Arguments for running a cluster rewarding node:
Redundant storage of 3Speak videos: By operating a cluster rewarding node, participants contribute to the redundant storage of 3Speak videos, ensuring their availability even if 3Speak goes down. This helps increase the resilience and reliability of the 3Speak network.
Helps desktop app users pin videos: Cluster rewarding nodes play a crucial role in helping desktop app users to pin videos. Storing redundant copies of videos increases the chances of successful pinning by desktop app users, ensuring that the videos are readily available for playback even when offline.
Preparing for the rollout of PoA mainnet: Cluster rewarding nodes allow people to predownload all of 3Speak IPFS content, creating a distributed and redundant network of content storage. This is important for the future rollout of PoA mainnet, which relies on a decentralized storage system.
Decentralization and scaling: Cluster rewarding nodes support the decentralization and censorship resistance of the 3Speak network. By storing redundant copies of videos and distributing content across multiple nodes, they reduce the risk of single points of failure and increase resistance to censorship attempts. Additionally, cluster rewarding nodes contribute to the growth and scalability of 3Speak's infrastructure by providing additional storage capacity, redundancy, and content distribution.
Daily reports and rewarding: Each cluster rewarding node generates a daily report that serves as a transparency measure, allowing network participants to monitor the performance of their nodes and ensure the integrity of the network. Rewards are distributed based on the verification of these reports, incentivizing node operators to maintain and improve their performance.
Arguments against running a cluster rewarding node:
Hardware requirements: Running a cluster rewarding node requires optimal hardware, including a recommended storage capacity of at least 1TB (ideally 8TB+), CPU, and RAM. This may be a barrier for individuals who do not have access to or cannot afford such hardware.
Internet connection stability: Stable and fast internet connections, preferably fiber or coaxial cable, are recommended for smooth operation and reliable performance of the node. Some residential ISP equipment may experience problems with IPFS, causing internet instability shortly after startup.
Uncertain rewards: While rewards are distributed to node operators, the accuracy and stability of rewards may take time to stabilize and are subject to external and internal factors such as competition, total node storage, and uptime. This uncertainty may discourage some individuals from running a cluster rewarding node.
Competition for upvote slots: Only 3 upvote slots with 100% reach are available, and these slots are competed for by other nodes. Smaller votes may be given to lower-performing nodes, incentivizing nodes to compete for network dominance by storing the most amount of data. However, this process may change as adjustments are made to the rewarding process, leading to potential changes in rewards.
Verification process and potential score cuts: The verification node performs a Distributed Hash Table (DHT) search verification check on the expected records stored by the nodes. If the number of records found falls below 25%, the node's score is cut off by a certain percentage. While this check ensures the accuracy and integrity of the data stored, it may also impact the rewards and performance of nodes.