--- sidebar_position: 4 --- # Set Up Your Hosting Node This guide summarizes how to set up a **Mycelium hosting node (3Node)** and connect it to your farm so it can start earning SPORE. The process differs slightly depending on whether you **bought a pre‑built node** or **built your own (DIY)**. ## Setup Overview ### Pre‑Built Node (Easiest) **Time to hosting: ~30 minutes** after the node arrives. 1. **Create Account** – Use the ThreeFold Connect app. 2. **Create a Farm** – In the app, go to *Farming* → *Create farm* and note your **Farm ID**. 3. **Order Node** – Purchase from an official vendor and provide your Farm ID. 4. **Receive & Power On** – Connect power and network, then switch it on. 5. **Verify** – The node should appear online in your dashboard / app. > You must have your **Farm ID before ordering** a pre‑built node so the vendor can pre‑configure it. ### DIY Node (More Steps) **Time to hosting: ~2–6 hours**, depending on your experience. 1. **Create Account** – Install ThreeFold Connect and create your account. 2. **Create Farm** – In the app, create a farm and save your **Farm ID**. 3. **Download Zero‑OS** – Get a bootstrap image with your Farm ID from [v4.bootstrap.grid.tf](https://v4.bootstrap.grid.tf). 4. **Burn to USB** – Write the image to a USB drive (e.g. with BalenaEtcher). 5. **Configure BIOS** – Enable virtualization, set USB boot, configure power‑on behavior. 6. **Boot Node** – Insert USB, power on, and wait for Zero‑OS to start. 7. **Verify** – Confirm the node appears in the dashboard / app. DIY requires more low‑level work (BIOS configuration, boot media, etc.), but gives you full control over hardware. ## Step 1: Install ThreeFold Connect ThreeFold Connect is used for account creation, wallet, and farm management. :::info Get the App - **iOS** – [itunes.apple.com/.../3bot-login](https://itunes.apple.com/be/app/3bot-login/id1459845885?l=nl&mt=8) - **Android** – [play.google.com/.../threebotlogin](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.jimber.threebotlogin) ::: ## Step 2: Create Account & Farm 1. Open ThreeFold Connect. 2. Create a new account and **securely save your seed phrase** (offline). 3. Verify your email address. 4. Go to the **Farming** section. 5. Tap **+** to create a new farm. 6. Choose a farm name and select which wallet will receive rewards. 7. Confirm and **note your Farm ID**. :::warning Security Your **seed phrase** is the *only* way to recover your account. Write it down and store it safely offline. Never share it with anyone, and never enter it into untrusted apps or websites. ::: ## Step 3: Prepare Your Node ### If You Bought a Pre‑Built Node - The vendor will typically preload Zero‑OS and configure your Farm ID. - On arrival, simply connect **power** and **Ethernet**, and power it on. - Wait a few minutes for the node to boot and register. ### If You Built a DIY Node 1. **Download Zero‑OS image** for your Farm ID from [v4.bootstrap.grid.tf](https://v4.bootstrap.grid.tf). 2. **Flash the image** to a USB drive (e.g. BalenaEtcher or `dd`). 3. **Enter BIOS/UEFI** on your machine and: - Enable CPU virtualization features. - Set USB drive as first boot device. - Configure power‑on after power loss (recommended). 4. **Boot from USB** and wait for Zero‑OS to provision and join the grid. ## Step 4: Verify Node Status After boot, the node should appear in your farm overview. Check via: - **ThreeFold Connect app** – See your farm and node status. - **Dashboard** – [dashboard.grid.tf](https://dashboard.grid.tf) shows node details, uptime, and capacity. If the node does not show up: - Wait 10–15 minutes for initial registration. - Double‑check the network cable and router. - Confirm the correct Farm ID is used. - Reboot the node and verify BIOS boot order. ## Monitoring & Growth Once your node is online, you’re effectively a hoster – your capacity can be used by workloads launched via Mycelium Cloud and other tooling. ### Monitor Your Farm - **ThreeFold Connect** – Quick view of node status and balances. - **Dashboard** – Detailed node metrics, capacity, and utilization. - **Community** – Use the Telegram farmers/hosters group for peer support. ### Expand Over Time - Start with a single node until you’re comfortable. - Add more nodes to the same farm to increase capacity and earning potential. - Experiment with **Edge Compute** or **Edge AI** nodes for higher‑value workloads. ## Troubleshooting Quick Answers **Node not appearing?** - Wait a bit longer, check network connectivity, and confirm Farm ID. - Ensure the router/firewall is not blocking outbound connections. **DIY node won’t boot Zero‑OS?** - Re‑flash the USB image. - Check BIOS for correct boot order and virtualization settings. - Try another USB drive or port. ## Deep‑Dive Guides For full, step‑by‑step instructions (with screenshots and corner cases), use the official farming manuals (the terminology there still says *farmer*): :::info Comprehensive Setup Guides **Pre‑Built Node Setup** [manual.grid.tf/farmers/category/buy-a-3node](https://manual.grid.tf/farmers/category/buy-a-3node) **DIY Node Build Guide** [manual.grid.tf/farmers/category/build-a-3node](https://manual.grid.tf/farmers/category/build-a-3node) These include BIOS details, advanced troubleshooting, and more. ::: ## What’s Next? 🎉 **Your hosting node is now part of the grid.** From here you can: - Learn about rewards and SPORE in **[Hosting Economics](/hosters/economics)**. - Consider adding capacity or upgrading hardware. - Join the community for tips, monitoring strategies, and best practices. :::tip Need Help? The **Farmers / Hosters Community** at [t.me/threefoldfarmers](https://t.me/threefoldfarmers) has experienced operators who can help you debug setup issues and optimize your configuration. :::