Understanding how the Ethereum nodes communicate with each other
In the extensive and decentralized blockchain Ethereum network, nodes play a key role in facilitating communication with each other. In this article, we delve into a process in which the node communicates with other nodes to download information, such as a set of unconfirmed transactions (UTXO) or the longest chain.
Ethereum network review
The Ethereum network is based on the peer-to-peer protocol, which allows nodes to connect and replace data. Each node on the web acts as both a customer and a server, based on its peers to obtain information and services.
how the nodes provide information
To provide information with other nodes, the node initiates connection with many other nodes through the process called “Discovering the Network”. After connecting two or more nodes, they can initiate a conversation using the Ethereum protocol. This conversation is initiated by one message sent from one node to another, known as “ping” (short for the Peer-to-Peer interface).
Ping message structure
The ping message consists of several components:
- Network ID : Unique network ID.
- Node ID : Identifier of the node demanding.
- Type of request : command or inquiry that indicates what information is requested, such as UTXO or information about the chain.
types of demands
There are several types of demands in Ethereum:
- Download UTXO : downloads a set of unconfirmed transactions (UTXO) from blockchain.
2.
response mechanism
When the demanding node sends a ping message to other nodes, they respond with their own ping messages, which contain information about themselves, such as the network ID and the node identifier. The corresponding nodes initiate new conversations with the demanding nodes, repeating this process until the contract is achieved or the connection is lost.
network detection process
The process of discovering the network includes a number of steps:
- Initial pings : The first ping from one node initiates a conversation with other nodes.
- Answers : Other nodes respond to the initial ping, providing information about yourself and their network.
- Conversation loop
: The demanding node continues sending ping until the contract is reached or the connection is lost.
To sum up, the Ethereum nodes communicate with each other through the ping process, answers and conversation loops, enabling them to share information and make calls in a vast and decentralized network.