How Do You Change the Pool Address on an Antminer?

Understanding Pool Address Configuration

1. The pool address is a critical network endpoint that directs mining hardware to submit shares and receive work assignments. It typically follows the format stratum+tcp://pool.example.com:3333 or stratum+ssl://secure.pool.net:5555.

2. Antminer devices store pool configuration in their internal web interface, accessible via HTTP after connecting to the same local network.

3. Each mining pool enforces specific authentication methods—usually requiring a wallet address and worker name as part of the username field.

4. Misconfigured pool addresses result in “No connection” or “Login failed” errors visible in the miner’s status page and system logs.

5. Some pools mandate SSL/TLS connections; using plain TCP when SSL is required causes immediate disconnection upon handshake.

Accessing the Miner’s Web Interface

1. Locate the miner’s IP address by checking your router’s DHCP client list or using tools like Advanced IP Scanner on Windows or nmap on Linux/macOS.

2. Open a browser and enter http://[miner-ip-address] — no port number needed unless custom port binding is active.

3. Log in with default credentials: root for username and root for password unless changed previously.

4. Navigate to Miner Configuration → Pools or Network → Mining Pools, depending on firmware version (e.g., Braiins OS+ displays pools under “Mining” tab).

5. Verify current pool entries before editing—some firmware versions allow up to three failover pools, each with distinct priority order.

Editing Pool Parameters via UI

1. Click the pencil icon next to an existing pool entry or select “Add New Pool” to create a replacement.

2. Input the full stratum URL, including protocol prefix and port, into the “URL” field—omitting “stratum+tcp://” will cause rejection.

3. Enter the full wallet address in the “Username” field; some pools require appending a worker name like bc1qabc...xyz.worker1.

4. Leave the “Password” field blank unless the pool explicitly requires one—most do not.

5. Save changes and click “Apply Configuration” — the miner will restart its mining process within 10–20 seconds.

Firmware-Specific Considerations

1. Stock Bitmain firmware (v2021+): supports only one primary pool plus two fallbacks; does not allow simultaneous multi-pool submission.

2. Braiins OS+: permits dynamic pool switching based on profitability, configurable through Auto-switching toggle in pool settings.

3. Hive OS integration: pool addresses are managed remotely via the Hive OS dashboard; local UI edits may be overwritten during next sync cycle.

4. Firmware v4.0.0 and above enforce TLS certificate validation for SSL pools—self-signed certificates trigger connection failure unless disabled in advanced settings.

5. Older firmware versions (pre-2020) lack support for IPv6 pool endpoints and will time out silently if provided.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I change the pool address without rebooting the Antminer?Yes. Saving new pool parameters triggers an automatic soft restart of the mining daemon—not a full system reboot—so uptime remains largely uninterrupted.

Q: Why does my Antminer show “Pool Not Found” after changing the address?This usually indicates a typo in the domain name, incorrect port, or firewall blocking outbound traffic to that port. Confirm DNS resolution works from another device on the same network.

Q: Is it safe to use multiple pools simultaneously on one Antminer?Stock firmware allows only sequential failover, not concurrent mining. Braiins OS+ enables real-time switching but requires proper latency and share distribution tuning to avoid stale submissions.

Q: What happens if I enter an invalid stratum protocol?The miner rejects the configuration with “Invalid URL scheme” and refuses to save. Supported schemes are strictly stratum+tcp and stratum+ssl; alternatives like http:// or ws:// are unsupported and ignored.