Deploying Corda to Corda Testnet from an AWS Cloud Platform VM

This document explains how to deploy a Corda node to AWS that can connect directly to the Corda Testnet. A self service download link can be obtained from https://marketplace.r3.com/network/testnet. This document will describe how to set up a virtual machine on the AWS Cloud Platform to deploy your pre-configured Corda node and automatically connnect to Testnet.

Pre-requisites

  • Ensure you have a registered Amazon AWS account which can create virtual machines and you are logged on to the AWS console: https://console.aws.amazon.com.

Deploy Corda node

Browse to https://console.aws.amazon.com and log in with your AWS account.

STEP 1: Launch a new virtual machine

Click on Launch a virtual machine with EC2.

aws launch
In the quick start wizard scroll down and select the most recent Ubuntu machine image as the Amazon Machine Image (AMI).

aws select ubuntu
Select the instance type (for example t2.xlarge).

aws instance type
Configure a couple of other settings before we review and launch

Under the storage tab (Step 4) increase the storage to 40GB:

aws storage
Configure the security group (Step 6) to open the firewall ports which Corda uses.

aws firewall
Add a firewall rule for port range 10002-10003 and allow connection from Anywhere. Add another rule for the webserver on port 8080.

Click on the Review and Launch button then if everything looks ok click Launch.

You will be prompted to set up keys to securely access the VM remotely over ssh. Select “Create a new key pair” from the drop down and enter a name for the key file. Click download to get the keys and keep them safe on your local machine.

aws keys
Click “Launch Instances”.

Click on the link to go to the Instances pages in the AWS console where after a few minutes you will be able to see your instance running.

aws instances
STEP 2: Set up static IP address

On AWS a permanent IP address is called an Elastic IP. Click on the “Elastic IP” link in the navigation panel on the left hand side of the console and then click on “Allocate new address”:

aws elastic
Follow the form then once the address is allocated click on “Actions” then “Associate address”:

aws elastic actions
Then select the instance you created for your Corda node to attach the IP address to.

STEP 3: Connect to your VM and set up the environment

In the instances console click on “Connect” and follow the instructions to connect to your instance using ssh.

aws instances connect
aws connect
STEP 4: Download and set up your Corda node

Now your AWS environment is configured you can switch back to the Testnet web application and click on the copy to clipboard button to get a one time installation script.

testnet platform
You can generate as many Testnet identites as you like by refreshing this page to generate a new one time link.

In the terminal of your cloud instance paste the command you just copied to install and run your unique Corda instance on that instance:

sudo ONE_TIME_DOWNLOAD_KEY=YOUR_UNIQUE_DOWNLOAD_KEY_HERE bash -c "$(curl -L https://onboarder.prod.ws.r3.com/api/user/node/TESTNET/install.sh)"

You can follow the progress of the installation by typing the following command in your terminal:

tail -f /opt/corda/logs/node-<VM-NAME>.log

Testing your deployment

To test your deployment is working correctly follow the instructions in Using the Node Explorer to test a Corda node on Corda Testnet to set up the Finance CorDapp and issue cash to a counterparty.

This will also demonstrate how to install a custom CorDapp.

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