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Connecting Sia

This guide walks you through connecting a Sia decentralized cloud storage destination to Pluton.

Prerequisites​

Before connecting Sia, you need:

  1. A running instance of the Sia daemon (siad) or Sia-UI — Get started here
  2. A funded Sia wallet with active storage contracts
  3. The Sia daemon API URL and password

About Sia​

Sia is a decentralized cloud storage platform based on blockchain technology. Instead of storing data on centralized servers, Sia splits and distributes your data across a network of independent hosts. You need a running Sia daemon (either via Sia-UI or siad) to use Sia as a storage backend.

Getting Your Credentials​

Step 1: Install and Run the Sia Daemon​

  1. Download and install Sia-UI or siad from sia.tech/get-started
  2. Start the daemon and wait for the blockchain to sync
  3. Create and fund a wallet with Siacoins (SC)
  4. Set up renter contracts and allowance

Step 2: Find Your API Password​

The Sia daemon API password can be found in one of these locations:

  • Linux/macOS: ~/.sia/apipassword
  • Windows: C:\Users\<YourUser>\AppData\Local\Sia\apipassword
  • Or in the apipassword file in your daemon directory

If you set a custom password, it can be found in the SIA_API_PASSWORD environment variable.

Step 3: Determine Your API URL​

  • If the Sia daemon runs locally (same machine as Pluton): Use the default http://127.0.0.1:9980
  • If the Sia daemon runs on a remote host: Use http://<host-ip>:9980 (requires --disable-api-security flag on the daemon — not recommended for production)

Connecting to Pluton​

Pluton Sia

Step 1: Add Storage​

  1. In Pluton, navigate to Storages
  2. Click Add Storage button
  3. Select Sia from the provider list

Step 2: Configure Connection​

Fill in the required fields:

  • Storage Name: A friendly name (e.g., "Sia Decentralized Storage")
  • API URL: The Sia daemon API URL (default: http://127.0.0.1:9980). Only change if the daemon runs on a remote host
  • API Password: The Sia daemon API password from the apipassword file

Step 3: Advanced Options (Optional)​

Additional settings available:

  • User Agent: The user agent string sent to the Sia daemon (default: sia-agent). The Sia daemon requires the Sia-Agent user agent by default for security

Step 4: Test and Save​

  1. Click Test Connection to verify credentials
  2. If successful, click Save
  3. Your Sia storage is now ready for backup plans

Important Notes​

  • Your Sia wallet must be unlocked before Pluton can use the daemon. Unlock it via Sia-UI or run siac wallet unlock from the command line. Alternatively, start siad with the SIA_WALLET_PASSWORD environment variable for automatic unlocking.
  • The Sia daemon needs active storage contracts with hosts. Ensure you have sufficient renter allowance set up before creating backups.
  • Running the daemon on localhost without an API password is possible but strongly discouraged.

Common Issues​

Connection Refused: Ensure the Sia daemon (siad) is running and listening on the expected port (default: 9980). If running on a remote host, verify the firewall allows connections on that port.

Authentication Failure: Double-check the API password matches the value in the apipassword file. The password is case-sensitive.

Wallet Locked: If backups fail with wallet-related errors, unlock your wallet with siac wallet unlock or through Sia-UI.

Insufficient Storage Contracts: Ensure you have active storage contracts with enough capacity. Check your allowance and contracts through Sia-UI or siac renter.

Best Practices​

  • Keep the Sia daemon running continuously to maintain storage contracts
  • Run the daemon on the same machine as Pluton to avoid exposing the API over the network
  • Set a strong API password via the SIA_API_PASSWORD environment variable
  • Monitor your Siacoin balance and renter allowance regularly to avoid contract lapses
  • Fund your wallet well in advance — contract formation can take time