What are Blockchain Nodes and their Types?

-Nodes are servers that store, validate or create blocks of transactions without a central authority in the blockchain.

-There are different types of nodes depending on the type of consensus in the network, the amount of data they store or hold and whether they can create a block or not.

-A node runs software which varies from one blockchain to the other to perform the necessary functions of securing the blockchain network.

-Some of the benefits of running a node include enhanced privacy, bolstering security and ensuring nobody changes the rules of the network.

Keywords: Nodes, server, network, validation, security, full nodes, lightweight, archival, prune, authority

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You will hardly talk about the blockchain without mentioning its unique features, such as the permanence of records, decentralization, and peer-to-peer network. You might have even discussed how blockchain enables transactions without an intermediary. The questions that readily come to mind are how are the data stored and who is responsible for validating transactions and securing the network. The common thing before blockchain technology is to have a central server which controls a network and the users’ activities. What decentralization means in the blockchain is that there is no such central server that the products built on it, such as cryptocurrencies. Instead, it operates through nodes. What then are blockchain nodes?

What are Blockchain Nodes?

A node in the blockchain is a device, a computer or a server that participates in a network of many other devices, computers or servers to share information and enforce rules. Nodes store the block of data in a blockchain network. They sometimes operate using software to create, verify and store blocks. Blockchain is a decentralized data record that needs to be kept safe and secure. Blockchain nodes, therefore, are servers that operate in a peer-to-peer manner, which implies that they are connected to one another directly and continuously share the newest information on the blockchain with each other. Nodes are the hubs around which the decentralization of the blockchain revolves to maintain network integrity. They enforce consensus rules and ensure the security of the network.

Functions of Nodes

Nodes help the blockchain network to achieve consensus. Consensus is the rules according to which the network operates. Achieving consensus means the process through which participants agree on the validity of transactions without a central authority.

They confirm information written in blocks using the consensus algorithm to ensure that transactions are valid and avoid cheating through double-spending or revising transactions.

In the process of adding a new block, a node sends the information of the block to the other nodes, which can accept or reject the block by checking the validity of its transaction and signature. If the new block is accepted, the nodes save and store the block on top of the chains of the block they already stored. The transaction history is then synchronized across the network.

They store, preserve and spread blockchain data-keeping entire blocks of the transaction history.

What are the types of Nodes?

1 . Archive Nodes are primary node types that complete historical data of the blockchain from the genesis block. These nodes serve to validate the transaction and maintain consensus, and have all transactions recorded in their database. Two years ago, the archive nodes running the Ethereum Blockchain rose to over four terabytes, nearly doubling in a year. The standard software for Ethereum blockchain nodes is Geth and Parity, which have consistently increased in size by several percentages. With the stricter limit on the number of transactions per block and the fact that Bitcoin‘s blockchain is mainly used for standard payment and not complicated operations like a smart contract, the size tends to remain smaller.

2 . Full nodes: these are nodes that download every transaction block and verify them against consensus rules. Some consensus rules include preventing double spending of transaction output in a single blockchain. In Bitcoin, full nodes verify all of the rules of Bitcoin with the most popular software known as Bitcoin core. Full nodes store a copy of the blockchain and ensure the correctness of the data

3 . Lightweight Nodes: These nodes save significant download time and storage space by downloading only block headers. The block headers are the parts of the block that contain information about the block, such as the timestamp, the hash of the previous block, and a hash representation of the block data. Lightweight nodes are used for simplified payment verification and depend on full nodes to function.

4 . Pruned full nodes: running full nodes require ample disc space and speed of internet connection to start up. Pruned nodes are therefore created to enable operators to download the blockchain and begin its verification process while storing a minor part. Pruned nodes save disk space by deleting blocks beginning with the oldest after downloading the entire blockchain. They delete old blocks until they only hold the newest transaction up to a specific size limit. The size limit of the worth of transactions to be stored is set by the node operator, which could be 200MB, 250MM, or 300MB, for example.

5 . Mining nodes: these are nodes used by miners to verify and add blocks to the blockchain. These nodes provide the necessary functionality for a miner to prove he has completed the work required to create a new block which gave rise to the term proof-of-work.

6 . Masternodes: These are nodes popularized by Dash. They record and validate the transaction and may earn a reward from the network by staking a certain amount of the native token. They host a full copy of the blockchain and provide second-layer services to the network beyond what ordinary servers can handle. These include direct send, private transaction and governance.

7 . Authority nodes are used in permissioned blockchain where participation is not open to everyone. Instead, the nodes are pre-selected. The community determines who runs the nodes and the number of nodes needed.

How to run a node

These are the typical steps to follow to run a blockchain node;

Identify the blockchain of your choice, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum

Obtain the hardware and software needed. For example, Bitcoin core software for Bitcoin, Geth or Parity for Ethereum

Run the node

Use Amazon, a cloud service, to host the node for safe storage

Use your local device to run the node

Follow up with proper monitoring and maintenance of the node.

Benefits of Running a Node

Running a node enhances security and bolsters privacy

Running a node is a way of boosting the security of the network to ensure nobody changes its rules

Some nodes, such as masternodes, can serve as a passive stream of revenue

Nodes are the basis of blockchain, and their types depend on the type of consensus the network operates. Whatever the consensus is, be it proof-of-work, proof-of-stake, or proof-of-authority, the nodes work to ensure the consensus is enforced to ensure the integrity of the blockchain network