The space race is about to begin. Are you clear about these hard-core keywords about IPFS?

Looking at IPFS, many people may be confused by various professional terms. At the same time, they don’t know why IPFS can be decentralized, prevent file loss, and have faster transmission speeds. This article organizes the terms commonly involved in IPFS mining for your reference and understanding, and sees which technologies and functions support IPFS to surpass HTTP.

1. IPFS — Interplanetary File System

IPFS is a peer-to-peer distributed file system designed to connect all computer devices with the same file system. Similar to HTTP, but HTTP is centralized, while IPFS is a single BitTorrent cluster, using git (distributed version control system) warehouse for distributed storage.

2. BitTorrent

BitTorrent (BT for short) is a file distribution protocol. Each downloader will continuously upload the downloaded data to other downloaders while downloading. This is why the IPFS protocol is faster than the HTTP protocol in downloading and transmission speed.

3. Git – Distributed Version Control System

Git is a distributed version management system that manages file versions and facilitates switching between different versions. Similar files are backed up at different times, and one copy can be retrieved when needed. It is more convenient to use than fixed versions. This is also the principle of preventing file loss in the IPFS network.

4. DHT — Distributed Hash Table

DHT is a decentralized, distributed hash table that can track and find all peer nodes. Before understanding DHT, let's first understand hash tables. Hash tables store everything on one machine. When the machine breaks down, everything stored is gone. Distributed hash tables can divide a whole hash table into several different parts and store them on different machines, thus reducing the risk of all data being damaged. Therefore, in the future, even if a file is lost on a node, the IPFS network will be able to transfer the complete file to you.

5. HASH value

The hash value is a value calculated by a hash function algorithm, which maps a long piece of data to a shorter piece of data. This piece of small data is the hash value of the big data. For example, the text of "How the Bad Guys Are Made" is mapped to the binary value "2" through the hash algorithm. Hash values ​​are mainly used for file verification and signatures. For example, when comparing files downloaded from the Internet with the hash value of the original file, each file will correspond to a unique hash value. Any change will cause the hash value to change. If they are the same, it means that the file has not been changed or damaged. If they are different, it means that it has been modified or incomplete. This is why the IPFS network can ensure that files cannot be tampered with and traced .

6. Content Addressing

The IPFS network uses content addressing to request and retrieve files. It does not need to know the specific address where the file is stored. For example, if you want to find the book "My Family", you can request it from people around you through content addressing. You can request "The title of the book is "My Family"" or "My Family written by Zhang Tao" and so on. The nearest node source will transmit the resource to you.

7. SFS – Self-validating file system

Simply put, SFS can ensure the security of files on the IPFS network, mainly involving procedures such as file key setting, storage, verification, access, sending, and revocation.

8.DSN – Distributed Service Network

DSN is a new generation of operational and manageable distributed core network system and functional architecture proposed by China Mobile for telecommunications and mobile Internet services. Its function is to define the data source. In simple terms, it is to deploy a distributed data network for IPFS.

9. Libp2p — Modular Network Stack

Libp2p exists as a bottom-level protocol for p2p projects. It can exist independently and can be used by IPFS as well as other projects. The entire IPFS is composed of modules such as libp2p, and libp2p uses a set of peer-to-peer protocols to discover nodes. Its main functions are to discover nodes and connect nodes, discover data and transmit data . It belongs to the network layer of IPFS , which is why IPFS is called a peer-to-peer hypermedia network transmission protocol.

10. Filecoin — Decentralized Data Storage Network

Simply put, Filecoin is a project based on IPFS. It has a complementary relationship with IPFS and plays a supplementary and incentive role in the IPFS network. Its main purpose is to encourage everyone to contribute more idle hard disk space and actively store data.

11. PoRep — Proof of Replication

PoRep is a new type of storage proof, also known as replication proof. It is mainly used to prevent miners from falsifying files when storing them. For example, if you submit a file to a miner to store ten copies, you may be afraid that the miner has not completed the task of storing ten copies, so he may only store one copy, and the other nine copies will be copied and generated by the storage provider when needed. The replication proof can supervise the storage provider to complete the task and generate proof without falsification. Therefore, the replication proof represents that the storage provider has indeed completed the task.

