gridseedguide

how to setup Asic gridseed miners and where to get the best price

How To Setup Asic Gridseed Miners & where to buy them Part 1

Things you need,

Gridseed 10 Pack. Check out ebay for Europe and the UK the best priced one i found was here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-x-ASIC-gridseed-scrypt-duel-litecoin-bitcoin-miners-LTC-BTC-300-kh-s-UK-STOCK-/151251971778?pt=UK_Computing_Other_Computing_Networking&hash=item233751eec2

Accessories That you will need:

These can also be sourced from ebay and amazon. Buy the accessories separately to avoid higher prices.

01 Controller board for up to 20 devices/alternatively use a netbook, desktop or a raspberry pi more on this later. It is more stable to use a netbook or a raspberry pi instead of a wii controller board.

02 Power Supplies (Up to 5 devices per power supply)

11 Mini USB cables

10 Device Power Leads (Barrel plug to bare wire)

01 USB Hub

01 USB Hub Power Adapter

10 port USB Hub.  The HUB I received provided 1 Amp or 1000ma per port and 10 amps overall.

10 x bare wire 2.5mm ID x 5.5mm OD barrel plug to bare wire.

*There should have been 11.  The HUB runs on the same voltage and plug type. Not sure why jack didn’t set it up that way vs the power brick (Fire Hazard)

Two C13 to Your local power plug:

10 USB A to mini B cables

1 TP Link / wiibox controller with USB, Power Brick, and instructions

Here’s the gridseed box:

Open from the custom product end and tip the box upside down so the whole thing comes out.  Instead of fighting with it like all the youtube unboxings I’ve seen….

The Guts and Glory:

High Quality fan soldering:

COM Port:

Gridseed power usage guide with duel mode and script only mode

Part 6: Power Usage & Temps
 
Power usage is roughly the same when running from Windows, Linux, RPi the new software allows the devices to run in single mode from these platforms as well.Power Usage and Speeds: Power is based on killowatt readings for the controller, USB hub and 10 devices using a Corsair AX1200 PSU.  Divide out the power factor for actual usage.  The speed reports are only based on a 5-10 minute sample time so add +/-10% variance.  You can see in the screen cap that the per device speed is completely crazy this is mostly the controller and device quality.

Power Supply Efficiency: Corsair AX1200 80 Plus GOLD

Disconnected from controller – Fans/Leds, PSU, Controller, HUB
61.2 Watts

SHA only mode.  It’s not even worth testing these in SHA only mode so I have excluded it.

Freq 600 Dual Mode
~2.5Mh/s scrypt (Controller)
~1.5Mh/s scrypt (scryptguild)
~80Gh/s sha (eligius)
429Watt

Freq 700 Dual Mode
~2.75Mh/s scrypt (Controller)
~1.8Mh/s scrypt (scryptguild)
~95Gh/s sha (eligius)
507Watt

Freq 800 Dual Mode
~2.5Mh/s scrypt (Controller)
~3Mh/s scrypt (scryptguild)
~120Gh/s sha (eligius)
583Watt

Freq 850 Dual Mode
~383Kh/s scrypt (Controller)
~383Kh/s scrypt (scryptguild)
~70Gh/s sha (eligius)
627Watt

Not sure where the power went.  900 is even worse so the bulk spot is between 700 and 800 on this set.

Temps were really boring in dual mode.  The massive fan on these take away the heat very well which is new for an ASIC maker.  Ambient 74F-78F Max device core 96F outflow air 86-90F.


Scrypt Mode: The power supply will be under 88% efficiency most likely 80-85% if you want device wattage multiply the results by .85Freq 600 Single Mode (Default Clocks)
~2.2Mh/s scrypt (Controller)
~2.2Mh/s scrypt (scryptguild)
88Watt

Freq 650 Single Mode (Default Clocks)
~2.6Mh/s scrypt (Controller)
~2.6Mh/s scrypt (scryptguild)
90Watt

Freq 700 Single Mode (Default Clocks)
~2.8Mh/s scrypt (Controller)
~2.8Mh/s scrypt (scryptguild)
92Watt

Freq 750 Single Mode
~2.9Mh/s scrypt (Controller)
~3Mh/s scrypt (scryptguild)
95Watt

Freq 800 Single Mode
~3Mh/s scrypt (Controller)
~2.8Mh/s scrypt (scryptguild)
97Watt

Freq 850 Single Mode
~3.2Mh/s scrypt (Controller)
~3.2Mh/s scrypt (scryptguild)
99Watt

Freq 900 Single Mode
~3.1Mh/s scrypt (Controller)
~3.1Mh/s scrypt (scryptguild)
103Watt

