⌨️ How to rent storage on TON Storage

⚫️ Last summer, we covered MyTonProvider — a tool that lets server owners rent out spare disk space and earn TON. According to TON Core developers, the decentralized storage network is primarily used to distribute archival copies of the TON blockchain, although it can store virtually any type of file.

⚫️ Say you need to keep a file available without relying on a single hosting provider. With TON Storage, you can pay several providers to store copies of it and make the file accessible through a .ton link that opens directly in Telegram. Resistor’s app now supports exactly this use case. TON DNS can map a .ton domain to a TON Storage Bag ID.

⚫️ First, upload your files to TON Storage and get a Bag ID — an identifier similar to a magnet link. The easiest option is @ResiStorageBot, while more technical users can upload files through the `tonutils-storage` client. Then open @ResistanceToolsBot, tap the profile seven times, and go to Experimental Features → TON Storage Provider.

⚫️ From there, head to TON Storage → Pin → Storage Providers, paste your Bag ID, and choose the servers you want to use. There are currently more than 15 providers across different countries, while storing 200 GB costs around 10 TON on average. You can choose the storage period and set how often automated checks are performed to confirm that each provider still holds the file.

⚫️ This setup is probably overkill for everyday photos. But when a file needs to remain available without depending on a single host, you can distribute copies across several servers in different countries. As long as at least one provider continues storing the data, the file will remain accessible.

⚫️ You can also become a provider yourself by connecting a server and earning TON for its spare disk space. A detailed setup guide is available via the link.

⚫️ Thanks to the work of independent contributors, TON Storage is finally starting to feel like a usable service. We encourage our readers to give it a try and store a file on the decentralized network.

@thedailyton