Biscoint / docker-bitcoin-abe

Docker image for running bitcoin abe inside a docker container

Bitcoin-abe Docker Container

Have you ever wanted to browse a local testnet blockchain? Or perhaps you wanted to have an easy way to deploy docker containers running a blockchain browser?

Bitcoin-abe is like blockchain.io or blockerexplorer.com but you get to run its magic.

This is a dockerized image for bitcoin-abe. Use it to browse the blockchain.

How do I make it work and stuff?

When you have docker running just run the command like this:

$ docker run -d --name abe -P -p 49001:80 \
   -v <PATH_TO_YOUR_BITCOIN_DIR>:/datadir poliver/bitcoin-abe

This image includes EXPOSE 80, so we can remap a port (in the example above 49001) in the docker host to port 80 in the container.

Then just point your browser to http://dockerhost:49001

Note to Linux Users: dockerhost is your local IP address. 127.0.0.1

Note to Mac or Windows Users: dockerhost is typically 192.168.59.103, but this can change based on your Oracle VirtualBox settings. You can always check for the IP address by running docker-machine ip from the command line on Mac or Windows.

You should see some magic like this:

FAQ

How do I point this at a testnet blockchain?

1. Run the reference client Bitcoin-qt from the command line like this:

   # Example on a Mac
   $ mkdir -p ~/localnet
   $ /Applications/Bitcoin-Qt.app/Contents/MacOS/Bitcoin-Qt \
       -regtest -dnsseed=0 -connect=<HOST>:<IP> \
       -datadir=./localnet/

2. Run this docker container, but mount your localnet folder mounted at datadir:

   # On a Mac.
   $ docker run -d --name abe -P -p 49001:80 \
       -v ~/localnet/regtest:/datadir poliver/bitcoin-abe

3. Point your browser at http://dockerhost:49001

Note to Linux Users: dockerhost is your local IP address. 127.0.0.1

Note to Mac or Windows Users: dockerhost is typically 192.168.59.103, but this can change based on your Oracle VirtualBox settings. You can always check for the IP address by running docker-machine ip from the command line on Mac or Windows.

How do I point this at the public blockchain?

1. Run the reference client Bitcoin-qt, no need to run with special arguments

2. Run the docker container, but mount your bitcoin folder at datadir on the container:

   # on a Mac
   docker run -d --name abe -P -p 49001:80 \
       -v ~/Library/Application Support/Bitcoin:/datadir \
       poliver/bitcoin-abe
   
   # on Linux
   sudo docker run -d --name abe -P -p 49001:80 -v \
       ~/.bitcoin:/datadir poliver/bitcoin-abe
   
   # on Windows
   docker run -d --name abe -P -p 49001:80 -v \
       %AppData%/Bitcoin:/datadir poliver/bitcoin-abe

3. Point your browser at http://dockerhost:49001

Note to Linux Users: dockerhost is your local IP address. 127.0.0.1

Note to Mac or Windows Users: dockerhost is typically 192.168.59.103 or 192.168.99.100, but this can change based on your Oracle VirtualBox settings. You can always check for the IP address by running docker-machine ip from the command line on Mac or Windows.