Bitcoind doesn't find transactions / synchronize / update until last block from Testnet

Question

I set up bitcoind as server. It downloads the testnet blockchain but it is inconsistent with public data:

http://blockexplorer.com/testnet/q/getblockcount 

182951 (As of 18/02/14)

And

bitcoind getblockcount 

53317

My testnet accounts receive bitcoins from public faucets:

http://blockexplorer.com/testnet/address/mjDutNstJpZo929nLdZGKPh75fWKuTQNi1 (form 2 different faucets)

But

bitcoind listreceivedbyaddress 0 true
[ 
...
{
        "address" : "mjDutNstJpZo929nLdZGKPh75fWKuTQNi1",
        "account" : "3",
        "label" : "3",
        "amount" : 0.00000000,
        "confirmations" : 0
    }
]

Any help?

bitcoind getinfo
{
    "version" : 32400,
    "balance" : 0.00000000,
    "blocks" : 53317,
    "connections" : 2,
    "proxy" : "",
    "generate" : false,
    "genproclimit" : -1,
    "difficulty" : 0.55300531,
    "hashespersec" : 0,
    "testnet" : true,
    "keypoololdest" : 1392632512,
    "paytxfee" : 0.00000000,
    "errors" : ""
}

Solution

Please read the accepted answer.

Dont do apt-get update and install (at least in Ubuntu 12.04.4 LTS)

Instead:

sudo aptitude install python-software-properties
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bitcoin/bitcoin
sudo aptitude update
sudo aptitude install bitcoind

Answer 1

It looks like you are using version 0.3.24 of the bitcoin client, which is extremely old (released July of 2011). The latest version is 0.8.6.

Versions prior to 0.7.0 (released April of 2012) used a different testnet blockchain (called testnet2), which is no longer in general use. Since 0.7.0, everyone uses testnet3, which has a new genesis block and a separate block chain. So the coins you received are waiting in that new chain, but you're looking at the old one.

Upgrade to the latest version of bitcoind. Then copy your wallet.dat from .bitcoin/testnet2 to .bitcoin/testnet3. After synchronization, you should see your coins (and avoid a lot of other issues too).

I'm actually pretty surprised your client found enough testnet2 peers to get a complete copy of the testnet2 block chain!