elsampsa / geth-testbed

geth-based ethereum mini-network running in docker

Geth testbed

1. Synopsis

We fire up a private ethereum network inside docker with three nodes.

Each node's keystore and blockchain is visible at the host's local filesystem.

One of the nodes exposes it's http API endpoint at localhost port 8545.

We can then use, say, web3.py conveniently with local keys to interact with the node through the port 8545 - in the same way as you would interact with, say, infura.

2. The Containers

There are three containers:

• bootnode : that is
• miner: mines blocks
• endpoint : normal "full node" with json-rpc accessible at host port 8545

Each container has it's ~/.ethereum/ folder mapped here, into your hosts local directory with the same name as the container.

Each node has, in it's ~/.ethereum/keystore/ (i.e. bootnode/keystore, miner/keystore, etc.) the same keyfile/account with the password kikkelis.

That account is pre-loaded with a motherlode of ethers (see genesis.json).

3. Usage

A. Build the images:

docker compose build

B. Init geth:

./init.bash

It cleans up the local endpoint/geth etc. directories & initializes geth using genesis.json.

Run the private network with:

docker-compose up

4. Helper scripts

Create yet another account for node endpoint:

./account.bash endpoint

(after that, check endpoint/keystore).

5. Web3 playground

Create virtualenv & install web3 and python notebooking:

virtualenv -p python3 venv
source env/bin/activate
pip install web3.py jupyter
cd notebook
jupyter notebook

Now you can start fooling around with web3 python interface that connects to your local docker ethereum minicluster!

6. Refs

• https://vsupalov.com/docker-shared-permissions/
• https://hub.docker.com/r/ethereum/client-go/
• https://medium.com/scb-digital/running-a-private-ethereum-blockchain-using-docker-589c8e6a4fe8

7. Copyright & License

(C) 2022 Sampsa Riikonen

Do What The Fuck You Want To Public License