Namecoin (NMC) Merged‑Mining (AuxPoW) Pool Setup — Operator Playbook
Namecoin can be mined via merged mining, which means your pool constructs auxiliary work alongside a parent chain. This guide explains how we build a Namecoin (NMC) SHA256/SHA256d deployment that treats AuxPoW as a first-class pipeline: validated templates, monitored submissions, and accounting that stays correct under failure.
AuxPoW essentials: what a Namecoin pool must get right
Merged mining (AuxPoW, “auxiliary proof‑of‑work”) lets a SHA256 miner contribute work to a parent chain while also enabling an auxiliary chain like Namecoin. Operationally, that means your pool must build and submit auxiliary blocks reliably and surface failures clearly—otherwise miners earn less without noticing.
- Aux block construction: Ensure the pool can construct valid auxiliary block templates and bind them to the parent work correctly.
- Submission visibility: Log and alert on auxiliary submission failures; “silent” AuxPoW errors are common during upgrades.
- Accounting separation: Keep NMC rounds and payouts isolated from BTC accounting even if you share infrastructure.
- Maturity handling: Coinbase maturity is the confirmation requirement before mined outputs are spendable; payouts must respect it automatically.
Software for NMC merged mining: choosing where AuxPoW lives
You can deploy merged mining with either a Yiimp-style stack or a Miningcore-style stack, but the key decision is where AuxPoW logic sits: in the pool core, in a gateway layer, or in coin-specific integration code.
- Yiimp-based: A familiar pool website and operational tooling; merged-mining support depends on the integration layer and daemon behavior. See Yiimp setup guide.
- Miningcore: Clean service deployment where AuxPoW can be handled explicitly and monitored via metrics; useful for API-first operators. See Miningcore setup guide.
- Custom integration: Preferred when you need strict accounting controls, custom monitoring, or multi-region Stratum gateways.
If AuxPoW submissions fail, miners may still see accepted shares but lose auxiliary revenue. We expose AuxPoW success rates, show last aux submission status, and alert when auxiliary blocks stop being found.
What we implement for an NMC merged-mining pool
- NMC node layer: Install/sync, RPC hardening, wallet strategy, and health checks that include aux-specific RPC paths.
- Pool core + database: Share accounting, round isolation, and block tracking with clear orphan and reorg handling.
- Stratum endpoints: Ports, VarDiff (variable difficulty), banning rules, and miner documentation for stable onboarding.
- Merged-mining plumbing: Aux block creation, aux submission, and validation checks tied to monitoring and alerting. See payout schemes and SOLO vs PPLNS vs PROP.
- Website UI: Miner stats and payment history with explicit visibility into auxiliary blocks and confirmations.
- Security hardening: Network segmentation, secrets handling, backups, and incident playbooks. See security hardening.
If you operate BTC and NMC together, we keep the payout ledgers distinct. Shared infrastructure is fine; shared accounting is how mistakes happen.
Miner connection strings for NMC merged mining
Miners still connect the same way (Stratum URLs), but your documentation should explain that earnings may include merged-mined auxiliary rewards depending on your configuration and the miner’s firmware.
stratum+tcp://POOL-DOMAIN:3333
stratum+ssl://POOL-DOMAIN:3443We publish a short section explaining VarDiff, stale shares, and how to interpret auxiliary block stats.
Namecoin-specific engineering notes (AuxPoW, maturity, reorgs)
- Parent/aux dependency monitoring: Alert on parent-chain connectivity and on aux submission RPC errors; both can degrade without obvious miner-facing symptoms.
- Orphan/reorg edge cases: Reorgs can invalidate auxiliary blocks. We record these events and keep payout logic conservative until confirmations are final.
- Wallet segregation: Use separate payout addresses and controlled key exposure for NMC so aux payouts cannot drain parent-chain operational funds.
- Template compatibility testing: We validate getblocktemplate and submitblock behavior for the specific Namecoin daemon version you run; don’t assume perfect BTC parity.
- Public documentation expectations: Merged-mining miners will ask “where is my NMC?”—the UI must show auxiliary block finds, confirmation states, and payout timing clearly.
NMC merged-mining launch checklist
- NMC node fully synced; aux-specific RPC calls tested and monitored.
- Aux block construction and submission verified in staging with controlled mining.
- AuxPoW success metrics and alerts configured (submission failures, zero aux blocks, RPC errors).
- Stratum endpoints tested with multiple miners; VarDiff tuned for expected hashrate swings.
- Orphan/reorg handling verified; payout logic enforces confirmations and maturity automatically.
- Backups and restore drills completed for DB, configs, and wallet procedures.
- Miner documentation published: endpoints, worker format, AuxPoW explanation, and payout schedule.
Namecoin merged-mining Q&A
Can you build an NMC pool that is merged-mined and still easy to operate?
Yes. We implement AuxPoW as a monitored pipeline, add clear logging/alerts, and expose auxiliary block stats in the UI so operators and miners can verify behavior.
Where does AuxPoW logic live in the deployment?
It depends on your stack. We can implement it in the pool core, a gateway layer, or coin-specific integration code. The goal is the same: deterministic aux block construction and observable submission success.
How do you handle maturity and confirmations for NMC payouts?
Payouts only spend mature coinbase outputs. We also enforce a confirmation policy before treating blocks as payable, and we expose the state (immature/confirmed/paid) in reports.
Will merged mining break BTC pool accounting?
Not if it’s designed properly. We keep NMC accounting separate, and we treat AuxPoW failures as a monitored condition rather than letting them silently reduce rewards.
What information do you need to scope a Namecoin pool build?
Your target hashrate, pool type (solo/private/public), whether you already run a BTC pool you want to integrate with, and whether you need a full public UI or operator-only deployment.
If you want merged mining that is monitored and auditable, contact us with your target hashrate and integration goals. Contact us.