How To Setup Asic Gridseed Miners using linux

Part 5A.1: Linux

Credit: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=421921.msg5455483#msg5455483
Credit: https://github.com/gridseed/usb-miner/blob/master/software/doc/INSTALL_EN.pdf

Install Pre-Requisites:

Code:
sudo -s
apt-get update
apt-get install build-essential libtool libcurl4-openssl-dev libncurses5-dev libudev-dev autoconf automake screen

Grab possibly needed packages:

Code:

Install curl and jansso packages:

Code:
tar -xvf curl-7.34.0.tar.bz2 
cd curl-7.34.0/ 
./configure 
make 
make install 
cd
Code:
tar -xvf jansson-2.5.tar.bz2 
cd jansson-2.5/  
./configure 
make 
make install 
cd

Build cpuminer from git:

Code:
cd
git clone https://github.com/gridseed/usb-miner
cd ~/usb-miner/software/cpuminer
./autogen.sh
CFLAGS="-O2 -Wall -march=native" ./configure 
make
cd

*** For ubuntu 13.10 ***
Install the correct automake version so cgminer builds

Code:

Link the Jansson Libraries to fix:

Code:
./minerd: error while loading shared libraries: libjansson.so.4: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
Code:
sudo ln -s /usr/local/lib/libjansson.* /usr/lib/

*** END ***

Build cgminer:

Code:
cd /home/miner/usb-miner/software/cgminer
./autogen.sh
CFLAGS="-O2 -Wall -march=native" ./configure --enable-gridseed
make
cd

Link the build directories for convenience:

Code:
ln -s /home/miner/usb-miner/software/cpuminer /home/miner/cpuminer
ln -s ~/usb-miner/software/cgminer ~/cgminer

If all went well you will have the miner installed.

Now DO NOT PLUGIN the USB yet just the power cable:

Code:
tail -f /var/log/syslog

Plug in the USB cable to the computer and device:

Syslog results

*You might have /dev/ttyUSBX not ttyACMX

Now run the miner process:

Code:
sudo ./minerd --freq=600 --gc3355=/dev/ttyACM0  --url=stratum+tcp://middlecoin.com:3333 --userpass=13zKJjzxGpjbqJDAWAhFNHVqALqcsCWiat:x

Or using CGMiner Syntax

Code:
sudo ./minerd -F 600 -G /dev/ttyACM0  -o stratum+tcp://middlecoin.com:3333 -u 13zKJjzxGpjbqJDAWAhFNHVqALqcsCWiat -p x

It appears you can’t combine devices to one line like this: (worldlybedouin,Powell)

Code:
sudo ./minerd -F 600 -G /dev/ttyACM0 -G /dev/ttyACM1  -G /dev/tACM2  -G /dev/ttyACM3  -G /dev/ttyACM4  -G /dev/ttyACM5  -G /dev/ttyACM6  -G /dev/ttyACM7  -G /dev/ttyACM8  -G /dev/ttyACM9 -o stratum+tcp://middlecoin.com:3333 -u 13zKJjzxGpjbqJDAWAhFNHVqALqcsCWiat -p x

I use dynamic pool files but something like this will work:

Code:
sudo -s
cd /home/miner/usb-miner/software/cpuminer
for i in `seq 0 10`; do screen -dmS $i ./minerd -G /dev/ttyACM$i -F 800 -o stratum+tcp://stratum.scryptguild.com:3333 -u unicornhasher -px;done

use

Code:
screen -ls

to list screens and

Code:
screen -x xxxx.x

to join a screen

YAY means YAY

How I run the 10 miners to 10 separate pools:
1) Create 10 pool files named pool0.sh to pool9.sh
2) insert the FREQ NAME and POOL variables into each pool file
pool9.sh

Code:
NAME="miaviator"
POOL="-o stratum+tcp://middlecoin.com:3333 -u 13zKJjzxGpjbqJDAWAhFNHVqALqcsCWiat -p x"
FREQ="800"

3) make the mine.sh script to execute the miners

Code:
cat > mine.sh << EOF
count=0
for i in `ls /dev/ttyACM*`
do
source /home/miner/pool$count.sh
cd /home/miner/cpuminer/
screen -dmS $NAME ./minerd -F $FREQ -G $i $POOL
count=$((count+1))
done
EOF
chmod +x mine.sh

After running mine.sh for this hosting thread https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=471764.0 I have the following screens:

Part 5A.2: BTC Mode

Modified from PDF and this post: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=494625.msg5465107#msg5465107

Code:
cd cgminer

To mine to my donation address for this guide:

Code:
./cgminer --gridseed-options=baud=115200,freq=800,chips=5,modules=1,usefifo=0,btc=16 --hotplug=0 -o stratum+tcp://stratum.mining.eligius.st:3334 -u 13zKJjzxGpjbqJDAWAhFNHVqALqcsCWiat -p x

