Typically, modern blockchains utilize three types of nodes, i.e. full nodes, archive nodes and light nodes. Here's the differences between them - and which applications should integrate Binance Smart Chain, Polygon, or Ethereum archive node.
Running BSC, Ethereum, Polygon Archive node: basics
In programming science, ‘node’ should be referred to as a software/hardware structure, basic unit or data point. In blockchain theory, nodes are actually parts of blockchain: their interaction is preserved by this or that consensus.
To allow the addition of new blocks, BSC, Ethereum and Polygon nodes are synchronized between each other. This means, all Ethereum or Polygon nodes should ‘agree’ about the chain they deem to be ‘valid’ to avoid the unforeseen hardorks.
Ethereum, Binance, Polygon light nodes represent the simplest blockchain data structures that can be accessed even from low-key devices like smartphones, tablets and so on. Light nodes include only basic information about blockchain state such as header chain: it can check the validity of blockchain data but doesn’t store it by default.
Archive node vs Full node
Archive nodes for Ethereum, Polygon and Binance Smart Chain represent way more sophisticated structures. Full nodes store the entire set of blockchain data; they can take part in block validating and support the network with any data.
To ensure the most effective and fastest network synchronization, full nodes store the most recent segments of blockchain history, i.e. the limited volume of information about the transactions, accounts, and value transfer. The entire blockchain state can be recovered from one full node. When fully synchronized with its peers, it can operate the entire history of blockchain, i.e. access the information about all transactions since genesis block like archive node does.
Archive node in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Polygon stores full information about the history of blockchain and records the archive of historical states. E.g, while accessing Ethereum archive nodes, users can check how many Ethers had been stored by an account 0xabc... before it transferred them to an account 0xyz.. on this or that block height.
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Running BSC, Ethereum, Polygon Archive node: software and hardware
Processes of running full and archive nodes require different software and hardware capacities. As we have already mentioned, a low-key HDD, Raspberry PI or ARM microcomputer device is sufficient for running light nodes of Ethereum, Polygon or BSC.
Running a full node requires a modern laptop or high-end desktop personal computer. For instance, running Ethereum (ETH) and Binance Smart Chain full node is available for a computer with 4+ cores CPU, 16 GB of RAM, 500 GB of free disk space and stable 25 Mbit Internet connection. For Ethereum’s archive node, a client needs at least 6 TB of free disk space.
Running Polygon full node requires 8+ cores CPU, 16 GB RAM and 1.5 TB of free disk space on high-speed SSD.
Besides hardware equipment, to run an archive or full node for Ethereum, BSC or Polygon, a blockchain enthusiast needs to install purpose-made software known as ‘client implementation’. Ethereum nodes, for instance, can be accessed with Geth, Nethermind, OpenEthereum and Besu software.
Running BSC, Ethereum, Polygon Archive node for dApps
Ethereum, Polygon, BSC archive nodes can be used by various applications for challenging use-cases. E.g. accessing the full history of blockchain is crucial for on-chain analytical tools, data verification modules, automated trading environments and so on.
Some wallets or DEXes can also integrate Ethereum, BSC, Polygon archive node for fast and resource-efficient value transfers.
