Now that  [PeerPlays](https://www.peerplays.com) has launched, many people are still lost on how to set up a witness.

<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmfQDsh6WTADu7X6bWLdJXHcar8haGvXe5Xq4YAPB1RJAe/image.png)</center>

What is PeerPlays?
======

PeerPlays is a decentralized platform for gambling, based on BitShares (the precursor to Steemit). It could have a variety of uses including sports betting, lotteries, dice games, etc.


How do I get a witness?
====

Luckily, I've ported over my popular Steem-in-a-box software, so setting up a witness is a breeze! 

My company @privex can even [get you a server paid with STEEM](https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@privex/we-are-privex-inc-we-accept-steem-protecting-your-privacy-in-the-cloud) for your PeerPlays witness. (@privex actually runs a seed inside the network, meaning you'll sync in 30 seconds flat)

Let's get started. 
=========

Since the account faucet isn't online yet, you'll need to ask in the Telegram for an account: https://telegram.me/PeerplaysWitness

Once you have an account, [you'll need to get a Linux server](https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@privex/we-are-privex-inc-we-accept-steem-protecting-your-privacy-in-the-cloud), I recommend using Ubuntu 16.04. Right now PeerPlays has low requirements, you'll only need a 1-2GB RAM server (but you might want to invest in more RAM for when it gets bigger).

Setting up the server
=====

Now that you have a Linux server online, you'll need to install Docker. This is fast and easy, just 2 commands:

```
sudo apt update && sudo apt install curl git
curl https://get.docker.com | sh
```

If you're using a normal user, make sure to add that user to the docker group, e.g. if your user is called `ubuntu`:

```
  sudo usermod -aG docker ubuntu
```

Once you've installed Docker, download my PeerPlays-in-a-box system:

```
git clone https://github.com/Someguy123/peerplays-docker.git
cd peerplays-docker
```

Now, change to the peerplays-docker folder, and let's install and start peerplays (this may take a minute)

```
./run.sh install
./run.sh start
```

For the next part, you'll need to have a PeerPlays account. Since the account faucet isn't online yet, you'll need to ask in the Telegram for an account: https://telegram.me/PeerplaysWitness

Once you have an account, we can continue setting up the witness:

```
./run.sh wallet
```

You should see a prompt like this:
```
new >>>
```

Set a wallet password (this is unrelated to your account password, it's similar to a bitcoin wallet password)

```
set_password "some_secure_password"
unlock "some_secure_password"
```

Now, get your private keys based on your password (if you already have your keys, skip this step)

```
unlocked >>> get_private_key_from_password USERNAME active PASSWORD 
[ 'PPYxxx', 'xxxx' ] 
unlocked >>> get_private_key_from_password USERNAME owner PASSWORD 
[ 'PPYxxx', 'xxxx' ]
```

Import your owner and active key into the wallet

```
unlocked >>> import_key "USERNAME" xxxx 
unlocked >>> import_key "USERNAME" xxxx
```

You need to "upgrade your account". You may need to ask someone to send you some PPY tokens on the Telegram before you can do this.

```
unlocked >>> upgrade_account USERNAME true 
```

Once you've successfully upgraded, you can now create a witness:

```
create_witness USERNAME "url" true
```

You should see something like this:

```
{
  "ref_block_num": 6936,
  "ref_block_prefix": 4050013610,
  "expiration": "2017-06-06T21:48:12",
  "operations": [[
      20,{
        "fee": {
          "amount": 800000,
          "asset_id": "1.3.0"
        },
        "witness_account": "1.2.8892",
        "url": "",
        "block_signing_key": "PPY5ipyg232HNHTCGR52EZtR6wyCdZPYJoMVmcpfiPRrEyMFUxeJG",
        "initial_secret": ""
      }
}
```

Make a note of the **block_signing_key**, it's important!

Now, do this following to get your **private block signing key**

```
get_private_key THE_BLOCK_SIGNING_KEY_WHICH_IS_ABOVE
```

You should see a **private key**, beginning with 5. Note this down somewhere with your **public block signing key**.

Now, get your **witness ID**:

```
get_witness USERNAME
```

Make note of the "id" (make sure to not copy the wrong ID)

```
{
 ..... 
 "id": "1.6.x" 
 ..... 
}
```

Now. Press CTRL-D to exit the wallet.

We'll now update the config for the server:

```
nano data/witness_node_data_dir/config.ini
```

**Comment out** the line starting with p2p-endpoint (i.e. put a # in front of it)

```
#p2p-endpoint = 0.0.0.0:7777
```


Put these shortly after the seed nodes:
```
# the witness ID you got earlier
witness-id = "1.6.x"
# the block keys you were supposed to note down earlier! public and then private
private-keys = ["P...","5..."]

# now save the file! if nano, press CTRL-X and type yes to save
```

Finally, we **restart the server**:

```
 ./run.sh restart
```

Now hopefully you should have a witness :)

Check the logs to make sure it's working:

```
./run.sh logs
```

You should see something like this:

```
336001ms th_a       witness.cpp:201               block_production_loo ] Not producing block because it isn't my turn
336159ms th_a       application.cpp:506           handle_block         ] Got block: #7273 time: 2017-06-06T22:05:36 latency: 157 ms from: billbutler-witness  irreversible: 7260 (-13)
337001ms th_a       witness.cpp:204               block_production_loo ] Not producing block because slot has not yet arrived
338001ms th_a       witness.cpp:204               block_production_loo ] Not producing block because slot has not yet arrived
```

If you see that, you're probably set up :) - remember you can ask people on the Telegram for help if you're stuck. Join our witness Telegram: https://telegram.me/PeerplaysWitness

----

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---
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--
Have you ever thought about being a witness yourself? Contact me on STEEMIT.CHAT, I'm happy to guide you! Join in shaping the STEEM economy.

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