Using the Node Explorer to test a Corda node on Corda Testnet

This document will explain how to test the installation of a Corda node on Testnet.

Prerequisites

This guide assumes you have deployed a Corda node to the Corda Testnet.

Get the testing tools

To run the tests and make sure your node is connecting correctly to the network you will need to download and install a couple of resources.

• Log into your Cloud VM via SSH.
• Stop the Corda node(s) running on your cloud instance.

ps aux | grep corda.jar | awk '{ print $2 }' | xargs sudo kill

• Download the finance CorDappIn the terminal on your cloud instance run:

wget https://software.r3.com/artifactory/corda-releases/net/corda/corda-finance-contracts/4.6/corda-finance-contracts-4.6.jar
wget https://software.r3.com/artifactory/corda-releases/net/corda/corda-finance-workflows/4.6/corda-finance-workflows-4.6.jar

This is required to run some flows to check your connections, and to issue/transfer cash to counterparties. Copy it to the Corda installation location:

sudo cp /home/<USER>/corda-finance-4.6-corda.jar /opt/corda/cordapps/

• Run the following to create a config file for the finance CorDapp:

echo "issuableCurrencies = [ USD ]" > /opt/corda/cordapps/config/corda-finance-4.6-corda.conf

• Restart the Corda node:

cd /opt/corda
sudo ./run-corda.sh

Your node is now running the finance Cordapp.

• Now download the Node Explorer to your LOCAL machine:
  Node Explorer is a JavaFX GUI which connects to the node over the RPC interface and allows you to send transactions.
  Download the Node Explorer from here:

https://software.r3.com/artifactory/corda-releases/net/corda/corda-tools-explorer/4.6-corda/corda-tools-explorer-4.6-corda.jar

• Run the Node Explorer tool on your LOCAL machine.

java -jar corda-tools-explorer-4.6-corda.jar

Connect to the node

To connect to the node you will need:

• The IP address of your node (the public IP of your cloud instance). You can find this in the instance page of your cloud console.
• The port number of the RPC interface to the node, specified in /opt/corda/node.conf in the rpcSettings section, (by default this is 10003 on Testnet).
• The username and password of the RPC interface of the node, also in the node.conf in the rpcUsers section, (by default the username is cordazoneservice on Testnet).

Click on Connect to log into the node.

Check your network identity and counterparties

Once Explorer has logged in to your node over RPC click on the Network tab in the side navigation of the Explorer UI:

Test issuance transaction

Now we are going to try and issue some cash to a ‘bank’. Click on the Cash tab.