What is a Blockchain Node?
Types of Blockchain Nodes
Blockchain technology is a decentralised version of the client-server model. Instead of storing all data and information on a server that clients access, that information is stored on all clients. These client computers are then referred to as “nodes” and form part of the decentralised network. When the network is updated, each node in the blockchain updates the distributed ledger and ensures that there is consensus among all nodes about the true form of the ledger. Consensus exists when the majority of nodes agree on the current form.
The exact definition of a blockchain node varies from network to network, depending on the nature and purpose of the network. In general, a node is an electronic device that is part of the blockchain network and has an IP address. In a simple words, a node is simply a device running the software of a specific blockchain. Nodes act as communication endpoints that allow users to interact with and within the network - they are the storage containers of a blockchain. So, any time an in-network user retrieves information, they are interacting with a node. They remain completely transparent and accessible to anyone.
Contrary to a common misconception, not all nodes perform the same function, and not all electronic devices are blockchain nodes.
The more nodes a blockchain hosts, the more decentralized it will be.
Before diving into different types of nodes, maybe it is better to clarify simply what the three main functions that nodes are doing.
- Transaction Validation: The node accepts or rejects a transaction request based on the required credentials.
- Storage: A node stores the record of blockchain transactions in part or whole.
- Broadcasting transaction information: The information is sent to other nodes in the network, which request historical data when processing transactions. If one node goes offline, users can connect to other nodes to continue transacting on the blockchain.
Types of Nodes
Nodes Blockchain nodes are categorized based on the functions they perform. There are different types of nodes in blockchain, and they provide different functionalities. However, not every device in a blockchain network is a node and serves the same purpose. There are two main types of nodes in blockchain. These two blockchain node types are: Full nodes, and light nodes.
However, lets look into details of the different types of the nodes… ✍
Full Node (“Blockchain State”)
Full nodes are responsible for storing the records of transactions carried out on the blockchain. That is why they are also defined as the servers of the blockchain. Many consensus models, such as Proof of Work and Proof of Stake, also involve using full nodes to reach consensus. Before any upgrade or improvement undergoes, the network ensures that all these full nodes are prepared for it.
Example: The following diagram shows us the data size for the last 1 year that a Full Node Ethereum requires.
Recommended hardware requirements to run a Ethereum Full node:
- A fast CPU with 4+ cores
- 16 GB+ of RAM
- A fast SSD drive more than 1 TB of space (storage capacity will grow over time as might seen from the cart)
- 25 MBit/s bandwidth
Full nodes are further categorized as Pruned Node and Archival Full Node.
Pruned Full Node
The pruned nodes, they are a type of node which performs almost all the functions of a full node that allows us to take advantage of their enormous security, but reducing their storage requirements from the blockchain so we can run them on virtually any device. In fact, your only exception is that the pruned nodes do not have a complete copy of the blockchain.
Such nodes first have to download the entire blockchain on the hard disk and then delete the older data block by block, starting from the beginning. They keep deleting the older blocks until the storage contains only the recent most transaction records up to the limit. It will be synced with the network to keep adding the newer records to its storage and simultaneously deleting the older ones.
Archival Full Node (“Blockchain History + Blockchain State”)
Unlike pruned full nodes, archival full nodes store and maintain the entire blockchain database. They have no defined storage limit and are the most common type of blockchain node. This type of node is useful for querying historical blockchain data that full nodes do not have access to and therefore retrieving historical state data without relying on third-party providers.
Example: Ethereum ~12TB (All transactions, NFT Minting, All Contacts etc)
Archival full nodes are further categorized as authority nodes, miner nodes, staking nodes, and masternodes.
- Authority Nodes: An authority node is a node selected by the organization or community responsible for a blockchain. They are used to authorize new nodes to join a blockchain network. They can also manage the access permissions of other nodes in case they want to reach a certain data channel.
- Miner Nodes: A mining node is a node specifically designed to perform the mining process. For example, in Proof-of-Work, the first mining node to solve a mathematical problem is given the right to confirm a block of transactions. Mining nodes use mining equipment and software to solve complex computational problems to mine new cryptocurrencies and generate new blocks to add to the blockchain. A mining node can consist of a single miner or a mining pool.
- Staking Nodes: The nodes that verify the validity of transactions on blockchains using the Proof of Stake consensus model are called Staking Nodes. To set up a Staking Node, users must lock a certain amount of native tokens of that ecosystem on the blockchain. Then, the system randomly selects one of the Staking Nodes to process transactions and shop them in the ledger. To validate transactions, staking nodes consume significantly less energy than miner nodes.
- Masternodes: They are full nodes that do not have the ability to add new blocks to the chain. These nodes only validate and record the transactions. Depending on the nature of the event, they may also assist other events on the blockchain. These include managing voting events, providing protocol execution, and enforcing the rules of the respective blockchain.
Light Node
The second most common type of blockchain node is the light node. The purpose of these nodes is to enable faster transactions and daily activities. For this reason, they are also referred to as Simplified Payment Verification (SPV) nodes. Instead of downloading and storing the entire blockchain, they are designed to store only the necessary information, i.e. the block headers.
Lightning Nodes
Lightning nodes are unique to the “Lightning Network”. A node is a software that connects to the blockchain network and exchanges the latest blockchain data. When a blockchain network is too busy, users may experience transaction delays. Lightning nodes are used to minimise latency in processing transactions. Lightning nodes are computers or software that connect to the main blockchain and the Lightning network.
These nodes enable off-chain transactions by creating a connection between the network and users outside the blockchain. They reduce the load on the network so that transactions are instantaneous and incur very low fees.
Example: Lightcoin, Z-cash, Bolt are currently integrated with the Lightning network.
Super Nodes
Supernodes are a less common type in the blockchain world. A reliable super node typically runs 24/7 and has several established connections, transmitting the blockchain history and transactions data to multiple nodes around the world. They are designed to perform some specific tasks. It communicates with any node that wants to connect to it. A trusted supernode usually runs continuously and sends blockchain history and transaction data to multiple nodes.
It can be used to set or maintain the rules of a blockchain, implement a protocol change, and so on.
Conclusion
Nodes are critical to the operation of a blockchain network because they keep all participants honest and assure data integrity. Businesses and developers need to understand the nuances of different types of blockchain nodes to build cost-effective and fast decentralised blockchain applications.
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Sources
- https://www.quicknode.com/guides/infrastructure/ethereum-full-node-vs-archive-node
- https://academy.bit2me.com/en/que-es-un-nodo-podado/
- https://originstamp.com/blog/the-10-different-types-of-blockchain-nodes-and-how-they-work/
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