Zencash nodes - how to move your linode machine cross country!

My newest thing is Zencash securenodes. I started out using blockop's guide: https://blockoperations.com/build-zencash-secure-node-part-1-prepare-vps/. I was able to follow the rest of the guide and create a securenode without problems. (The latest guide that steps through everything is located here: https://blockoperations.com/how-to-build-and-operate-a-zencash-secure-node/ ).

I used a linode server and picked one that was close to my geographical location (Atlanta, GA). I soon found that this server always failed the timed challenge! So, the first thing that I did - was backup my wallet.dat file and zend.conf.

The process of moving the server from Atlanta to Fremont, CA was relatively easy! The whole process took about 28 minutes, from shutting down the existing node to having the new node up and running with the tracker.

This guide assumes that you have successfully setup and run the tracker on your existing securenode and that the only problem you have is challenge times >300sec.

Here goes:

Step1: Create a new linode 1024 on a west coast server (I chose Fremont, CA). Set this up exactly like the previous node was setup - use same disk size and memory settings, 20GB disk size and 512MB memory. This is not going to cost much extra to your $5/month plan, for me it was .5 hrs having 2 linodes .

Step 2: Shutdown running securenode. You can use the linode dashboard to do this.

Step 3: Note the NEW IP address of the VPS you setup in the new location.

Step 4: Go to your domain manager and change or add/remove the new IP address for your existing securenode (we will use the same subdomain, aka FQDN, so there is no reason to change any of the configurations) this should propagate by the time the clone process is completed in the next steps. Make sure the new IP matches the IP of your newly created linode.

Step 5: Startup the new linode, verify that you can ping your new node. Your new VPS should have the bare image, make sure you can login

Step 6: verify that you can ping your subdomain. since your securenode is offline, a failed ping will indicate that your DNS settings haven't propagated yet. Try every few minutes until you get a good ping.

-don't go to step 7 until your ping is validated.

Step 6b: shutdown new VPS.

Step 7: Use the clone tab on the linode dashboard to clone your original server to the new server location. CLone both disks (the 512MB and the 20GB disks.)

When the cloning process is complete:

Step 8: Startup your new linode.

Step 9: login to your securenode using the original username and password you setup. Also, now is a good time to check if your zen client and tracker are running! Check firewall, check certificate, check wallet... check that everything you setup is working as it should.

Remember, only 1 of the 3 things relating the tracker to your securenode can change at a time. IP address, staking address, or challenge address. Use this guide to clone a linode to a different geographical location and improve your challenge results!

My results are starting to get higher, the times from GA were all over 300 seconds, and now in CA I'm getting a couple that have gone over, but they started out in the 207-210 range.

I may try a new VPS all together... any suggestions?

My shameless self promotion of linode (aka referral link): https://www.linode.com/?r=6a77b85d574835a1ed7058b9020a17f562aa5516