Breakdown:  NEEDS HELP

Execute the Miner:

Code:
./cgminer

Enable Gridseed configuration flags

Code:
--gridseed-options=

The Serial/USB com speed (Don’t Change)

Code:
baud=115200

The chip frequency in 50 Unit steps from 600 to 900:

Code:
freq=800

The number of chips on the device (Don’t change for these devices)
*Change if you get a 10 or 25 Mh/s GridSeed box
*you bastard
* I want one

Code:
chips=5

The number of boards/modules/devices per com port (IE 1, don’t change this)

Code:
modules=1

Communications method used to talk to the device board (Don’t change)
*Correct me if I’m wrong

Code:
usefifo=0

A seemingly arbitrary number until someone tells me what its for Smiley
*The doc says 11 I’m sure there is a range

Code:
btc=16

I’d guess this allows devices, modules or chips to be added/removed while the miner is running?
*IDK and IDC

Code:
hotplug=0

Standard pool config

Code:
-o POOL:PORT -u USER -p PASS

Mining:

Mining per device vs all devices:

Code:
lsusb

Quick and dirty Bus:Device:

Code:
lsusb |grep STMicroelectronics|cut -d " " -f 2,4|sed 's/://g'|sed 's/ /:/g'

Run one or more devices using cgminers —usb flag https://github.com/ckolivas/cgminer

Code:
./cgminer --gridseed-options=baud=115200,freq=800,chips=5,modules=1,usefifo=0,btc=16 --hotplug=0 -o stratum+tcp://stratum.mining.eligius.st:3334 -u 13zKJjzxGpjbqJDAWAhFNHVqALqcsCWiat -p x --usb 001:009

or

Code:
--usb 001:009,001:013

etc.

Part 5A.3: BTC/Dual Mode

Once you turn on BTC mining you have to attache to the LTC proxy in order to mine in scrypt mode / dual mode.  Or unplug the devices and replug them so they show up as ttyACM# again?

Once you are running one or more devices in SHA mode you can start Scrypt mining in dual mode with:

Code:
./minerd -F 800 -o stratum+tcp://middlecoin.com:3333 -u 13zKJjzxGpjbqJDAWAhFNHVqALqcsCWiat -p x --dual

Can I run to 10 pools this way?  Let’s find out.

MORE TO COME with power readings and speed/clock readings.

Part 5B: WindowsHow to run miners on com ports 10+ in windows:use \.\COMXX instead of COMXX on the command line for com ports above 10

IE: —gc3355=\.\COM17

If anyone has any corrections or wants new screenshots for the windows directions let me know.

11 –Download the modified CPUminer from here or here. Extract
the archive anywhere you want.

12 –Check the com port. To connect to your miner, you need to know what comport is assigned to your miner. You can do this by pressing the windows key + the R key. So ‘Windows + R’. This should give you a small window called ‘run’. (Sorry, I am Dutch, so screenshots are in Dutch)

Enter ‘compmgmt.msc’ in the window, and hit the enter key. This should open a new window, called ‘computermanagement’.

Click ‘Devicemanager’

Now click the small arrow in front of ‘Ports (COM & LPT)’

Now you can see that in my case it says ‘STMicroelectronics Virtual COM Port (COM7)’. This means that my miner is now assigned to COM port 7. Some people have experienced problems with miners which had COM port numbers above 10, if you have a number above 10, go to step 13, otherwise go to step 14.

13 –Changing the COM port number. This step is only necessary if your automatically assigned COM port number is 10 or higher!. Like this:

In the devicemanger, right click on the ‘STMicroelectronics Virtual COM port (COMXX)’, which has a COM port number above 10. Select ‘properties’. This will open a new window, go to the ‘portsettings’ tab in that window.

Now, click ‘advanced’. This will open another window, in which you can select which COM port to use. Select one that is not in use, and click ‘ok’ after you are finished.

Also click ‘ok’ in the properties window. Make sure the COM port now has the number you selected:

If all is correct, you can close the computermanagement window.

14 –Now you know your COM port number. You can setup your miner now! Download this bat file, and save it in the folder where you extracted the miner in step 11. Make sure the bat file is in the same folder as the ‘minerd.exe’ program.

15 –Edit the bat file. Right click on the bat file, and select ‘edit’. This should open this window:

Change the ‘XXX’ of the COM port to the number you found in step 12. Make sure to change the ‘—url=’ to the url of the pool you want to mine at. Also change the ‘—userpass=’ to the workername and password of your pool (format is workername:password). If you don’t change this, you will mine for my account, which I don’t mind either of course  Grin

Save the file.

