Ethminer Troubleshooting Guide No Shares Accepted Despite Receiving Jobs

Are you experiencing issues with your Ethminer setup where it continues to receive new jobs but fails to submit and accept shares? This can be a frustrating problem, especially when your hardware seems to be running smoothly. Let’s dive into the common causes and solutions to get your mining rig back on track. This comprehensive guide is tailored to help you troubleshoot and resolve these issues, ensuring your Ethereum mining operation runs efficiently and profitably.

Understanding the Problem: Ethminer Receives Jobs but Doesn't Submit Shares

When your Ethminer setup receives new jobs but doesn't submit shares, it means your miner is communicating with the mining pool but failing to validate and submit the computed results. This issue can stem from a variety of factors, including hardware limitations, software misconfigurations, network problems, or pool-related issues. It's crucial to methodically investigate each potential cause to pinpoint the exact problem. By addressing these issues systematically, you can ensure your mining rig operates smoothly and contributes effectively to the Ethereum network.

Key Symptoms:

• Ethminer shows messages indicating new jobs are received.
• No "Submitted and accepted" messages appear in the console.
• Hashrate may appear normal initially but eventually drops or becomes unstable.
• The miner appears to be running, but no shares are being credited to your account.

Hardware Considerations

Your mining hardware plays a critical role in the stability and efficiency of your mining operation. Ensuring your GPUs are properly configured, adequately cooled, and sufficiently powered is essential for preventing issues that lead to stalled submissions. Let's explore the key hardware aspects to consider.

GPU Overclocking and Stability

Overclocking your GPUs can significantly increase your hash rate, but it also introduces the risk of instability. If your GPUs are pushed too hard, they may produce incorrect results, causing shares to be rejected. It's crucial to find the right balance between performance and stability. Start by reducing your overclock settings and monitoring whether the issue persists. Overclocking too aggressively can lead to instability, causing your GPUs to compute incorrect results, which are then rejected by the mining pool. This often manifests as the miner receiving jobs but failing to submit valid shares. To troubleshoot, gradually reduce your overclock settings and observe if the issue resolves. Aim for a stable configuration where your GPUs operate efficiently without generating errors. Using tools like MSI Afterburner or AMD WattMan, you can adjust core clock, memory clock, and voltage settings. Remember to make small adjustments and thoroughly test each setting for stability.

Insufficient Cooling

Overheating GPUs are a common culprit for mining instability. High temperatures can cause your GPUs to throttle performance or produce errors, leading to rejected shares. Ensure your mining rig has adequate cooling, including sufficient airflow and appropriate cooling solutions for your GPUs. Monitor your GPU temperatures using tools like HWMonitor or GPU-Z. Ideally, keep your GPU temperatures below 70°C for optimal performance and longevity. If temperatures are consistently high, consider adding more fans, improving case airflow, or even upgrading to liquid cooling solutions. Effective cooling not only prevents rejected shares but also extends the lifespan of your GPUs.

Power Supply Issues

A underpowered power supply unit (PSU) can lead to erratic behavior, including rejected shares. Mining GPUs at full load requires significant power, and an insufficient PSU may not be able to deliver the necessary wattage consistently. Ensure your PSU meets the total power requirements of your mining rig, including a buffer for spikes and overhead. Insufficient power can cause GPUs to underperform or even crash, resulting in lost mining time and rejected shares. Calculate the total power draw of your components, including GPUs, CPU, motherboard, and cooling systems, and choose a PSU that provides at least 20% more wattage than your calculated requirement. A high-quality PSU not only ensures stable power delivery but also protects your components from voltage fluctuations and power surges. Regularly check the power cables and connections to ensure they are secure and in good condition.

Hardware Failures

In some cases, the issue may stem from hardware failures. GPUs can degrade over time, especially when running at high loads continuously. Test each GPU individually to identify any faulty cards. Run diagnostics and stress tests on your GPUs to check for errors. Hardware failures can manifest as intermittent issues, making them challenging to diagnose. If you suspect a GPU is failing, try running it in isolation to see if the problem persists. Replacing a failing GPU is crucial to maintaining the efficiency of your mining operation. Regularly inspect your hardware for physical damage, such as bulging capacitors or burnt components, which can indicate underlying issues.

Software Configuration

Software configurations play a pivotal role in the performance and stability of your Ethminer setup. Incorrect settings, outdated drivers, or compatibility issues can all lead to the problem of receiving jobs but not submitting shares. Let's explore the critical software aspects to ensure your miner is properly configured.

Ethminer Configuration

Incorrect Ethminer settings can cause your miner to operate inefficiently or fail to submit shares. Double-check your configuration file or command-line arguments to ensure they are correctly set up. Pay close attention to pool addresses, worker names, and algorithm settings. An improperly configured miner may connect to the pool but fail to process and submit shares correctly. Review your configuration file (e.g., a .bat file on Windows or a .sh file on Linux) to ensure the pool address, worker name, and wallet address are accurate. Check the algorithm settings to match the requirements of the mining pool. Using outdated or incorrect configurations can lead to rejected shares and lost mining time. Regularly update your configuration files to reflect the latest pool requirements and best practices.

Driver Issues

Outdated or incompatible GPU drivers can cause performance issues and instability. Ensure you are using the latest drivers recommended for your GPUs and operating system. Driver updates often include optimizations and bug fixes that can improve mining performance and stability. Regularly check for driver updates from NVIDIA or AMD, depending on your GPUs. Outdated drivers can cause your GPUs to underperform or even crash, leading to rejected shares. When updating drivers, it's often best to perform a clean installation to avoid conflicts with previous versions. Stable and up-to-date drivers are crucial for maintaining optimal mining performance and preventing issues.

