How to Build and Run Zorkcoin Node on Ubuntu / Debian
Current date note: February 02, 2026 — make sure you’re using a recent /up-to-date version of either:
- Ubuntu (e.g. 24.04 LTS, 24.10, or later)
- Debian (e.g. Debian 12 Bookworm or Debian Testing / Sid).
All commands will be run on the testnet for the time being. Watch github or join our discord for the launch of the testnet as well the full net in the future!
Step 1 : Prepare the system
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -yInstall all necessary packages:
sudo apt-get install build-essential libtool autotools-dev automake \
pkg-config bsdmainutils python3 libssl-dev \
libevent-dev libboost-system-dev libboost-filesystem-dev libboost-test-dev \
libboost-thread-dev libfmt-dev libsqlite3-dev libqt5gui5 libqt5core5a \
libqt5dbus5 qttools5-dev qttools5-dev-tools libqrencode-dev libdb5.3++-dev- IMPORTANT: libdb5.3++-dev is required — Zorkcoin will not build or run properly without it.
Step 2 : Get the source code
- clone the source code
- enter the directory
git clone https://github.com/ZorkNetwork/zorkcoin.gitcd zorkcoin/Step 3 : Prepare the build
- now that we are in the zorkcoin directory :~/zorkcoin$
./autogen.sh./configure --with-incompatible-bdb- This builds the directory so that it can be compiled in the next step.
Step 4 : Compile the code
- while still in the zorkcoin directory:
make -j$(nproc)- Adding the -j$(nproc) to the make will have it use all CPU cores for faster compilation
Step 5 : (Optional) Install system-wide
sudo make install- Most node operators skip this and run directly from the build folder.
Step 6 : Start the node (recommended: in screen)
- Remember to back out of the zorkcoin directory and return home:
cd ~- This take you to the top level
A. Install screen
sudo apt install -y screenB. Start a detached session:
screen -S zork-nodecd zorkcoin/ # adjust path if neededzorkcoind -testnet -seednode=(IP_ADDRESS_HERE) --txindex=1 --prune=0- To detach from a screen: Ctrl + A then Ctrl + D
To re-attach to the screen later use the command:
screen -r zork-node!!!Note: Let the node run and sync for a while before proceeding to wallet commands (it needs to be responsive).
- Optionally you can add
--serverIf you don’t want to run it in a screen to see the outputs you can do tail -f ~/.zorkcoin/testnet/debug.log & which will show the outputs like show up in the screen
Step 7 : Create and manage a wallet
Once the zorkcoin node is running, you can now interact with it using zorkcoin-cli.
A. Create a new wallet
zorkcoin-cli -testnet createwallet “mywallet”- Replace “mywallet” with any name you want (e.g. “main”, “cold”, “trading”)
This creates a new wallet.dat file in the default data directory
B. List all wallets (optional — to verify)
zorkcoin-cli -testnet listwalletsC. Load the wallet (usually not needed immediately after creation)
- If you restart the node or want to make sure a specific wallet is active:
zorkcoin-cli -testnet loadwallet “mywallet”D. Set the default wallet (optional — useful if you have multiple wallets)
You can tell the CLI to always use a specific wallet:
zorkcoin-cli -testnet -rpcwallet=”mywallet” getnewaddressE. Get a new receiving address:
zorkcoin-cli -testnet -rpcwallet=”mywallet” getnewaddressF. Check balance:
zorkcoin-cli -testnet -rpcwallet=”mywallet” getbalance- Or optionally if you want more info on the wallet you can use
zorkcoin-cli -testnet getwalletinfo- This grabs all of the info of the currently loaded wallet
G. Unlock the wallet for staking / spending (if encrypted):
zorkcoin-cli -testnet -rpcwallet=”mywallet” walletpassphrase “yourpassphrase” 600Quick reference — screen commands
- Detach: Ctrl+A then Ctrl+D
- List sessions:
screen -list- Re-attach:
screen -r YOUR_SCREEN_NAME- Stop session:
screen -XS YOUR_SCREEN_NAME quitThanks for reading!
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By: Bizboz
Email: bizboz@zork.network
