mirror of
https://github.com/monero-project/monero-site.git
synced 2024-11-17 00:07:54 +00:00
48 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
48 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
---
|
|
summary: 'A device on the Internet running the Monero software, with a full copy of the Monero blockchain. It can be local or remote'
|
|
terms: ["node", "nodes", "full-node", "full-nodes"]
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
{% include disclaimer.html translated="no" translationOutdated="no" %}
|
|
|
|
### The Basics
|
|
|
|
A device on the Internet running the Monero software, with a full copy of
|
|
the Monero blockchain, actively assisting the Monero network. A node that is
|
|
not running on your local machine is called @remote-node. Remote nodes can
|
|
be private, if they are for personal use only, or open, if they are
|
|
accessible by other people.
|
|
|
|
### More Information
|
|
|
|
Nodes participate in the Monero network and secure @transactions by
|
|
enforcing the rules of the network. Nodes download the entire @blockchain to
|
|
know what transactions have taken place. Nodes assist the network by
|
|
relaying transactions to other nodes on the network. Nodes may also choose
|
|
to contribute to the Monero network by participating in crafting @blocks
|
|
(this is called @mining).
|
|
|
|
Mining is the process by which nodes create a block from the previously
|
|
accepted block, transactions that are waiting to be processed in the
|
|
transaction pool, and the @coinbase-transaction. When a node believes it has
|
|
crafted a valid block it will transmit the completed block to other nodes on
|
|
the network and those nodes signal agreement by working on the next block in
|
|
the chain.
|
|
|
|
The rules that nodes follow are built into the Monero software; When all
|
|
nodes agree about the rules to follow this is called @consensus. Consensus
|
|
is necessary for a cryptocurrency because it is how the blockchain is built;
|
|
If nodes don't agree about which blocks are valid, for example people who
|
|
have not updated their Monero software, those nodes that don't agree will no
|
|
longer be able to participate in the Monero network.
|
|
|
|
The Monero Core Team plans for a network upgrade roughly every 6 months. At
|
|
that time, if you are running a node it must be updated to the most recent
|
|
version of the Monero software or it will no longer be able to participate
|
|
in the network.
|
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
##### Other Resources
|
|
|
|
<sub>1. *Fluffypony gives a great explanation of why mandatory network upgrades are good for Monero.* ([Monero Missives for the Week of 2016-06-20]({{ site.baseurl_root }}/2016/06/20/monero-missive-for-the-week-of-2016-06-20.html))</sub>
|