Attestation of Improved SimBlock Node Churn Simulation

Authors

  • Zi Hau Chin School of Information Technology, Monash University, Malaysia
  • Vishnu Monn Baskaran School of Information Technology, Monash University, Malaysia
  • Golnoush Abaei School of Computing Technologies, RMIT University, Australia
  • Ian Kim Teck Tan School of Mathematical & Computer Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Malaysia
  • Timothy Tzen Vun Yap Faculty of Computing and Informatics, Multimedia University, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32890/jict2023.22.2.4

Keywords:

Blockchain, Compact block relay, Distributed network, Node churn, SimBlock

Abstract

Node churn, or the constant joining and leaving of nodes in a network, can impact the performance of a blockchain network. The difficulties of performing research on the actual blockchain network, particularly on a live decentralized global network like Bitcoin, pose challenges that good simulators can overcome. While various tools, such as NS-3 and OMNet++, are useful for simulating network behavior, SimBlock is specifically designed to simulate the complex Bitcoin blockchain network. However, the current implementation of SimBlock has limitations when replicating actual node churn activity. In this study, the SimBlock simulator was improved to simulate node churn more accurately by removing churning nodes and dropping their connections, and increasing additional instrumentation for validation. The methodology used in the study involved modeling the Bitcoin node churn behavior based on previous studies and using the enhanced SimBlock simulator to simulate node churn. Empirical studies were then conducted to determine the suitability and limitations of the node churn simulation. This study found that the improved SimBlock could produce results similar to observed indicators in a 100-node network. However, it still had limitations in replicating node churn behavior accurately. It was discovered that SimBlock limits all nodes to operate as mining nodes and that mining is simulated in a way that does not depict churn accurately at any time but only at specific intervals or under certain conditions. Despite these limitations, the study’s
improvements to SimBlock and the identification of its limitations can be useful for future research on node churn in blockchain networks and the development of more effective simulation tools. 

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Published

03-04-2023

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 2 (2023): Journal of Information and Communication Technology (JICT) Vol.22, No.2, April 2023

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2023 Journal of Information and Communication Technology

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Chin, Z. H., Baskaran, V. M., Abaei, G., Tan, I. K. T., & Yap, T. T. V. (2023). Attestation of Improved SimBlock Node Churn Simulation. Journal of Information and Communication Technology, 22(2), 231-254. https://doi.org/10.32890/jict2023.22.2.4

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Identifiers DOI 10.32890/jict2023.22.2.4 OpenAlex W4362577068 Semantic Scholar CorpusID 257960131 Scopus 85152713080