Introduction
When it comes to blockchain technology, consensus algorithms are always at the heart of it. Because it is the key to ensuring that the blockchain network has enough security to avoid malicious attacks and to achieve community self-operation through good mechanism design. It is worth noting that the current mainstream blockchain projects usually only support one consensus algorithm. For example, Bitcoin, Ethereum uses POW, and EOS uses DPOS. The relatively simple underlying distributed framework and interface design leads to singular algorithm support and cannot be fully applied to a variety of complex commercial scenarios. With the continuous evolution of blockchain technology, the importance of multi-consensus algorithm-compatible design has gradually been paid attention to and researched, and the Penta DLOS multi-consensus component framework is based on this concept.
DLOS overview
Before introducing the multi-consensus component framework, what is DLOS. DLOS, which stands for “Decentralized Ledger Operating System”, is a highly scalable, micro-service, distributed framework, and an important underlying infrastructure that implements a multi-chain network with Penta chain as its core and multiple side-chain. DLOS supports a variety of diverse network structures, a diverse account structure, and is compatible with many mainstream consensus algorithms. It effectively separates the functional modules such as computing, storage, and network, including the consensus algorithm. Each layer carries out interface and connects the service components through the service management and event components, effectively implementing the underlying foundation. Decoupling the architecture from the specific application, DApp developers only need to implement their own unique parts, without paying too much attention to the underlying technology that is not related to the application scenario.
Design ideas
The DLOS multi-consensus component is designed to treat DApps, side-chains, or individual blockchain as a component like Lego’s building blocks. It can be easily disassembled, plugged, and assembled on the Penta main chain. Multi-consensus algorithm support can also be used to accommodate different side-chains or permission chains for diverse commercial applications. In other words, mainstream consensus algorithms such as POW, POS, DPOS, and PBFT can be well-compatible with Penta networks thanks to a plug-in architecture. Separation from the DSC consensus mechanism, the Penta core chain ensures that DAPPs with different consensus mechanisms or sidechains and sub-chains can operate independently on the Penta core chain based on their own modules.
How should DLOS’s multi-consensus algorithm support be implemented?
The consensus engine is the core component of DLOS and is used to implement consensus algorithms for block production and verification. To be compatible and to support multiple consensus algorithms and protocols, DLOS pioneered the consensus engine into two layers: the basic layer [figure1-Fundamental layer] for implementing the common function module, and the second layer [figure1-Non-interactive layer, Interactive layer] is the non-interactive layer with the interaction layer for implementing the unique consensus modules. The two-layers architecture granulates and abstracts the common and unique module functions of multiple consensus algorithms to achieve a flexible and efficient architecture.
In the base layer, the Miner and Worker interfaces are encapsulated, including some basic and common functional interfaces that any consensus algorithm will use, including general P2P communication, control block generation, acquisition of block information, and packing blocks. and many more.
The non-interactive layer in the upper layer encapsulates the functional interfaces provided specifically for non-interactive consensus algorithms.
a. The so-called non-interactive consensus algorithm refers to an algorithm such as PoW, PoS, etc. that does not require mutual communication between nodes to finally reach a consensus. In this part, corresponding non-interactive function engines such as PoW/PoS Engine are provided according to different algorithm types to implement the block production and verification functions.
b. The other part of the upper layer is the interaction layer, which encapsulates relatively more complex interfaces designed for interactive consensus algorithms, such as DSC, PBFT, etc. In this type of algorithm, the Byzantine fault-tolerant mechanism is adopted, and the consensus communication needs to be confirmed through interactive communication between nodes. Compared with the non-interactive consensus algorithm, the interaction process and the block validation are more complicated.
DLOS double-layer consensus framework [figure1]
Using the above two-layer consensus engine framework and the corresponding abstract interface specification, DLOS implements plug-in support for mainstream consensus algorithms. Any consensus algorithm can select the corresponding layer in a pluggable manner, based on DLOS. Interface calls implement functions such as production block verification. The versatile framework enables DLOS to cover most of the functional requirements of mainstream consensus algorithms, reducing the amount of work and compatibility adaptation issues associated with additional feature development.
Conclusion
Today, the research and discussion around blockchain technology tends to focus on the direction of consensus algorithms and scalability, and often ignores the optimization and innovation of the infrastructure on which the underlying technology depends. The DLOS multi-consensus framework component is the result of the Penta team’s research in this area. It is believed that through this multi-consensus framework component enables enough flexibility to be able to answer to the future innovation regarding blockchain technology.