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.
/opt/corda/logs/node-<VM-NAME>.log
. This
file will list installed apps at startup. Search for Loaded CorDapps
in the logs.- 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 therpcSettings
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 therpcUsers
section, (by default the username iscordazoneservice
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.
New Transaction
and create an issuance to a known counterparty on the network by filling in the form:
Execute
and the transaction will start.
Transactions
tab to see the transaction in progress,
or wait for a success message to be displayed: