# Cloud nodes with Voltage
###### tags: `workshops_mln`

A Lightning Network node in the cloud 🌩️

**Table of Contents**
[TOC]

## Author
Twitter for corrections, comments or suggestions: [@kleysantos199](https://twitter.com/kleysantos199)

This tutorial was prepared for the [Mastering Lightning Socratic Seminar](https://libreriadesatoshi.com/) through [@libreriadesatoshi](https://twitter.com/libdesatoshi).

## Introduction to Lightning Network and how it works:
Lightning is a second layer solution of Bitcoin, its function is to allow instant and low-cost transactions. All this at an off-chain level, that is, outside the blockchain. Instead of recording each transaction on the Bitcoin blockchain, the Lightning Network uses two-way payment channels that open between participants.

Lightning Network bases its operation on the creation of a payment channel between two peers, which will be used to carry out transactions quickly and privately.

## What is Voltage and how Google Cloud uses it to scale its infrastructure:
Voltage is a Lightning as a Service (Laas) provider, meaning it provides access to and use of the Lightning Network as a managed service. In short, it allows users and companies to use the Lightning Network without having to configure, maintain and manage a technical infrastructure themselves.

Voltage uses Google Cloud to expand the ability to host Bitcoin and Lightning Network Nodes through cloud infrastructure, allowing those using the service to run their nodes from any global region.

### Let's run a Lightning Network node using Voltage:

Initially we find the registration process on the Voltage platform.

Later when we log in we have the following view, and we must enter "NODES"

In "NODES", you will find the following view that welcomes you to start creating a node, to do this we click on "Create Node".

Next, what we will see is, what we want to implement 🤠... here we will implement a Lightning Node with LND

Now to test we will only need the Lite Node option and remember how it is to test we will use the Testnet network and go to "Create"

Placing credit $0 will give us an error.

Suggest a minimum credit of $5, to continue

Next we will have to load the credit that we indicate and we will do it through Lightning, so that it is very cheap or almost free 🤠

Now that we have loaded some credit, we will customize our node.

Now we have created our node and we have the following view, in which we have the option to use a viewer (dashboard) to see our node in action. You just have to click on Launch Thunderhub.

Now that we have this view, just log in with the password that you have configured to access.

Once inside you will see the following:

Since we are on tesnet, we must now acquire Bitcoin on this same network, go to Receive and create an address.
Once the address is created, go to the page https://testnet-faucet.com/btc-testnet/ which is a faucet to obtain tesnet satoshis. To verify that the transaction that will send something Satoshis to your address is confirmed, you can go to https://live.blockcypher.com/ and enter your address. The Sats you receive will help you initiate transactions on the node.

This boils down to opening a channel with a Peer on the same network (tesnet) and starting to play for a while.

So far you have done a great job using a Laas

Now that our node is synchronized, let's try to open a channel, which by default will be opened with the Voltage-test node


We already have our node with a channel, now let's play (practical exercise).

## How to make transfers with Lightning Network (practical explanation).

## :zap: Donations
:::success
If this material was useful to you, you can thank @kleysantos199 by sending him a contribution via Lightning Address:
[e-mail]
:::