# Issue running chantools for LND

**URL:** <https://community.start9.com/t/issue-running-chantools-for-lnd/2446>\
**Category:** Discussion\
**Tags:** services\
**Created:** [January 17, 2025, 11:34am UTC](https://community.start9.com/t/issue-running-chantools-for-lnd/2446 "2025-01-17T11:34:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kato-Mato](https://community.start9.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@Kato-Mato](https://community.start9.com/u/Kato-Mato)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 1:42am UTC](https://community.start9.com/t/issue-running-chantools-for-lnd/2446/23 "2025-07-02T01:42:58Z")

</div>

I can’t open the Thunderhub GUI if the LND is not synced.  
When I try to login to Thunderhub GUI, it just kicks me out because of this.  
I don’t know how to can be sure if channels are online or offline without the GUI (at least I’m too noob to know how).

However, I looked up Amboss.space for my node. In the channels tab of my node it shows every channel has a double-down-chevron icon, which means all my channel partners have “disabled” the channel.  
Literally every single one of them “disabled” the channel.

I also used the `lncli --rpcserver lnd.embassy listchannels` command that you just taught me. I don’t pretend to understand what all the outputs mean, but every single channel shows `"active": false` (see below screenshot too)

 ![image](https://community.start9.com/uploads/default/original/2X/f/f4dcbdcf59ae856192cd3dfd4e0d1f4045e503a5.png)

When using the `lncli --rpcserver lnd.embassy listpeers` command, it shows there’s actually no peers!

Sorry for being so uneducated about this. 😮‍💨  
(but I feel like I’m learning a lot through this pain).

How do I get another node to reopen all the channels? I assume I can’t control them.

I use to have so many peers, how do I add back all my peers?  
Are the commands `lncli --rpcserver lnd.embassy connect`_safe_ to use for adding peers, while LND service is running?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![h0mer](https://community.start9.com/user_avatar/community.start9.com/h0mer/32/20_2.png) [@h0mer](https://community.start9.com/u/h0mer)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 3:46pm UTC](https://community.start9.com/t/issue-running-chantools-for-lnd/2446/24 "2025-07-02T15:46:29Z")

</div>

Hello there

First, you need to make sure your LND is healthy and synced to the graph. RTL and TH will not work correctly if LND is having issues. Please check the LND status and logs for any errors and report back. If you find any errors, you can try restarting the LND service to see if that helps. If not, please report back.

One more question: can any other service not related to LND be reached when you click the Launch UI button?

Just a quick warning: using SSH and running commands directly on your server is not officially supported and may cause problems if you’re not sure what you’re doing. Please proceed with caution.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kato-Mato](https://community.start9.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@Kato-Mato](https://community.start9.com/u/Kato-Mato)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 4:46am UTC](https://community.start9.com/t/issue-running-chantools-for-lnd/2446/25 "2025-07-03T04:46:54Z")

</div>

@h0mer

I can’t upload the service logs here but I’ve sent it to several more experienced and knowledgeable Start9 and LND runners (including and with much thanks to StuPleb).

There’s no error that stands out to them. But I think Stu is onto something regarding to active channels and no peers online.

Re: your question: All the other services not related to LND are working well when I launch the UIs (such as Vaultwarden, Stablediffusion, SimpleX, etc. even bitcoin core)

I really appreciate you and this community for cautionaries about SSH and command line. I’m trying to err on the side of caution and ask about safety of commands before using them (even if I _ **think** _ I know the command already). I’m also using the `-h` and `-v` and `-i` options whenever possible since I’m such a noob with Linux.

To tell you the truth, I wouldn’t even touch SSH if TH or RTL actually worked with LND not synced.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![StuPleb](https://community.start9.com/user_avatar/community.start9.com/stupleb/32/195_2.png) [@StuPleb](https://community.start9.com/u/StuPleb)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 2:28pm UTC](https://community.start9.com/t/issue-running-chantools-for-lnd/2446/26 "2025-07-03T14:28:26Z")

</div>

What does `lncli --rpcserver lnd.embassy getnetworkinfo` show?