12. Post — Proof of Spacetime

As the name implies, time-space proof is related to time and space. In simple terms, it proves that miners have completed tasks in time and space. For example, if A requires a file to be stored for 1 year, then the miner who accepts this storage task needs to continuously copy the proof during this time and generate a time proof to prove that the file is indeed stored in this storage space.

13.Sector

A sector refers to a specific storage space for storage miners. It is a unit of space used to measure effective storage and submit storage proofs. In Filecoin, sectors are related to the block space occupied and the difficulty of sealing. Too many sectors will occupy more block space; too large sectors will increase the difficulty of sealing. At the same time, this sector is different from the physical sector on the hard disk, but a logical sector defined on Filecoin. Now a sector on Filecoin is 32G, so when purchasing a mining machine, you should choose a mining machine that can support the packaging of 32G sectors.

1. CPU cores and threads

CPU refers to the central processing unit of a computer. The number of CPU cores and threads is related to the computer's ability to process data. Generally speaking, the more CPU cores there are, the faster the cloud computing speed is; the more threads there are, the more conducive it is to running multiple programs at the same time, because the number of threads is equivalent to the number of tasks that the CPU can process in parallel at a certain moment. This means that the more channels there are, the faster the speed is, and the stronger the working capacity per unit time is. For Filecoin mining, it can complete storage tasks faster and obtain more Filecoin rewards.

2. Effective packaging efficiency

This refers to the rate at which the effective storage data of the mining machine increases per unit time. If you want to make high profits from Filecoin mining, the important point is the ability to package and encapsulate data. The stronger the ability, the more Filecoin coins will be produced. Therefore, when comparing different mining machines and cloud computing power, you must compare the packaging speed of the corresponding mining machines.

3.CPU memory channel

Simply put, it is the channel through which the CPU obtains data. The more channels there are, the greater the bandwidth, the higher the data throughput, and the corresponding performance is stronger, just like a highway. The wider the road, the less likely vehicles are to be congested and the faster the speed. The same is true for IPFS mining machines. The more CPU memory channels there are, the more conducive it is to quickly complete the proof of replication.

4. GPU

GPU is commonly known as graphics card, and graphics card is mainly related to image processing capabilities. The performance of graphics card is mainly determined by four parameters: the number of stream processors (CUDA), core frequency, video memory (GDDR), and bit width. In IPFS mining machines, the stronger these capabilities are, the stronger the machine's ability to process large files such as pictures and videos is, and it can more effectively assist in the completion of proof of replication and proof of time and space, and improve mining efficiency.

5. Hard Drive

This is relatively simple to understand. It is the physical device used to store data. In the future, in the Filecoin network, how many Filecoin coins you can get as rewards is related to how much data you store. The larger the hard disk capacity, the more data it can store, and the higher the corresponding income.

6. Hot plug

Simply put, it is offline hot plugging , which means that some hardware and modules can be plugged in and out without shutting down the system, but it will not affect the work. In the mining industry, there is a saying that "you can make money as soon as you turn on the machine" . The machine can continue to run online, which is related to the miners' continuous income. Moreover, for the IPFS network, if the mining machine is offline for a long time without storage work, the miners' Filecoin coins will be seized. Therefore, when choosing a mining machine, be sure to ask whether it supports hot plug technology.

The above is an explanation of some terms, concepts and functions about IPFS technology and Filecoin mining. After understanding these words, I believe everyone will have a deeper understanding and recognition of why IPFS is called "peer-to-peer distributed file system" and why IPFS can solve the problems encountered by traditional HTTP.

At the same time, everyone should also realize that mining is not like cryptocurrency speculation. Cryptocurrency speculation is a fool-proof operation of "buy low and buy high" , while mining is a deeply learned job that requires understanding and learning from technical concepts, industry prospects, mining machine selection, channel identification, profit calculation, managed operation and maintenance, etc. Moreover, Filecoin mining is to mine wealth in the future data storage field, which requires patience, confidence, and determination. Being eager for quick success and instant benefits often does not make up for the loss.