P-Raft: An Efficient and Robust Consensus Mechanism for Consortium Blockchains

Abstract

With the rise in blockchain technology, consortium blockchains have garnered increasing attention in practical applications due to their decentralization and immutability. However, the performance of current consortium blockchains remains a significant obstacle to large-scale commercial adoption. The consensus algorithm, as a fundamental component of blockchain technology, plays a critical role in ensuring both security and efficiency. Unfortunately, most existing consensus algorithms for consortium blockchains are vote-based consensus algorithms, and the performance of vote-based consensus algorithms is largely limited by the performance of the leader node. Therefore, we present P-Raft: a high-performance consensus algorithm that builds upon the Raft algorithm and leverages node server performance evaluations. The primary objectives of this article included enhancing the efficiency of Leader processing, promoting the utilization of the consortium blockchain, and ensuring the robustness of Leader election. Specifically designed to meet the service requirements of consortium blockchain’s consensus mechanism, the P-Raft incorporated the Yasa model, which evaluated the instant machine performance of each node. The performance of each node is then associated with the election timeout, ensuring that nodes with superior performance are more likely to be chosen as Leaders. Additionally, we implemented a leader verification mechanism based on the Bohen-Lynn-Shacham (BLS) signature, which prevented malicious Byzantine nodes from becoming Leaders without receiving enough votes. Empirical findings show that the P-Raft can swiftly designate high-performing nodes as Leaders, thereby greatly improving service efficiency in the consensus process and the overall performance of the consensus mechanism. Ultimately, P-Raft is better equipped to meet the demands of consortium blockchain applications for large-scale transactions.