Hi fam, I’m setting up my Start9 and have just installed Sparrow 2.2.3. As it loaded I got a graphic with ‘installing page’ branded Kasm VCN, and I now in addition to the Sparrow UI that I am used to I have this weird sidebar menu (see screenshot) with KASM VCN options such as Keys, Game Cursor Mode, Clipboard etc.
NGL, someone tried a social attack on me a few weeks ago via Twitter, and while luckily that failed I am so paranoid right now that I mistrust everything and anything that isn’t exactly as I expect (and this KASM menu was not on the last version of Sparrow I used on my previous node).
There is no such thing as a web app version of Sparrow, its purely desktop software and 99% of the time it should be run on your desktop and the connected to your server from there, to either Bitcoin Core/Knots or Electrs.
To allow Sparrow to run on your server as a hot wallet for the few people who this is useful for, a desktop environment needs to be emulated and displaying in a browser. This is what you are seeing.
Thank you so much StuPleb. Not sure I entirely understand your reply - I am indeed connecting to my Start9 from my laptop, and I know that Sparrow only exists in desktop version (and I have both Knots and Electrs running).
I don’t use hot wallets. Hang on, is it possible that I never saw the KASM VCN menus before because I was using Sparrow on a Parmanode, and not via a browser like I am using now?
If you are connected to Bitcoin or Electrs from your laptop, presumably with Sparrow installed on your laptop, why are you installing StartOS on a server too? Such a set up can’t be used for anything other that a web-accessible hot wallet.
I’m not understanding the rest of your comment. Sparrow only runs on Windows, Mac and Linux. Any running on a server requires virtualizing a linux desktop, as has been done on StartOS.
Apologies Stu, I am technically limited (as you may have guessed) so may have used the wrong terms.
My current setup:
I am using a Mac laptop
I plugged in my Start9
I connected to it on my Mac laptop
I installed Electrs, Knots, Sparrow, Mempool, Vaultwarden from either Start9 or Community marketplaces
I am attempting to use Sparrow wallet, by clicking ‘launch UI’
When I do this, a new window opens in my Brave browser and this is when I see the (new to me) KASM VCN menus.
My question is basically: is seeing the KASM side menus completely normal, and not anything to worry about? Because I didn’t use a browser in my previous setup, this is new to me, and I am super twitchy because of a recent hacking attempt on me.
I am posting here for confirmation that in what I have described no one sees any glaring red flags, and that in my shoes you would feel ok to import airgapped wallet info.
What reason do you have for installing Sparrow on StartOS? What are you trying to achieve here? Why would you import your airgapped wallet into Sparrow on StartOS?
As for your question, I’ve answered that a few different ways already. Since it’s impossible to install and use Sparrow anywhere other than on a desktop OS, the “hack” to install it on StartOS and make it accessible via a browser is completely necessary.
Stu we are so far apart in understanding I don’t want to waste any more of your time. I can’t even understand your questions, since it seems to me that I am taking the Start9 instruction manual and working my way through it step by step, and I wouldn’t know how else to use Sparrow wallet. Thank you anyway, it was good of you to try to help. All the best, Nell
If you’re not sure why you’re installing Sparrow on StartOS… you likely shouldn’t be. There are ZERO instructions in our documentation that tell you to do this, so I’m not sure what manual you’re following. Please be careful.
From your responses I’m guessing you don’t understand precisely what you’re supposed to be connecting and why. That you simply saw “Sparrow” on the Community Registry, recognized the name and hit Install without any further consideration.
Stu I followed your links - and used Southern Bitcoiner’s very straightforward videos - and have installed Sparrow wallet in the correct manner. Thank you for your help. Nell
