mirror of
https://github.com/bigchaindb/bigchaindb.git
synced 2024-10-13 13:34:05 +00:00
26 lines
1.4 KiB
Markdown
26 lines
1.4 KiB
Markdown
<!---
|
|
Copyright © 2020 Interplanetary Database Association e.V.,
|
|
BigchainDB and IPDB software contributors.
|
|
SPDX-License-Identifier: (Apache-2.0 AND CC-BY-4.0)
|
|
Code is Apache-2.0 and docs are CC-BY-4.0
|
|
--->
|
|
|
|
# Terminology
|
|
|
|
There is some specialized terminology associated with BigchainDB. To get started, you should at least know the following:
|
|
|
|
## BigchainDB Node
|
|
|
|
A **BigchainDB node** is a machine (or logical machine) running [BigchainDB Server](https://docs.bigchaindb.com/projects/server/en/latest/introduction.html) and related software. Each node is controlled by one person or organization.
|
|
|
|
## BigchainDB Network
|
|
|
|
A set of BigchainDB nodes can connect to each other to form a **BigchainDB network**. Each node in the network runs the same software. A BigchainDB network may have additional machines to do things such as monitoring.
|
|
|
|
## BigchainDB Consortium
|
|
|
|
The people and organizations that run the nodes in a BigchainDB network belong to a **BigchainDB consortium** (i.e. another organization). A consortium must have some sort of governance structure to make decisions. If a BigchainDB network is run by a single company, then the "consortium" is just that company.
|
|
|
|
**What's the Difference Between a BigchainDB Network and a Consortium?**
|
|
|
|
A BigchaindB network is just a bunch of connected nodes. A consortium is an organization which has a BigchainDB network, and where each node in that network has a different operator. |