Start mining ZCASH in 10 minutes using Google Cloud Platform – Step by Step guide and $300 Bounty!!!

Start mining Zcash in 10 minutes

If there is one thing that has excited me in the past few days, its mining cryptocurrencies using Virtual Cloud Platform. Zcash is one of my recent picks that is possible to mine using CPU/GPU and it’s so easy to setup that even a dummy like me can do it.

Why Google Cloud Platform (GCP)?

When you create a new account with Google Cloud Platform you get some $300 worth services absolutely free, for beginners it’s a good place to try/ test and learn some awesome technologies on the cloud.

Disclaimers - Before we learn how to mine ZCASH:

1. This post is for educational purposes only and GCP policy does not promote mining cryptocurrency using free credits

STEP 1 - Create an account on Google Cloud Platform

Here is the link for Google Console. If you already do not have an account with GCP, create one by providing your card details debit/ credit… They won’t charge you until you permit them. https://cloud.google.com/

STEP 2 – Create a Virtual Instance

In this step we will create a virtual machine that runs Ubuntu server. Choose a location which is near to you to get lower charges.

Once logged in, hit CONSOLE button below

We will now create a virtual machine that runs on Ubuntu 14.04 . We will select 8 core processer with 7 GB RAM.

Leave other fields as it is and then hit create.
This will successfully create a new virtual machine on GCP with monthly charges of little over $150.

STEP 3 – Open SSH Client and Run Ubuntu Commands

In this step we will first update the Ubuntu server and then we will install nheqminer miner.
We will then use nheqminer miner to join Flypool mining pool and start mining
You need to have a valid ZCASH wallet address where the mined coins will be deposited

Allow pop-ups because the virtual instance will open in another window.

STEP 4 – Ubuntu Commands

If you are able to see a black screen as above, congratulations, you have now access to your virtual machine hosted by Google.

Next we will run some commands to install miner and connect it to FLyPool

Update Ubuntu Server

sudo apt-get update

Install git, Hit y when asked for confirmation

sudo apt-get install git
y

Install tmux - this will help us keep the server running even if we close the SSH client window

sudo apt-get -y install tmux
sudo apt-get install cmake build-essential libboost-all-dev
y

Create a new directory to download miner

sudo mkdir /downloads
cd /downloads

install nheqminer in the new directory that we just created

sudo git clone https://github.com/feeleep75/nheqminer.git

Check Flypool website (https://zcash.flypool.org/) - it is not necessary to install only nheqminer, there are other miners too that you can install

Create a new directory called build and nheqminer

cd nheqminer/nheqminer
sudo mkdir build
cd build

Now we will compile the nheqminer software in this directory

sudo cmake ..
sudo make

Exit the SSH client and then reopen the SSH client

exit

Run Tmux to open a new window.

tmux

Jump to the directory where we had installed our miner.

cd /downloads/nheqminer/nheqminer/build

Until this step we have downloaded the miner and compiled it, now its time to connect this miner to a bigger mining pool.
We will support the pool's hashing power by proving what ever hashing power our 8 core processor can generate. And in turn the pool will reward us in proportion to the hashing power that we contributed.

Be very careful in the next step, because this is where you will provide your wallet address.

Depending upon your region, run the following code

Here is the snippet from https://zcash.flypool.org/

Example if you are in Asia and your Zcash wallet address is t1gdWpRoHpd39vxniDWGkkbnrCPCTBQ75b8

then run

./nheqminer -l asia1-zcash.flypool.org:3333 -u t1gdWpRoHpd39vxniDWGkkbnrCPCTBQ75b8.miner -t 6

if you are in Europe then run

./nheqminer -l eu1-zcash.flypool.org:3333 -u t1gdWpRoHpd39vxniDWGkkbnrCPCTBQ75b8.miner -t 6

.miner in the end is the name you want to assign to the miner, you can call it worker or simply anything

Be sure to provide your ZCASH Address, else you would be doing somebody a favor.

How to check if you have started mining?

Go to flypool's website https://zcash.flypool.org/
and enter you Zcash wallet address in the top right box

You will see the progress of your Miner/worker (the name your provided) on a regular basis in near real time,

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Thank You For your attention..

Please Upvote and ReSteem if you learned something new and want to tell others.

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