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DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.OPODIS.2022.8

Robust and Fast Blockchain State Synchronization

Authors: Enrique Fynn, Ethan Buchman, Zarko Milosevic, Robert Soulé, and Fernando Pedone

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 253, 26th International Conference on Principles of Distributed Systems (OPODIS 2022)

Abstract

State synchronization, the process by which a new or recovering peer catches up with the state of other operational peers, is critical to the operation of blockchain-based systems. Existing approaches to state synchronization typically involve downloading snapshots of system state. Such approaches introduce an attack vector from malicious peers that can significantly degrade performance. Moreover, the process of creating snapshots leads to performance hiccups. This paper presents a technique for peers to catch up with operational peers without trusting any particular peer and gracefully recover from misbehavior during the process. We have integrated our design into a production blockchain middleware. Our evaluation shows that during operation, the transaction throughput is consistently higher without pauses for snapshot construction. Moreover, the time it takes for a new peer to join the blockchain is halved, while at the same time tolerating Byzantine peers.

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Enrique Fynn, Ethan Buchman, Zarko Milosevic, Robert Soulé, and Fernando Pedone. Robust and Fast Blockchain State Synchronization. In 26th International Conference on Principles of Distributed Systems (OPODIS 2022). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 253, pp. 8:1-8:22, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2023)

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@InProceedings{fynn_et_al:LIPIcs.OPODIS.2022.8,
  author =	{Fynn, Enrique and Buchman, Ethan and Milosevic, Zarko and Soul\'{e}, Robert and Pedone, Fernando},
  title =	{{Robust and Fast Blockchain State Synchronization}},
  booktitle =	{26th International Conference on Principles of Distributed Systems (OPODIS 2022)},
  pages =	{8:1--8:22},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-265-5},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2023},
  volume =	{253},
  editor =	{Hillel, Eshcar and Palmieri, Roberto and Rivi\`{e}re, Etienne},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.OPODIS.2022.8},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-176280},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.OPODIS.2022.8},
  annote =	{Keywords: state synchronization, replication, blockchain}
}

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Short Paper

DOI: 10.4230/OASIcs.FMBC.2020.10

Formal Specification and Model Checking of the Tendermint Blockchain Synchronization Protocol (Short Paper)

Authors: Sean Braithwaite, Ethan Buchman, Igor Konnov, Zarko Milosevic, Ilina Stoilkovska, Josef Widder, and Anca Zamfir

Published in: OASIcs, Volume 84, 2nd Workshop on Formal Methods for Blockchains (FMBC 2020)

Abstract

Blockchain synchronization is one of the core protocols of Tendermint blockchains. In this short paper, we discuss our recent efforts in formal specification of the protocol and its implementation, as well as some initial model checking results. We demonstrate that the protocol quality and understanding can be improved by writing specifications and model checking them.

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Sean Braithwaite, Ethan Buchman, Igor Konnov, Zarko Milosevic, Ilina Stoilkovska, Josef Widder, and Anca Zamfir. Formal Specification and Model Checking of the Tendermint Blockchain Synchronization Protocol (Short Paper). In 2nd Workshop on Formal Methods for Blockchains (FMBC 2020). Open Access Series in Informatics (OASIcs), Volume 84, pp. 10:1-10:8, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2020)

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@InProceedings{braithwaite_et_al:OASIcs.FMBC.2020.10,
  author =	{Braithwaite, Sean and Buchman, Ethan and Konnov, Igor and Milosevic, Zarko and Stoilkovska, Ilina and Widder, Josef and Zamfir, Anca},
  title =	{{Formal Specification and Model Checking of the Tendermint Blockchain Synchronization Protocol}},
  booktitle =	{2nd Workshop on Formal Methods for Blockchains (FMBC 2020)},
  pages =	{10:1--10:8},
  series =	{Open Access Series in Informatics (OASIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-169-6},
  ISSN =	{2190-6807},
  year =	{2020},
  volume =	{84},
  editor =	{Bernardo, Bruno and Marmsoler, Diego},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/OASIcs.FMBC.2020.10},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-134238},
  doi =		{10.4230/OASIcs.FMBC.2020.10},
  annote =	{Keywords: Blockchain, Fault Tolerance, Byzantine Faults, Model Checking}
}

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Robust and Fast Blockchain State Synchronization

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Formal Specification and Model Checking of the Tendermint Blockchain Synchronization Protocol (Short Paper)

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