As a web browser is the gateway to the internet, ZelCore is the gateway to ZelFlux — The decentralized infrastructure/ecosystem running on ZelNodes

Decentralized Computing Power

One of the next huge endeavors for blockchain technology is adding usable computing power to the space with decentralized apps, web servers, and rent-able hardware resources. Many projects have added masternodes, following the success of Dash’s implementation, which process transactions, but masternodes quickly run out of more meaningful use cases. Ethereum pioneered the smart contract and asset issuance very well, but has been held back by infrastructure scaling issues with their very limited number of computing nodes.

To start solving the decentralized computing power problem, Zel has implemented a 3-tier, enterprise-grade hardware computing node network. Simply put, ZelNodes offers a massive, decentralized network of over 1000 servers with significant hardware, allowing the Network to process and scale to the needs of the users. ZelNodes, using ZelFlux as the “brain” of the network, will run block explorers and API services, 3rd party-developed applications, sidechains, and more. Below are two summaries of ZelFlux, a quick version, and an expanded version.

ZelFlux — Short Version

ZelFlux (“Flux”) is the open-source operating system of ZelNodes, which unites the three tiers of Nodes together to provide useful work to the Zel Network. Flux is an MEVN (MongoDB, Express, Vue.js, Node) stack implementation, allowing Community programmers with understanding of JavaScript and web development a playground to design and submit their own visions of how ZelNodes could function. Ultimately, ZelNodes will process and serve dockerized applications, smart contracts, asset layers and oracle data, etc.

Along with the network coordination and data processing, Flux contains a massively updated benchmarking system to ensure each ZelNode meets the hardware requirements and actively identify and deter cheating. Flux has a front-end, accessible via the IP/domain of the ZelNode, a back-end that communicates directly with the Zel daemon and the Node’s processing power, and API services for 3rd party support necessary for Flux and other applications development by the Community.

ZelFlux — Expanded Version

ZelNodes launched in March 2018, enabling 3 tiers of processing power to create the Zel Computational Network. Operators of ZelNodes are incentivized (Node rewards) to run enterprise-grade VPS/Server hardware to provide the computing power necessary to run multiple daemons, asset layers, sidechains, and dockerized apps in a decentralized manner (both in hardware ownership and geographical location). Node operators are rewarded 25% of each block find, while POW mining keeps the chain moving steadily and receives 75% of each block.

Details about the hardware requirements for ZelNodes can be found here, but the short explanation is that ZelNodes require much higher CPU/RAM/SSD specs than other masternode projects, giving Zel room for massive growth as Flux is rolled out and ZelLabs partners begin utilizing the Network. The Zel Team/Community will also take advantage of the Network, including decentralizing the infrastructure which powers ZelCore, projects like ZelVPN, and more to be announced in the coming months.

How ZelNodes Are Different

As stated above, ZelNodes require substantially more computing power to operate than previous masternode projects, which allows a decentralized network to be scaled which previously has not been successfully implemented. At over 1,000 Nodes currently, the untapped processing power on the Zel Network is already massive, and ZelFlux will allow those bits and cycles to be utilized instead of sitting idle.

The rewards for ZelNode operators is modest by design; they are not a get-rich-quick scheme as some readers have probably seen in other recent MN projects. The Nodes provide a steady, reasonable ROI to stabilize the network and available Zel on the markets. Collateral for the three tiers are 10k, 25k, and 100k respectively, allowing a wider range of operators to help power the Ecosystem.

What ZelNodes Will Run

The Zel Daemon — Just like standard MN’s, ZelNodes will run a full node of the Zel chain, processing transactions and securing the chain data. Running the daemon will also allow generating and signing transactions to pay for processing fees, sending of secure messages, etc. ZelFlux operating system — Each ZelNode will run a local copy of the front/back-end service, making each Node compatible with the Zel Ecosystem to process useful work and communicate with other Nodes on the network (e.g. load-balancing, securing the network, etc.) Benchmarking — Each Node will also run the benchmarking service to guarantee the Network rules are being followed and thus stabilizing the processing power available. Benchmarking also creates a fair and equal environment so all Node operators deserving of rewards are receiving the same incentives. Web Services — Utilities such as block explorers, rates servers, API backends, etc. will run on the Network, which help power ZelCore and support our ZelLabs partnerships to ease infrastructure costs and promote unified blockchain solutions. Apps — Dockerized (and non-dockerized) apps will run on ZelNodes infrastructure to provide useful services to developers using the Network. ZelFlux will ultimately decide the physical locations and how many app instances need to run on the Network to minimize latency and overloading resources.

3rd Party/Community Contributions

As an open source project, Flux allows for Community contributions, and highly encourages user-submitted designs and commits to bolster the Zel Ecosystem offerings. As the Zel Network grows, so will exposure to individuals, projects, and small businesses that wish to take advantage of a decentralized, fair, and cheaper computing network than is currently available. A decentralized network means no single point of failure, geographic diversity to serve users anywhere on the globe, and can be provided at a lower rate than the big-box providers such as AWS and Azure charge. The goal is to provide a stable and usable computing network that is worry-free, so blockchain and solo/small programming teams can launch their innovative ideas without having to blow their yearly budget on renting servers.

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Written by Zel Technologies, GmbH — 20 September 2019 — Rev. 1

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