aitbc/docs/blockchain/operational-features.md

Blockchain Operational Features

Overview

This document describes operational features for managing AITBC blockchain synchronization and data management.

Auto Sync

Overview

Automatic bulk sync is implemented in the blockchain node to automatically detect and resolve block gaps without manual intervention.

Configuration

Configuration parameters in /etc/aitbc/blockchain.env:

Parameter	Default	Description
auto_sync_enabled	true	Enable/disable automatic bulk sync
auto_sync_threshold	10	Block gap threshold to trigger sync
auto_sync_max_retries	3	Max retry attempts for sync
min_bulk_sync_interval	60	Minimum seconds between sync attempts

Enabling Auto Sync

To enable on a node:

1. Add auto_sync_enabled=true to /etc/aitbc/blockchain.env
2. Restart the blockchain node service:

   sudo systemctl restart aitbc-blockchain-p2p.service
   

Sync Triggers

Automatic sync triggers when:

• A block arrives via gossip
• Import fails due to gap detection
• Gap exceeds auto_sync_threshold
• Time since last sync exceeds min_bulk_sync_interval

Code Location

Implementation is located in:

• apps/blockchain-node/src/aitbc_chain/config.py - Configuration
• apps/blockchain-node/src/aitbc_chain/main.py - Main loop
• apps/blockchain-node/src/aitbc_chain/sync.py - Sync logic

Force Sync

Overview

Force synchronization allows manual triggering of blockchain data synchronization between nodes.

API Endpoints

Trigger Force Sync

POST /rpc/force_sync
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chain_id": "ait-mainnet",
  "from_height": 1000,
  "to_height": 2000
}

Check Sync Status

GET /rpc/sync/status

Usage

To manually trigger synchronization:

curl -X POST http://localhost:8006/rpc/force_sync \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"chain_id":"ait-mainnet","from_height":0,"to_height":1000}'

Export

Overview

Export blockchain data for backup, migration, or analysis purposes.

API Endpoints

Export Blocks

POST /rpc/export/blocks
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chain_id": "ait-mainnet",
  "from_height": 0,
  "to_height": 1000
}

Export Transactions

POST /rpc/export/transactions
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chain_id": "ait-mainnet",
  "from_height": 0,
  "to_height": 1000
}

Usage

Export blocks to file:

curl -X POST http://localhost:8006/rpc/export/blocks \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"chain_id":"ait-mainnet","from_height":0,"to_height":1000}' \
  > blocks_export.json

Import

Overview

Import blockchain data from exported files for node initialization or recovery.

API Endpoints

Import Blocks

POST /rpc/import/blocks
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chain_id": "ait-mainnet",
  "file": "/path/to/blocks_export.json"
}

Import Transactions

POST /rpc/import/transactions
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chain_id": "ait-mainnet",
  "file": "/path/to/transactions_export.json"
}

Usage

Import blocks from file:

curl -X POST http://localhost:8006/rpc/import/blocks \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"chain_id":"ait-mainnet","file":"/path/to/blocks_export.json"}'

Import Chain

POST /rpc/import/chain
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chain_id": "ait-mainnet",
  "file": "/path/to/chain_export.json"
}

Troubleshooting

Auto Sync Not Triggering

Symptoms: Block gaps not detected or sync not starting.

Solutions:

• Verify auto_sync_enabled=true in /etc/aitbc/blockchain.env
• Check auto_sync_threshold is appropriate for your network
• Verify blockchain node service is running
• Check logs: journalctl -u aitbc-blockchain-p2p.service -f

Force Sync Failing

Symptoms: Force sync returns error or times out.

Solutions:

• Verify target node is accessible
• Check chain_id matches target node
• Verify height range is valid
• Check network connectivity
• Review logs for specific error messages

Export Failing

Symptoms: Export returns error or incomplete data.

Solutions:

• Verify sufficient disk space
• Check chain_id exists
• Verify height range is valid
• Check database connectivity

Import Failing

Symptoms: Import returns error or data not persisted.

Solutions:

• Verify export file exists and is valid JSON
• Check chain_id matches
• Verify file format matches expected structure
• Check database write permissions
• Verify import lock is not held by another process

Security Notes

• Auto sync uses same authentication as blockchain RPC
• Force sync requires admin privileges
• Export/Import operations should be performed on trusted nodes only
• Export files may contain sensitive transaction data - secure appropriately
• Import operations can overwrite existing data - use with caution
• Validate export files before importing from untrusted sources

Performance Considerations

• Auto sync runs in background with minimal impact on node performance
• Force sync may temporarily increase resource usage
• Export operations can be memory-intensive for large ranges
• Import operations may lock database during processing
• Use appropriate batch sizes for large exports/imports
• Schedule exports during low-traffic periods when possible