If I install geth, will it download the entire blockchain?
asked Feb 9, 2017 at 12:38
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2Possible duplicate of How do I tell whether the Mist/Wallet is "fast" or "full" syncing?– Nicolas MassartFeb 9, 2017 at 19:47
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2 Answers
It depends on the synchronization mode you choose. From this answer:
"Full" Sync: Gets the block headers, the block bodies, and validate every element from genesis block.
Fast Sync: Gets the block headers, the block bodies, it performs no validation until current block - 1024. Then it gets a snap shot state, and goes like a full synchronisation.
Light Sync: Gets only the current state. To verify elements, needs to ask to full (archive) nodes for the corresponding tree leave.
answered Feb 9, 2017 at 13:06
No, installing geth does only install the binary go-ethereum client.
The blockchain only gets downloaded if you run geth. By default, the full blockchain gets downloaded if you just run $ geth without parameters. So, it's a 'yes' if that was your question.
You can control the behavior of the synchronization by adding the --fast or the --light flag as explained by Herman Junge.
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So if I need to call web3.js API, which mode should be enough? Is the light mode enough? Feb 14, 2017 at 19:28