Operating System Compatibility

Operating system compatibility issues can also affect mining performance. Ensure your operating system is compatible with Ethminer and your GPU drivers. Some operating systems may have limitations or require specific configurations to run mining software effectively. Verify that your operating system meets the minimum requirements for Ethminer and your GPU drivers. Compatibility issues can lead to instability and rejected shares. Using a dedicated mining operating system, such as HiveOS or RaveOS, can often provide a more stable and optimized environment for mining. Regularly update your operating system to benefit from the latest patches and improvements.

Mining Pool Selection and Configuration

Choosing the right mining pool and configuring it correctly is essential for maximizing your mining efficiency and rewards. An incorrectly configured pool or issues with the pool itself can lead to problems with share submission. Let’s explore how to ensure your pool settings are optimized.

Pool Settings

Incorrect pool settings within your mining software can prevent shares from being submitted. Double-check that your pool address, port, username, and password are correct in your Ethminer configuration. Any discrepancies can lead to rejected shares and lost mining time. Ensure that you have accurately entered the pool's stratum address, port number, and your worker credentials. Using incorrect pool settings is a common cause of rejected shares. Verify the pool's requirements for worker names and passwords, and update your configuration accordingly. If you are experiencing issues, try connecting to a different pool to see if the problem persists.

Pool Issues

Problems with the mining pool itself can sometimes be the cause of submission issues. Pools can experience downtime, technical issues, or high latency, which can affect your ability to submit shares. Check the pool's status page or community forums to see if there are any known issues. Mining pools can occasionally experience technical difficulties that impact share submission. If you suspect a pool issue, monitor the pool's status page or communication channels for updates. High latency or frequent disconnects can also lead to rejected shares. Consider switching to a different pool if you consistently experience issues with your current pool. Diversifying your mining across multiple pools can also mitigate the impact of pool-specific problems.

Network Connectivity

A stable and reliable network connection is vital for successful mining operations. Network issues can disrupt communication with the mining pool, leading to rejected shares and lost mining time. Let’s examine the key network considerations for your Ethminer setup.

Internet Connection

A poor or unstable internet connection can prevent your miner from submitting shares. Ensure you have a stable internet connection with sufficient bandwidth. High latency or frequent disconnects can interrupt communication with the mining pool and lead to rejected shares. A stable and reliable internet connection is crucial for mining operations. Consider using a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi for better stability and lower latency. Regularly test your internet connection speed and stability to ensure it meets the requirements for mining. If you experience frequent disconnects, contact your internet service provider to troubleshoot the issue.

Firewall and Antivirus

Firewall or antivirus software may block Ethminer's access to the internet or the mining pool. Configure your firewall and antivirus software to allow Ethminer to communicate freely. These security measures can sometimes interfere with mining software, leading to rejected shares. Check your firewall settings to ensure that Ethminer is allowed to connect to the internet. Similarly, configure your antivirus software to exclude Ethminer from scans, as these scans can sometimes disrupt mining operations. Regularly review your security software settings to ensure they are not inadvertently blocking your mining activity.

Troubleshooting Steps

To effectively diagnose and resolve Ethminer stalling issues, a systematic approach is essential. By following these troubleshooting steps, you can pinpoint the root cause of the problem and implement the appropriate solutions.

1. Check Basic Connections: Ensure all power and data cables are securely connected. A loose connection can cause intermittent issues. Start by verifying that all power cables to your GPUs and other components are firmly connected. Similarly, check the data cables (e.g., PCIe risers) to ensure they are properly seated. Loose connections can lead to erratic behavior and rejected shares. Regularly inspect your connections to maintain the stability of your mining rig. A simple visual check can often identify obvious issues.
2. Monitor GPU Temperatures: Use monitoring software to check your GPU temperatures. Overheating can cause instability and rejected shares. Tools like HWMonitor or GPU-Z can provide real-time temperature readings for your GPUs. Keep your GPU temperatures below 70°C for optimal performance. If temperatures are consistently high, take steps to improve cooling, such as adding fans or improving airflow. Overheating can lead to thermal throttling, which reduces mining efficiency and increases the likelihood of rejected shares.
3. Reduce Overclock: If you are overclocking your GPUs, try reducing the overclock settings to see if it improves stability. Aggressive overclocking can cause GPUs to produce incorrect results, leading to rejected shares. Gradually reduce your overclock settings and monitor your miner for stability. Aim for a balance between performance and stability. If reducing the overclock resolves the issue, you can incrementally increase the settings until you find the optimal configuration. Document your stable settings for future reference.
4. Test Each GPU Individually: If you have multiple GPUs, test each one individually to identify any faulty cards. Run the miner with only one GPU enabled to see if the issue persists. If a specific GPU causes the problem, it may be faulty or require further troubleshooting. Testing GPUs individually can help isolate hardware issues. If you identify a faulty GPU, consider replacing it or seeking professional repair services. Regular testing can also help identify GPUs that are beginning to degrade over time.
5. Check Mining Pool Status: Verify the mining pool's status to ensure there are no known issues. Pools can experience downtime or technical problems that affect share submission. Visit the pool's website or communication channels to check for any announcements or updates. If the pool is experiencing issues, consider switching to a different pool temporarily. Monitoring pool status regularly can help you avoid unnecessary troubleshooting efforts when the problem lies with the pool itself.
6. Review Ethminer Logs: Examine the Ethminer logs for any error messages or warnings. Logs often provide valuable insights into the cause of the problem. Ethminer logs contain detailed information about the miner's operations, including errors, warnings, and connection status. Look for any recurring error messages that may indicate the root cause of the issue. Analyzing logs can help you identify software misconfigurations, network problems, or hardware failures. Use a text editor to review the logs and search for relevant keywords, such as