of device, you would be able to connect two 110v PSUs along with a 650-watt PSU to provide the power the miner will need.
Once you have connected the power to the miner, you will then connect the ethernet cable to the miner. Once it is connected, you can turn on the PSU, which will allow the miner to receive power. Connect a computer, such as a laptop or desktop, to the same network as the miner and then enter the miner’s IP address. Most of the miners available today will have DHCP enabled, so you will not have to enter the IP address manually. You can simply look at the router’s IP table and find the right one. You would also use a scanning tool that will look at all the devices connected to your network. You will find the miner on the list. Once you have the address, you can type in the miner’s address to the browser window.
When you type in the address, it will take you right to the miner’s login. The username and password will usually be supplied, and you can change them later. The default for the S9, for example, is “root” for both the password and the username. As soon as you log into the site, it is a good idea to make the changes to the login credentials, and make note of them.
Once you have logged in properly, you will then head to the administration area of the miner. You can then add the information of the mining pool where you wish to begin mining. One of the best options and most profitable tends to be the Bitcoin.com Pool. To do this, you will enter the stratum/IP address of the pool along with your name and password. You can then save the settings, and the device will start to go to work.
It is important to remember that it might take the device about an hour or so to get up to speed with the hash rate. Then, you can head into the mining status page to get an idea of how well your miner is performing. In some cases, the information will provide you with an overview of how the mining operation is going, but some will offer live connections, so you can see just how much Bitcoin you are mining.
This is all you need to know for the basics of setting up a Bitcoin ASIC miner rig. They have a few steps that you need to follow, and you need to be aware that there are going to be some slightly different methods depending on the model and type of ASIC miner you choose. However, they all have similar methods of setup, and they are not too difficult for those who have at least a small amount of experience working with hardware and software.
When you choose a specific model and brand of miner, it is always a good idea to read the literature that comes with the device to help with setup, and then to find online videos that are specific toward your device. These can help you ensure you are setting up your device properly.
Making Setup Easier
If you do not want to go through the steps of getting everything set up on your own, you do have a couple of options available to you. It might be possible to find someone in the area who is knowledgeable about these types of devices, who can take care of the setup for you. However, many people instead choose to work with a colocation host that works with Bitcoin miners. You can provide them with the hardware, and most of the companies can take care of the setup for you.
Those who have little knowledge of computers and who still want to get started will find that these companies that can take care of the setup, hosting, and monitoring of the device can be quite helpful. However, it is also important to be aware that these are going to bring with them an additional cost. You have to consider just how much these services are going to cost and weigh them with the potential amount of profit you could make to determine whether they are a good choice, or whether you should take the time to learn how to set up a Bitcoin ASIC miner rig on your own.
If you follow the basic steps here, you should not have too much trouble setting up a on your own. This is helpful for those who want to have all their ASIC hardware onsite, either at home or at a rented facility, for example. This cuts out the additional costs of having someone who takes care of setup and monitoring, but it will mean you have more work to handle, at least with the initial setup.