And sure, test adding a peer.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kato-Mato](https://community.start9.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@Kato-Mato](https://community.start9.com/u/Kato-Mato)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 7:20am UTC](https://community.start9.com/t/issue-running-chantools-for-lnd/2446/27 "2025-07-05T07:20:45Z")

</div>

`lncli --rpcserver lnd.embassy getnetworkinfo` shows this:

```auto
{
    "graph_diameter": 14,
    "avg_out_degree": 4.01198520974117,
    "max_out_degree": 67,
    "num_nodes": 15686,
    "num_channels": 31466,
    "total_network_capacity": "137918931012",
    "avg_channel_size": 4383109.737875802,
    "min_channel_size": "1050",
    "max_channel_size": "500000000",
    "median_channel_size_sat": "1000000",
    "num_zombie_chans": "280793"
}

```

i tried to use `lncli --rpcserver lnd.embassy connect 0294ac3e099def03c12a37e30fe5364b1223fd60069869142ef96580c8439c2e0a@8.210.134.135:26658` to add a peer.

It failed and returned this in command line:

```auto
lnd:~# lncli --rpcserver lnd.embassy connect 0294ac3e099def03c12a37e30fe5364b1223fd60069869142ef96580c8439c2e0a@8.210.134.135:26658
[lncli] rpc error: code = Unknown desc = server is still in the process of starting

```

on the service log it showed this:

```auto
2025-07-05T00:13:32-07:00 2025-07-05 07:13:32.134 [DBG] RPCS: [/lnrpc.Lightning/ConnectPeer] requested
2025-07-05T00:13:32-07:00 2025-07-05 07:13:32.134 [ERR] RPCS: [/lnrpc.Lightning/ConnectPeer]: server is still in the process of starting

```

Can you help me understand what this means? Any thoughts on what I should do next to resolve the “server” not having “started”?

`lncli --rpcserver lnd.embassy getinfo` shows this:

