Scalable and Resilient Distributed Systems: Overcoming Challenges through Innovative Design

In this article, we explore the concept of monolithic nodes in distributed consensus protocols and how they can improve scalability and efficiency. A monolithic node is a single entity that encompasses all aspects of the protocol, including subroutines and metadata management. By separating these responsibilities within a single node, we can simplify the complexity of implementing and analyzing consensus protocols involving multiple parties.
Imagine a large group project where each member is responsible for different tasks. It can be challenging to coordinate everyone’s efforts and ensure that everything gets done efficiently. Now imagine if each member had their own personal assistant to help with tasks, making it easier for the entire group to work together. This is similar to how monolithic nodes operate in distributed consensus protocols.
The author cites earlier works such as PBFT [2] and Paxos [3], which have a monolithic structure, as the inspiration for this approach. By leveraging the collective resources of multiple machines within a party, we can increase scalability and reduce the burden on individual nodes.
The article highlights the advantages of using monolithic nodes, including improved efficiency and reduced complexity. However, it also acknowledges that there may be limitations to this approach, such as potential bottlenecks in message transmission. The author notes that while the overall number of messages sent during a protocol is often used as a measure of efficiency, the actual limiting factor is often network bandwidth.
In summary, monolithic nodes are a way to simplify distributed consensus protocols by combining multiple functions into a single entity. This approach can improve scalability and efficiency by leveraging collective resources within parties. While there may be limitations to this approach, it offers significant benefits in terms of complexity reduction and improved overall performance.