Go-Ethereum – Fixing Geth Error with –datadir /Volumes/XXX for Synchronization

Q: Why do I get the error message?

The reason why you are getting the error with port 30303 already being used is because your first geth command is using this port.

When you run Ethereum Wallet (Mist), it will try to start up another instance of geth because it is unable to detect the first running instance of `geth.

Mist communicates with geth through the IPC file. In Linux this IPC file is $HOME/.ethereum/geth.ipc.

Because you have disabled the IPC file, in your geth command, Mist is unable to detect the first running instance.

And if you did not disable the IPC socket, geth will create it in your specified datadir with the full file name /media/user/sdcard/chaindata/geth.ipc.

Q: What should I do to be able to make Mist actually run when I start Geth the way I do as specified above?

What you will need to do is start geth specifying the IPC file that Mist expects to use (see How to change to private network in etherum wallet? to details on the IPC file path hard coded in Mist):

geth --datadir /media/user/sdcard/chaindata --ipcpath $HOME/.ethereum/geth.ipc console

Then start Mist.

Yes, your are now fully synced. You can kill the process if you do not need want to interact with the blockchain right now and want to turn off your computer/disconnect from the Internet/reduce RAM usage/etc. If you restart geth, it will start syncing from where you left off. If you want to help support the Ethereum network by providing a node that other people can sync their nodes from, then this is a reason to keep the process running.

You can install a wallet that connects to your geth instance. You will need to enable RPC (remote procedure calls) so that other programs can interact with your geth instance. This is done using the --rpc command line option. You should (read: do this or risk having your ether stolen!) ensure that only connections from via 127.x.x.x (usually 127.0.0.1) can connect to your geth to prevent malicious users from executing transactions. This is the default; only programs running on your computer can use your Ethereum accounts.

Make sure you trust your wallet. Mist can use your existing geth instance so you do not need to sync again. Just like you would treat your banking information, don't trust my links. And don't run random software on your computer that you don't trust.