Backup Block Producer Testing Proposal — LibertyBlock

Backup block producers are integral to DPOS security and decentralization. When one or multiple active block producers go down, it is the job of the backups to step in and seamlessly produce blocks with minimal service disruption.

Backup block producers must be configured properly and fully synced at all times to be ready to step in. Unfortunately since they rarely get to produce blocks, many backups are not ready to do so, and gaps in production often occur when new producers are promoted.

In order to ensure that backup block producers are always ready to produce blocks, LibertyBlock proposes the following:

Replace the 21st slot in active production with a rotating slot that allows backup producers rank 21–25 to rotate into the production schedule. Each of the 5 backups will take turns producing blocks. Implementing this solution will require a hard fork.