16 –Mine away! Just double click the bat file. It should start a small window, and your miner will start mining. If you have more than one miner, just make a copy of the bat file, change the COM port number, and start that one as well. You need one cpuminer window per miner.

As soon as you start seeing ‘yay!!!’ you know that your miner is working properly. This version of cpuminer is not able to show the hashrate, so your hashrate will always show ‘0.00 khash/s’, even though it is mining.

How To Setup Asic Gridseed Miners & where to buy them Part 4

Part 5A.01: Pi
Part 5A: Linux
5A.01 Pi
5A.1 Linux Scrypt Mode
5A.2 Linux SHA Mode
5A.3 Linux Dual ModeRaspberry PiI’ll be hooking this up to power the Pi 3/12/2014 http://amzn.com/B00CBCGAL8 and testing out cgminer and cpuminer as well as casing and rack mounting the hosted set of devices I have.

http://www.raspberrypi.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/quick-start-guide-v2_1.pdf
http://elinux.org/RPi_Easy_SD_Card_Setup

Acquire an Rpi: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_10?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=raspberry%20pi

Dowload Raspbian from:
http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads
http://downloads.raspberrypi.org/raspbian_latest
Extract the image file

Download SD Formatter from:
https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/eula_windows/

Extract and install sd formatter downloaded above.

Change the “Options” to Full and Adjust size

Confirm

If everything completed move on:

Download win32diskimager:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager/
http://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/win32diskimager/Archive/win32diskimager-v0.9-binary.zip?r=http%3A%2F%2Fsourceforge.net%2Fprojects%2Fwin32diskimager%2F&ts=1394574641&use_mirror=hivelocity
Extract the program and run it

I configured a few things on first boot:
Expand the image to fill the card
Change password
Change startup method (Text only)

Enable the root account

Code:
sudo passwd root
***
***
exit

ssh back in as root and change the associated paths and groups

Code:
usermod -l miner pi
usermod -m -d /home/miner miner
groupmod -n miner pi
exit

ssh back in as miner and install the pre-requisites

Code:
sudo -s
apt-get update
apt-get install -y build-essential libtool libcurl4-openssl-dev libncurses5-dev libudev-dev autoconf automake screen

Build cgminer:

Code:
su miner
git clone https://github.com/gridseed/usb-miner/tree/master/software/cgminer
mv usb-miner/software/cgminer ~
cd cgminer
autoreconf -i
./configure --enable-gridseed
make

Build cpu miner:

Code:
cd
mv usb-miner/software/cpuminer ~
cd cpuminer
./autogen.sh
./configure
make

? Profit ?

How To Setup Asic Gridseed Miners & where to buy them Part 3

Part 4: Setting up the controllerIf you do not have wired internet available for the controller box you can easily setup a wireless bridge to run these or any other miners more reliably over wireless:

http://www.trendnet.com/products/proddetail.asp?prod=180_TEW-432BRP
http://www.trendnet.com/products/proddetail.asp?prod=230_TEW-651BRI use one on my laser printer and have used dozens of the 432s for various projects.  I have a box of them here that I’m not using at the moment.Plug in and TURN ON the usb HUB

Plug in the power and network to the TP-Link controller

*Depending on your network setup, grab the MAC address from the back of the controller:

Plug it all together like a disaster:

Find the IP assigned to your controller by reading your routers DHCP leases:

Visit the IP of the controller in a web browser

Fill in both the Scrypt and SHA pool information!

Don’t leave the SHA pool blank!

Select enable on scrypt or scrypt and sha

Hit savewait a whilePool URL’s include the stratum+tcp:// portion!

How To Setup Asic Gridseed Miners & where to buy them Part 2

Part 2: Hacking together the Power


Now For Hacking together power

I’m on 110 here:

If you are lucky enough to have Chinese style power this would work.  This is from the lightening asic instructions…. Lol.


US POWERget some tools, or scissors:

Cut off the end of the power cord:

Peel back the coating to show the inner insulated wires:

Strip the three wires:

Place the wires on the PSU correctly!

EU POWER1 –Get your supplied power cord:

2 –Get your Leatherman (seriously, everyone should have one), if you don’t have a Leatherman, scissors or a wire cutter will work as well Wink:

Just cut it! Make sure to cut the power supply end, not the end that should go into your power socket…

3 –Now strip the cut end. There should be three wires in there. EU power cables have a yellow/green wire, a blue wire and a brown wire. US power cables have a lighter blue, a grey and a black wire. Make sure to connect them to the power supply in the order I just told you. Like this:


Grab 5 of the barrel plug cords:

#1 and 2

#3 and 4

#5

Fully wired:

Power usage while idle, IE just the PSU:

Spot CFM:

Part 3 coming up