The high-throughput multicast network used for propagating block data (shreds) and forwarding transactions between validators. The data plane uses Turbine for block propagation and QUIC for transaction submission, optimized for bandwidth and low latency. It operates independently from the control plane (gossip), which handles metadata and coordination.
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The high-throughput multicast network used for propagating block data (shreds) and forwarding transactions between validators. The data plane uses Turbine for block propagation and QUIC for transaction submission, optimized for bandwidth and low latency. It operates independently from the control plane (gossip), which handles metadata and coordination.
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Consensus, leader rotation, slots, epochs, and the runtime.
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Data Plane (data-plane) Category: Core Protocol Definition: The high-throughput multicast network used for propagating block data (shreds) and forwarding transactions between validators. The data plane uses Turbine for block propagation and QUIC for transaction submission, optimized for bandwidth and low latency. It operates independently from the control plane (gossip), which handles metadata and coordination. Related: Turbine, Control Plane, Shred, QUIC Protocol
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Solana's block propagation protocol inspired by BitTorrent. Instead of the leader sending a full block to every validator, Turbine organizes validators into a layered tree and propagates shreds through successive tiers. Each node forwards shreds to a small fanout set, reducing the leader's bandwidth requirement from O(n) to O(log n).
The gossip network that connects all nodes in a Solana cluster for metadata exchange, peer discovery, and protocol coordination. The control plane carries validator contact information, vote status, shred versions, epoch slots, and other protocol messages via the CRDS protocol. It operates separately from the data plane, which handles block data propagation.
The smallest unit of block data propagated through the network via Turbine. Blocks are split into shreds of up to 1,228 bytes each (fitting in a single UDP packet). Shreds are Reed-Solomon erasure coded—typically 32 data shreds produce 32 recovery shreds—so blocks can be reconstructed even if up to half the shreds are lost.
The UDP-based transport protocol adopted by Solana as its primary transaction submission protocol, replacing raw UDP to provide congestion control, multiplexed streams, and connection-level flow control without TCP's head-of-line blocking. Solana's TPU (Transaction Processing Unit) accepts client transactions over QUIC, allowing the leader to apply back-pressure and drop connections from misbehaving senders. QUIC integration with SWQoS allows leaders to enforce stake-weighted bandwidth limits at the transport layer.
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The gossip network that connects all nodes in a Solana cluster for metadata exchange, peer discovery, and protocol coordination. The control plane carries validator contact information, vote status, shred versions, epoch slots, and other protocol messages via the CRDS protocol. It operates separately from the data plane, which handles block data propagation.
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Solana's block propagation protocol inspired by BitTorrent. Instead of the leader sending a full block to every validator, Turbine organizes validators into a layered tree and propagates shreds through successive tiers. Each node forwards shreds to a small fanout set, reducing the leader's bandwidth requirement from O(n) to O(log n).
The gossip network that connects all nodes in a Solana cluster for metadata exchange, peer discovery, and protocol coordination. The control plane carries validator contact information, vote status, shred versions, epoch slots, and other protocol messages via the CRDS protocol. It operates separately from the data plane, which handles block data propagation.
The smallest unit of block data propagated through the network via Turbine. Blocks are split into shreds of up to 1,228 bytes each (fitting in a single UDP packet). Shreds are Reed-Solomon erasure coded—typically 32 data shreds produce 32 recovery shreds—so blocks can be reconstructed even if up to half the shreds are lost.
The UDP-based transport protocol adopted by Solana as its primary transaction submission protocol, replacing raw UDP to provide congestion control, multiplexed streams, and connection-level flow control without TCP's head-of-line blocking. Solana's TPU (Transaction Processing Unit) accepts client transactions over QUIC, allowing the leader to apply back-pressure and drop connections from misbehaving senders. QUIC integration with SWQoS allows leaders to enforce stake-weighted bandwidth limits at the transport layer.
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A clock mechanism that cryptographically proves the passage of time between events. PoH uses a sequential SHA-256 hash chain where each output becomes the next input, creating a verifiable ordering of events without requiring consensus. The leader produces ~400,000 hashes per slot (~400ms), and any validator can verify the sequence in parallel, enabling Solana's high throughput by removing the need for validators to agree on time.
Solana's custom BFT consensus algorithm built on top of Proof of History. Tower BFT uses PoH as a clock to reduce communication overhead in traditional PBFT from O(n²) to O(n). Validators vote on forks with exponentially increasing lockout periods—each consecutive vote doubles the lockout, making rollbacks progressively more expensive. A fork is finalized when it reaches supermajority (66.7%+ of stake).
A time window during which a designated leader validator can produce a block. Each slot lasts approximately 400 milliseconds. Slots are numbered sequentially from genesis and grouped into epochs of 432,000 slots (~2-3 days). Not every slot produces a block—a skipped slot means the leader was offline or too slow.
A set of entries produced by a leader during a single slot. A block contains transactions bundled into entries, each with a PoH hash proving ordering. Blocks are broken into shreds for network propagation via Turbine. Maximum block size is limited by compute units (48M CU cap per block) rather than byte size.