Troubleshooting the "Stuck" Node: A Diagnostic Guide

Every operator will eventually face a node that stops syncing. This is the "Emergency Procedure."

1. Check Peers: bitcoin-cli getpeerinfo. If you have 0 peers, check your internet and Tor status.

2. Check Disk Space: df -h. If your disk is at 100%, bitcoind will freeze silently.

3. Check for "Stale Tips": Sometimes your node gets stuck on a "Side Branch." Use bitcoin-cli getchaintips to see if there are other branches.

4. The Nuclear Option: -reindex-chainstate. This deletes the UTXO set and rebuilds it from the blocks you already have. It is safer and faster than a full -reindex.