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FAQ
General Understanding
How does a Hyperchain work?
Hyperchains operate in five-epoch cycles: staking, entropy collection, leader election, block production with pinning, and reward distribution. This cycle ensures both security and efficient operation.
What are the main benefits of using a Hyperchain?
Hyperchains offer fast transactions, strong security, and energy efficiency while keeping operational costs low by leveraging existing blockchain infrastructure.
What's "pinning" and why is it important?
Pinning is how a Hyperchain secures its state by periodically anchoring it to the pinning chain, providing an additional layer of security and trust.
Business Applications
What are the ideal use cases for Hyperchains?
Hyperchains excel in scenarios requiring both high transaction throughput and strong security, such as enterprise applications, data management, financial services, and supply chain management.
How does a Hyperchain reduce operational costs?
By sharing security with the pinning chain and using efficient consensus mechanisms, Hyperchains significantly reduce the resources needed to run a secure blockchain network.
What are the environmental benefits?
Hyperchains are highly energy-efficient since they don't require energy-intensive mining operations to maintain security.
Getting Started
How can I start using Hyperchains?
You can easily launch your own Hyperchain through our web app. Future versions will let you join an existing Hyperchain network as a validator or delegator.
What's the difference between a validator and a delegator?
Validators run nodes and participate in block production, while delegators simply stake their tokens with existing validators to earn rewards without running infrastructure. Support for Delagators is coming in v1.0
How much do I need to stake to participate?
The minimum stake varies by Hyperchain – each network sets its own requirements for both validators and delegators based on its specific needs and security model.
Is running a validator node difficult?
While running a validator requires basic technical knowledge, our web app and How-To Guide provides step-by-step guidance for setup and maintenance.
Requirements and Setup
What are the minimum hardware requirements to run a Hyperchain?
4GB RAM, 50GB storage, and 5Mbps+ internet connection when using public nodes. Additional hardware is needed if running your own node, see our hardware requirements in the How-To Guide
Do I need to run my own Aeternity node?
No. You can use public nodes (mainnet.aeternity.io or testnet.aeternity.io) for the pinning chain. Running your own node is optional and recommended only for advanced users.
What software do I need to install?
You need Node.js, Docker, npm, and Git installed on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or later.
What's the minimum internet connection required?
5Mbps+ for public nodes, 20Mbps+ if running your own node.
What credentials do I need before starting?
You need a parent chain wallet with funds for pinning operations and private keys for staking operations.
Hyperchain Setup
What's the basic setup process?
The setup process involves configuring parameters via the web app, generating config files, setting up node infrastructure, and initializing validators before starting operations.
Can I modify Hyperchain parameters after launch?
Some parameters can be adjusted through governance, but fundamental parameters like block time should be carefully chosen at setup as they are difficult to change later.
Node Requirements
What is a node and why do I need one?
A node is software that participates in a blockchain network by storing data and maintaining the network. It's essential for interacting with the blockchain.
Do I need nodes for both pinning chain and Hyperchain?
Yes. You need access to an Aeternity node (which can be a public node) for the pinning chain and your own Hyperchain node (which you configure with the Hyperchains web app). You only need one of each type.
Are validators the same as nodes?
Not exactly. Validators are nodes that have staked tokens and participate in consensus and block production. All validators are nodes, but not all nodes are validators.
Node Configuration
What's the difference between mainnet and testnet?
Mainnet (ae_mainnet) is the production network, while testnet (ae_uat) is for testing. Choose testnet when experimenting or developing.
Should I start with mainnet or testnet?
Start with testnet to test configuration and operations without real costs. Move (most simply by initiating a new hyperchain) to mainnet once your setup is verified.
What are the storage requirements?
With public nodes: 50GB. For own node: 100GB (lightweight) or 500GB (full node) with monthly growth of 3GB-13.5GB.
What block time should I set for my Hyperchain?
The recommended block time is 3,000-6,500 milliseconds for optimal performance.
Network
Can I change network parameters after setup?
Critical parameters like block time and validator requirements should be carefully chosen during initial setup as they may be difficult to change later.
Pinning Chain
Which chains can I use as a pinning chain?
Currently, only Aeternity blockchain is supported (mainnet or testnet). Future versions will support other PoW chains.
Can I switch pinning chains after starting my Hyperchain?
While technically possible by updating network ID and node URL, it's not recommended once your chain is running. Better to create a new Hyperchain with different pinning chain parameters.
What pinning chain parameters can be modified?
Key parameters include:
- Network ID (ae_mainnet or ae_uat)
- Node URL
- Parent epoch length
- Start height/time
Changing these parameters after generating the init.yaml can be complicated once the hyperchain is running, as the chain will expect certain states from the pinning chain.
Should I start with mainnet or testnet?
Start with testnet to test configuration and operations without real costs. Move to mainnet once your setup is verified.
What happens if the parent chain connection fails?
Your Hyperchain's performance may be affected. Using public nodes means depending on their availability and response times.
Economic Parameters
How do I determine appropriate reward values?
Block rewards (e.g., 2.5 tokens) incentivize validation, while pinning rewards (e.g., 0.1 tokens) should cover parent chain transaction costs plus margin.
What's a reasonable minimum staking amount?
This depends on your network's economics, but example values suggest 100 tokens as a minimum stake.
Do I need tokens to start a Hyperchain?
You'll need AE tokens for mainnet pinning operations, while testnet development can use free tokens from the faucet.
How does token economics work between chains?
Your Hyperchain generates its own tokens for internal operations (block rewards and pinning rewards). Parent chain tokens (AE) are only needed for pinning transactions.
How much AE do I need for pinning operations (on mainnet)?
The required amount depends on your planned pinning frequency and parent chain transaction costs, with enough balance recommended to cover several months of operations.
Validator Requirements
What makes a good validator?
A good validator requires sufficient stake, reliable hardware and network infrastructure for continuous operation, and strong security measures to protect both the node and network.
How many validators does a Hyperchain need?
A minimum of 3-5 validators is recommended for basic security. Additional validators increase decentralization while requiring more coordination.
Technical Operations
What configuration files does the web app generate?
The web app generates an init.yaml config file (network parameters), which then can be used to set up the Hyperchain node using our How-To Guide
How do I monitor my Hyperchain?
Monitor chain synchronization, validator performance, pinning operations, and network participation through node logs at `./logs/aeternity.log`.
What happens after I complete the web app configuration?
You'll receive three files: a YAML config file (init.yaml), which you will use to configure your Hyperchain. You will also need to set up and run your node. More information in the Hyperchains Web App How-To Guide
Next Steps
What should I do after generating config files?
After generating configs, install required software, deploy your node, set up monitoring, and verify network connectivity before starting node operations. A detailed guide is here in the Web App How-To Guide
Security and Risks
What are the main security considerations?
Key security areas include private key management, validator security, network connectivity, pinning operation reliability, and parent chain dependencies.
What happens if pinning fails?
Failed pinning operations compromise chain security. The system includes incentives to maintain regular pinning.
What are the risks of using public nodes?
Using public nodes means depending on third-party availability and accepting limited control over node operations, though this trade-off often makes sense given the reduced operational complexity and costs.
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