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Network and Nodes

The Paranet is a distributed infrastructure layer. Unlike traditional centralized clouds, it is a "distributed-first" fabric where entities collaborate.

The Infrastructure: Nodes​

Nodes are the physical or virtual units of compute that host your logic. They serve as the execution environment for Actor Packages.

  • Standard Nodes: The production-grade backbone. They require identity verification and are capable of full network federation.
  • Test Nodes: Isolated environments for local development. They operate without certificates and cannot join the wider federation.

The Relationship: Federation​

Federation is the mechanism that transforms a collection of isolated nodes into a cohesive network. It allows independent systems to communicate using a common standard to exchange data while maintaining their own autonomy.

Connectivity & Directionality​

Federation is established via a gRPC connection between nodes. It is inherently directional:

  • The Client (--from): Initiates the connection.
  • The Server (--to): Receives the connection and shares its skill definitions with the client.
  • Bidirectional: A two-way handshake where both nodes act as client and server to one another, sharing skills in both directions.

When a node federates, it "exports" its skill sets, making them accessible to its peers as if they were local.

The Trust Layer: Certification​

In the Paranet, "Identity is Infrastructure." To prevent unauthorized access and ensure data integrity, the network employs a certificate-based security model.

Otonoma Certificates​

To move from an isolated Test Node to a federated Standard Node, a node must possess an Otonoma Certificate. Issued by a Network Root, this certificate ensures:

  • Zero Trust: Federated peers can verify each other's identity.
  • Encrypted Channels: All cross-node communication is secured.
  • Sovereignty: You control your node, but the certificate proves you are a "good citizen" of the network.