Overview of BTCPay Server VPS
BTCPay Server is an open-source, community-driven platform designed to facilitate secure and private Bitcoin payments. Its primary goal is to provide a user-friendly interface for merchants to accept Bitcoin payments while maintaining control over their transactions. In this guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of setting up BTCPay Server.
Step 1: Installation Requirements
Before proceeding with the installation process, ensure that your VPS meets the following requirements:
- Operating System: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (or later)
- Hardware: Minimum 2 GB RAM, 10 GB disk space, and a decent CPU
- Software: MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Redis
Step 2: Choosing a Database
You have two options for databases: MySQL and PostgreSQL. Both offer robust features for managing your BTCPay Server data.
Choosing MySQL
If you decide to use MySQL, ensure that you:
- Install the MySQL package using the command `apt-get install mysql-server`
- Configure the MySQL user account using the command `mysql -u root -p`
- Create a new database with the command `CREATE DATABASE btcpayserver;`
Choosing PostgreSQL
Alternatively, if you choose to use PostgreSQL, follow these steps:
- Install the PostgreSQL package using the command `apt-get install postgresql`
- Initialize the PostgreSQL database with the command `\password` (you will be prompted to enter a password)
- Create a new database with the command `\c btcpayserver`
Step 3: Installation of BTCPay Server
Now that your server and database are set up, it’s time to install BTCPay Server:
- Download the latest version of BTCPay Server from its official repository
- Unpack the downloaded file using the command `tar xzvf btcpayserver->.tar.gz`
- Change into the newly created directory with the command `cd btcpayserver->`
- Run the installation script with the command `./install.sh` (be sure to run this as a non-root user)
Step 4: Configuration
After installing BTCPay Server, it’s essential to configure your server:
- Review the configuration options provided during the installation process
- Set up your SMTP server for sending emails using the SMTP Configuration guide
- Configure your database settings by running `./configure –database=mysql` (or PostgreSQL)
Step 5: Starting the Service
Once you have completed the above steps, start the service:
- Run the command `/usr/local/bin/btcpayd` with superuser privileges to ensure smooth operation
Additional Steps
These are some additional tasks which help to set up your BTCPay Server.
- Configure Web interface for users:
* To enable web interface, run `./configure –webinterface`
- Set up the GUI
- Verify SMTP Configuration for sending emails using a mail client like Thunderbird
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have successfully installed and configured BTCPay Server on your Ubuntu server. Your newly minted BTCPay server is ready to provide seamless payments solutions to merchants across the globe.
