Essential to the Covalent Network is the Block Specimen and the Block Specimen Producer (BSP), a bulk export method that ultimately leads to generating a canonical representation of a blockchain’s historical state. Currently implemented on existing blockchain clients running Geth. It currently functions as a:
  • Blockchain data extractor
  • Blockchain data normalizer
What is ultimately created is a Block Specimen, a universal canonical representation of a blockchain’s historical state. There are two further considerations regarding the Block Specimen.
  • The BSP is completely standalone on the forks of Geth.
  • The separation of data storage layer from the block execution and distributed consensus functionality leads to better segregation and upgrades of functionality in the blockchain data processing pipeline.
As a result, anyone can run full tracing on the block specimen and accurately recreate the blockchain without access to blockchain client software.

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Hardware Requirements

The recommended configurations will make sure the sync is not lag-prone and the node is able to keep up with the Ethereum network.

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Minimum Requirements:

  • CPU with 4+ cores
  • 16GB RAM
  • 1.5TB free storage space to sync the Ethereum Mainnet
  • 8 MBit/sec download Internet service

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Recommended:

  • Fast CPU with 8+ cores
  • 32 GB+ RAM
  • Fast SSD with >= 1.5TB storage space
  • 25+ MBit/sec download Internet service

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Software Requirements

Install the given versions of the following software:
  • 64-bit Linux, Mac OS
  • SSL certificates
  • Git
  • BSP-geth v1.8.0-bsp ships with - Geth v1.13.14-stable
  • Go v1.20
  • Redis v7, Redis-cli 7.*
  • Listener TCP and UDP discovery port 30303
  • ICMP IPv4 should not be closed by an external firewall

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Resources

BSP Build specifications

Block Specimen Producer Whitepaper

Block Specimen Producer Onboarding