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Clusters

Clusters are collections of validators that work together for consensus.

Overview​

A cluster in BBAChain is a group of validators that work together to maintain the blockchain. Clusters enable:

  • Distributed consensus
  • Network redundancy
  • Fault tolerance
  • Scalability

Cluster Structure​

A cluster consists of:

  • Validators: Individual nodes that process transactions and participate in consensus
  • Leader: The validator responsible for producing blocks in a given slot
  • Vote Accounts: Accounts used by validators to vote on blocks
  • Stake: BBA tokens staked by validators and delegators

Cluster Types​

Mainnet Cluster​

The mainnet cluster is the production network where real transactions occur. It requires:

  • High-performance hardware
  • Significant BBA stake
  • Reliable network infrastructure

Testnet Cluster​

The testnet cluster is used for development and testing. It:

  • Uses test BBA tokens
  • Has lower requirements
  • Allows experimentation

Devnet Cluster​

The devnet cluster is used for development and testing new features. It:

  • Resets periodically
  • Has minimal requirements
  • Is free to use

Consensus in Clusters​

Clusters use a consensus mechanism where:

  1. Validators vote on blocks
  2. A supermajority of stake must agree
  3. Blocks are finalized after confirmation

For more details, see the Consensus Mechanism guide.

Joining a Cluster​

To join a cluster:

  1. Set up your validator node
  2. Generate keypairs
  3. Configure your validator
  4. Connect to the cluster's entrypoint
  5. Start your validator

For detailed instructions, see the Quick Start Guide.

Cluster Health​

Cluster health depends on:

  • Validator Uptime: Percentage of time validators are online
  • Stake Distribution: How stake is distributed across validators
  • Network Latency: Time for messages to propagate
  • Block Production: Rate of successful block production

Next Steps​