Thread by @Soorajksaju2

#Decentralization of the networking layer of #Cardano is the most anticipated upgrade after the #Vasil HFC event

P2P is one such upgrade that will make #Cardano a far more decentralized & resilient network than what's it now

So here's a thread on peer-to-peer (P2P) networking

Decentralization is a core value and driver for #Cardano

And there are three pillars to Cardano's decentralization

• Networking

• Governance

• Block production

These three pillars are intrinsically linked to one another.

And all of them work synergistically to achieve the complete #decentralization of #Cardano.

As of now, #Cardano has achieved complete decentralization of the "block production."

The next step in the decentralization process is the complete decentralization of the #Cardano network.

Before we go into the details of the upcoming upgrade,

let's take a look at the evolution of the network connectivity model of #Cardano.

So what is a networking layer?

Cardano’s networking layer is a physical infrastructure,

that combines nodes and their interaction into a unified system

The network distributes information about transactions and block creation among all active nodes.

There are two types of nodes

• Core nodes

• & Relay nodes

Core nodes: responsible for producing blocks

Relay nodes: responsible for communicating with other relays in the network & broadcasting blocks

One or more relay nodes must accompany each core node

In this way,

the system validates and adds blocks to the chain and verifies transactions

Thus,

a distributed network of nodes must keep communication delays to a minimum,

and be resilient enough to cope with failures, capacity constraints, or hackers.

When Cardano was launched,

the Byron network connectivity model operated in a federated state.

Meaning,

All the core and relay nodes that connected to about 200 other relays

were maintained by IOG

Simply said, this was a centralized networking layer.

Under this old federated system,

nodes were connected by a static configuration defined in a topology file

Here's an illustration of the networking layer during the Byron era👇

After the Shelley Hard fork

Cardano started functioning in a hybrid mode.

Meaning,

the nodes are connected to federated relays and other SPO relays

This connectivity is not fully automatic, where the nodes self discover other nodes

But it is partially manually constructed.

So let's take a look at how the current system functions.

#Cardano networking is based on the TCP/IP stack,

which ensures guaranteed delivery of data between the nodes

Currently, Cardano uses only unidirectional connections.

Meaning,

For proper functioning of a #Cardano node (relay or core node)

It needs both incoming (server) and outgoing (client) connections.

Currently,

the initiation of these incoming and outgoing connections is not automatic but manual

This manual configuration of #Cardano network is based on a centralized tool called "topology updater."

A Network Topology is the arrangement with which network devices are connected

Currently,

As a block producer, you need incoming connections, or your blocks won’t propagate.

So the nodes need to know the list of active relays they can connect to and also list their relays

The topology updater helps stake pool operators to connect their nodes to other nodes in the network

which renders new topology.json files every 24 hours

bit.ly/3Rb9dDG

A set of mini protocols enable communication between different nodes

A mini protocol is a defined modular building block of the network protocol

This modular structuring of the network

allows managing the overall complexity of the network design while ensuring flexibility

Each mini protocol implements a basic information exchange requirement, such as

Sharing blocks as needed

Informing peers of the latest block

A multiplexing layer acts as a central crossing between mini-protocols & the network channel

The topology updater was developed by a #CardanoCommunity member

that was supposed to be a temporary solution till #Cardano transforms into a P2P network

A failure in this centralized topology updater service would lead to the failure of all topology updaters on the relay nodes

A distributed network of nodes must keep communication delays to a minimum

and should be resilient enough to cope with failures or capacity constraints

The #Cardano network may not achieve the above-mentioned qualities

till it transforms into a fully decentralized P2P network

So let's take a look at the upcoming P2P network

The goal of a P2P network is to

Enhance the flow of information between nodes

Remove the network’s reliance on centralized services like topology updater

And enable complete decentralization of the #Cardano network

Let's dive into the technical details of the upcoming P2P functionality

#Cardano network will use the following components to enable a P2P networking

• Server

• P2P governor

• Connection manager

• Inbound protocol governor

Let's take a closer look at these components

1. P2P governor

Based on the relative activity and established connections

the peer nodes of #Cardano network could be classified as

• Hot peers

• Cold peers

• Warm peers

• Cold peers

These are the existing nodes without an established network connection

• Warm peers

These are the nodes with an established connection

Which is only used for network measurements without implementing any of the node-to-node mini-protocols

• Hot peers

These are the nodes that have a connection,

which is being used by all three node-to-node mini-protocols

The P2P connection should be managed based on the activity and established network connection

To ensure the best system performance of the #Cardano network

The P2P governor is responsible for peer connection management

Meaning,

The P2P governor defines

which peers are beneficial for connection purposes,

and which should be promoted or demoted between cold, warm, or hot sets

Let's take a look at the activities of the P2P governor

Discovering cold peers using random gossip

Promotion of cold peers to warm peers

Demotion of warm peers to cold peers

Promotion of warm peers to hot peers

Demotion of hot peers to warm peers

Basically,

The P2P governor maintains the target number of cold, warm, and hot peers

This helps in building and maintaining a connectivity map of the entire network

This simplifies the process of connection between the peer nodes by handling them automatically

Now the second component!

2. Connection manager

The integration of the connection manager with the P2P governor enables bidirectional communication between peers

and also allows for enhanced node-to-node communication without affecting performance

3. Server

The server accepts connections

and performs dynamic rate limiting to control the rate of requests sent or recieved by the peers

4. Inbound protocol governor

The inbound protocol governor is responsible for running and tracking the state of the inbound connection side.

This includes tracking the state of each remote peer (cold, warm, or hot)

and the state of each inbound mini-protocol

The P2P network of #Cardano will also have a "Gossip" component of the network

Which helps in discovering nodes on the network beyond the nodes that are registered on the chain

Meaning,

You don't have to be an SPO to run a stake pool to contribute to the #Cardano network

You can contribute to the #Cardano network by running a full node like Daedalus

Currently, Daedalus connects to IOG relay nodes to download a copy of the blockchain

Gossip enables Daedalus to be a full block propagating node

which could connect to relays from SPOs & vice-versa

This is revolutionary for the #Cardano network

Because this will enable ordinary people to participate and contribute to the network

This could make #Cardano,

the most resilient & decentralized public #blockchain out there

According to the latest information available from @InputOutputHK

P2P development is feature complete & all the essential testing has been done

It is undergoing a review of design & implementation

The rollout of P2P nodes will occur in a gradual manner

TL;DR-

• P2P is a much-anticipated upgrade of #Cardano

• That will enable complete decentralization of its networking layer

• Allowing even the full nodes like Daedalus to propagate blocks

• Making it orders of magnitude more decentralized & resilient than what it is now

That's a wrap!

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