Node Types

The render hive will consist of three different node types. Ideally, all users can seamlessly switch between all the three roles or perform as all of them simultaneously if desired. The node types are the following:

• Client Nodes. The clients are the network participants that submit and pay render jobs. They are responsible for providing Blender files in the correct form (e.g., with all textures packed) and with the correct render settings to the network. Each render node can decide on its own, whether it takes part in rendering it's own render jobs or leaves this task completely to the network.

• Render Nodes. The render nodes are the network participants that sell their render power to client nodes and execute (parts of) a render job on their computers. They negotiate the render job distribution with each other over the DLT, distribute the Blender files via IPFS, execute the render jobs locally, and provide the render results via IPFS/Filecoin to the client nodes.

• Mediator Nodes (optional). The Renderhive project will implement technical means to mitigate fraud and a wrongful execution of render jobs. Despite that, client nodes and render nodes may sometimes come to disagreement about the quality of the delivered render results of a particular render job. In such cases, a human interaction may be the best way to decide if the render contract formed between the particular client node and render node was fulfilled or not. In these cases, each party may submit a conciliation request to the network. Renderhive will then randomly pick a number of nodes that have previously agreed to act as a mediator. Each mediator will be provided with the information about the issue and decide on its own, whether it sees the issue on the client or render node side and submit a vote. The majority of votes decide and mediators will be compensated for their work with a small fee paid by the party that made the mistake.

Mediator nodes will not be part of the initial release, but may be added later if the community finds that they are required.