Incorrect homestead block number

Oct 13, 2025 by thesweetdesigns.com 119 views

Introduction

Running a personal Ethereum node using the Geth client is an essential step in understanding the inner workings of the Ethereum network. However, when it comes to creating a custom blockchain, things can get a bit more complicated. In this article, we will explore the issue of running a Geth node with a custom genesis.json file and provide a step-by-step guide on how to overcome this challenge.

What is `genesis.json`?

genesis.json is a configuration file used by the Geth client to initialize a new Ethereum network. It contains essential information about the network, such as the chain ID, homestead block number, and EIP (Ethereum Improvement Proposal) block numbers. This file is used to create a new blockchain from scratch, allowing developers to customize the network settings to suit their needs.

The Issue with Running a Geth Node with `genesis.json`

When trying to run a Geth node with a custom genesis.json file, you may encounter the following issues:

Invalid chain ID: If the chain ID specified in the genesis.json file is not recognized by the Geth client, it may throw an error.
Missing EIP block numbers: If the EIP block numbers (e.g., eip150Block, eip155Block, eip158Block) are not specified or are set to 0, the Geth client may not function correctly.
Incorrect homestead block number: If the homestead block number is set to 0, the Geth client may not be able to connect to the network.

Step-by-Step Guide to Running a Geth Node with `genesis.json`

To overcome the issues mentioned above, follow these steps:

Step 1: Create a Custom `genesis.json` File

Create a new file named genesis.json in a directory of your choice. This file will contain the custom configuration settings for your Ethereum network.

{ "config": { "chainId": 93233, "homesteadBlock": 0, "eip150Block": 0, "eip155Block": 0, "eip158Block": 0, "difficulty": "1000", "gasLimit": "8000000", "alloc": { "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000": { "balance": "100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000<br/> **Q&A: Running a Geth Node with `genesis.json`** ===================================================== Q: What is the purpose of genesis.json in Geth? A: genesis.json is a configuration file used by the Geth client to initialize a new Ethereum network. It contains essential information about the network, such as the chain ID, homestead block number, and EIP block numbers. Q: What are the common issues encountered when running a Geth node with genesis.json? A: Some common issues encountered when running a Geth node with genesis.json include: Invalid chain ID: If the chain ID specified in the genesis.json file is not recognized by the Geth client, it may throw an error. Missing EIP block numbers: If the EIP block numbers (e.g., eip150Block, eip155Block, eip158Block) are not specified or are set to 0, the Geth client may not function correctly. Incorrect homestead block number: If the homestead block number is set to 0, the Geth client may not be able to connect to the network. Q: How do I create a custom genesis.json file? A: To create a custom genesis.json file, follow these steps: Create a new file named genesis.json in a directory of your choice. Add the necessary configuration settings to the file, such as the chain ID, homestead block number, and EIP block numbers. Save the file and ensure that it is in the correct format. Q: What are the key configuration settings in genesis.json? A: The key configuration settings in genesis.json include: chainId: The unique identifier for the Ethereum network. homesteadBlock: The block number at which the network transitions to the homestead protocol. eip150Block: The block number at which the network implements EIP 150. eip155Block: The block number at which the network implements EIP 155. eip158Block: The block number at which the network implements EIP 158. difficulty: The difficulty of the network. gasLimit: The gas limit of the network. alloc: The allocation of Ether to accounts on the network. Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with my genesis.json file? A: To troubleshoot issues with your genesis.json file, follow these steps: Check the format of the file to ensure that it is correct. Verify that the configuration settings are accurate and up-to-date. Consult the Geth documentation for more information on the configuration settings and their usage. Join online communities or forums to ask for help and advice from other developers. Q: Can I use a pre-existing genesis.json file? A: Yes, you can use a pre-existing genesis.json file. However, be aware that it may contain settings that are specific to a particular network or use case. You may need to modify the file to suit your needs. Q: How do I update my genesis.json file to reflect changes to the network? A: To update your genesis.json file to reflect changes to the network, follow these steps: Review the changes to the network and determine which configuration settings need to be updated. Modify the genesis.json file to reflect the changes. Save the file and ensure that it is in the correct format. Restart the Geth node to apply the changes.

By following these steps and troubleshooting common issues, you can successfully run a Geth node with a custom genesis.json file and create a custom Ethereum network.