Phase0 - Networking

Question 1

The Phase0 Networking specification encompasses 4 main sections. What are these sections?

Answer 1

• Specification for Network fundamentals
• Specification for the 3 Network interaction domains
  - the gossip domain
  - the discovery domain
  - the Req/Resp domain
• Rationale
• Lib2p maturity discussion

Question 2

The six topics in /eth2/ForkDigestValue/TopicName/Encoding defined in the gossip domains are:

Answer 2

Name/Message

• beacon_block/SignedBeaconBlock - beacon
• beacon_aggregate_and_proof/SignedAggregateAndProof - aggregated attestation
• beacon_attestation_{subnet_id}/Attestation - attestation
• voluntary_exit/SignedVoluntaryExit - Validator messages
• proposer_slashing/ProposerSlashing - Validator messages
• attester_slashing/AttesterSlashing - Validator messages

Question 3

What are the two primary global topics used to propagate beacon blocks and aggregate attestations to the network?

Answer 3

There are two primary global topics used to propagate beacon blocks (beacon_block) and aggregate attestations (beacon_aggregate_and_proof) to all nodes on the network.

Question 4

What is the beacon_block used to transmit?

Answer 4

beacon_block
The beacon_block topic is used solely for propagating new signed beacon blocks to all nodes on the networks. Signed blocks are sent in their entirety.

Question 5

What is the beacon_aggregate_and_proof used to transmit?

Answer 5

The beacon_aggregate_and_proof topic is used to propagate aggregated attestations (as SignedAggregateAndProofs) to subscribing nodes (typically validators) to be included in future blocks.

Question 6

what is the voluntary_exit used to propagate?

Answer 6

The voluntary_exit topic is used solely for propagating signed voluntary validator exits to proposers on the network. Signed voluntary exits are sent in their entirety

Question 7

What is proposer_slashing used to propagate?

Answer 7

The proposer_slashing topic is used solely for propagating proposer slashings to proposers on the network. Proposer slashings are sent in their entirety

Question 8

What is the attester_slashing used to propagate?

Answer 8

The attester_slashing topic is used solely for propagating attester slashings to proposers on the network. Attester slashings are sent in their entirety

Question 9

What is beacon_attestation_{subnet_id} used for?

Answer 9

The beacon_attestation_{subnet_id} topics are used to propagate unaggregated attestations to the subnet subnet_id (typically beacon and persistent committees) to be aggregated before being gossiped to beacon_aggregate_and_proof