{

```auto

    "version": "0.18.5-beta commit=v0.18.5-beta",
    "commit_hash": "***",
    "identity_pubkey": "***",
    "alias": "***",
    "color": "#***",
    "num_pending_channels": 0,
    "num_active_channels": 0,
    "num_inactive_channels": 131,
    "num_peers": 0,
    "block_height": 904106,
    "block_hash": " ****",
    "best_header_timestamp": " ****",
    "synced_to_chain": false,
    "synced_to_graph": false,
    "testnet": false,
    "chains": [
        {
            "chain": "bitcoin",
            "network": "mainnet"
        }
    ],
    "uris": [
        " ****@****.onion: ****"
    ],
    "features": {
        "0": {
            "name": "data-loss-protect",
            "is_required": true,
            "is_known": true
        },
        "5": {
            "name": "upfront-shutdown-script",
            "is_required": false,
            "is_known": true
        },
        "7": {
            "name": "gossip-queries",
            "is_required": false,
            "is_known": true
        },
        "8": {
            "name": "tlv-onion",
            "is_required": true,
            "is_known": true
        },
        "12": {
            "name": "static-remote-key",
            "is_required": true,
            "is_known": true
        },
        "14": {
            "name": "payment-addr",
            "is_required": true,
            "is_known": true
        },
        "17": {
            "name": "multi-path-payments",
            "is_required": false,
            "is_known": true
        },
        "19": {
            "name": "wumbo-channels",
            "is_required": false,
            "is_known": true
        },
        "23": {
            "name": "anchors-zero-fee-htlc-tx",
            "is_required": false,
            "is_known": true
        },
        "25": {
            "name": "route-blinding",
            "is_required": false,
            "is_known": true
        },
        "27": {
            "name": "shutdown-any-segwit",
            "is_required": false,
            "is_known": true
        },
        "30": {
            "name": "amp",
            "is_required": true,
            "is_known": true
        },
        "31": {
            "name": "amp",
            "is_required": false,
            "is_known": true
        },
        "45": {
            "name": "explicit-commitment-type",
            "is_required": false,
            "is_known": true
        },
        "55": {
            "name": "keysend",
            "is_required": false,
            "is_known": true
        },
        "2023": {
            "name": "script-enforced-lease",
            "is_required": false,
            "is_known": true
        }
    },
    "require_htlc_interceptor": false,
    "store_final_htlc_resolutions": false
}

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kato-Mato](https://community.start9.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@Kato-Mato](https://community.start9.com/u/Kato-Mato)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2025, 3:31am UTC](https://community.start9.com/t/issue-running-chantools-for-lnd/2446/28 "2025-07-10T03:31:34Z")

</div>

sorry, but bumping this topic to see if you have any thoughts.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![StuPleb](https://community.start9.com/user_avatar/community.start9.com/stupleb/32/195_2.png) [@StuPleb](https://community.start9.com/u/StuPleb)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2025, 1:37pm UTC](https://community.start9.com/t/issue-running-chantools-for-lnd/2446/29 "2025-07-10T13:37:25Z")

</div>

All your channels are offline. You said you have many (I see 131)… I imagine some have forced closed on you by now for being gone for so long. I don’t see any peers connected.

With regards to all the how and whys… I have no idea. The LND team might. It’s either a bug, or there’s some custom configuration you made at some point and don’t recall because you thought it wasn’t a big deal. At this point, I don’t know.

I’d be considering now whether to restore from backup to trigger force closes with peers, recoup funds and move those funds to safety. To run LND again afterwards, you’d uninstall it and reinstall it. If your existing backup has all 131 channels (be sure), you’d use that. If not, I’d make a backup to a third location (new backup target, just to keep the old one safe) and restore that. But… I’d check with LND, since with funds involved, I can only tell you what I’d do, rather than tell you what you should do.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kato-Mato](https://community.start9.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@Kato-Mato](https://community.start9.com/u/Kato-Mato)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 5:47am UTC](https://community.start9.com/t/issue-running-chantools-for-lnd/2446/30 "2025-07-11T05:47:59Z")

</div>

Yes, it is [was] something like 131 at least at one point. Yes, anyone in the right mind should force close on me; just the reality.

I understand and am ready to take full responsibility of my own outcomes (regardless of the nature of advice from you and others) with this backup/channel-closure effort. This is the nature of sovereignty and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. No regrets; this has been a really good experience. I learned so much (though still barely scratching the surface) about lightning, bitcoin, linux, Start9, and its truly helpful and wholesome team (especially you).

That said, I would like to close all channels and bring funds to cold storage. I researched all the `-h` of each command, but before starting that process, I want to first get an idea if the **below steps** are at least a good way to do it:

1. leave LND service running via the StartOS GUI. Monitor/save the service log the entire time of these steps.

2. Using `lncli --rpc lnd.embassy channelbalance` I was able to confirm that the pending\_open\_blaance is 0, unsettled\_remote\_balance is 0, unsettled\_local\_balance is 0. All balances are squarely in local\_balance or remote\_balance.

3. Use `lncli --rpcserver lnd.embassy exportchanbackup --all --output_file backup20250710` to create a SCB file with filename `backup20250710.json`

4. Use `lncli --rpcserver lnd.embassy restorechanbackup --multi_file backup20250710` to restore from the SBC file made in **step 3**.

My unknowns are:

1. Where is the `backup20250710.json` file going to be stored? (I’m scared of not being able to find it)

2. do the 4 watchtowers I’m connected to play a role in this? Can/should they be used to make this process better?

3. when i used `lncli --rpcserver lnd.embassy pendingchannels` it returned the following:  
`[lncli] rpc error: code = Unknown desc = unable to find arbitrator`  
Is this arbitrator thing going to create a problem with the closing and restoring?

[Previous page](https://community.start9.com/t/issue-running-chantools-for-lnd/2446.md?page=1)
