1
If we define an ad-hoc network as follows:
"An ad hoc network is a network that is composed of individual devices communicating with each other directly." [1]
ad-hoc networks do not rely on routers or access points (as a point of failure) to avoid moving towards centralization. In case of using routers or access point, some kind of centralization is inherent.
With this definition of decentralization, can we implement an ad-hoc-like network between users connected by payment channels such that similar to ad-hoc network, they do not use any router to find and communicate each other?
Please note that I used term of ad-hoc-like network (instead of saying ad-hoc network) just to say that the target is removing any pre-existing infrastructure, such as routers from communications between users similar to an ad-hoc network.
[1] https://www.techopedia.com/definition/5868/ad-hoc-network
Thanks. So, this may be an alternative to e.g. Lightning Network as a more decentralized network, where Lightning Network uses classical Internet routing relying on routers in which a kind of centralization is inherent. – Questioner – 2018-12-14T11:35:38.100
I don't think anything in Lightning Network requires it to use "classical internet routing". You could use bluetooth or ad hoc wifi or sneakernet if you wish. And even using "classical internet" doesn't really make it any more centralized as long as it's hard for centralized parties to classify, let alone censor, the traffic. – Jannes – 2018-12-14T13:00:53.993
@Jannes , But according to its website: (https://lightning.network/) "it is possible to find a path across the network similar to routing packets on the internet" that means it is relied on routers that is less decentralized than ad-hoc network which does not rely on central access point such as a router :https://www.techopedia.com/definition/5868/ad-hoc-network
– Questioner – 2018-12-14T13:34:58.153@Jannes , I think by dominating router operation it is possible to control the traffic. – Questioner – 2018-12-14T13:42:40.470
You can always run your own Bitcoin chain on your separate adhoc network. – James C. – 2018-12-14T13:45:08.320
@James C , Do you mean in Lightning Network? And if yes, in case of running our own Bitcoin chain on our separate ad-hoc network, are we still using the same routing protocol that is used in Lightning Network? I mean it does not affect Lightning Network routing approach? Thanks – Questioner – 2018-12-14T13:55:13.670
You're reading way too much into "similar to routing packets on the internet". They just mean that payments can be routed between hops to get from one side to the other. The similarity ends there. It's a peer 2 peer mesh network of ad hoc connections and there is no central access point. There are no routers (everybody is a router). Also: intermediary hops do not know the source and destination so they can't censor. – Jannes – 2018-12-15T15:42:18.837
@Jannes , Thank you. (1) when you say "intermediary hops do not know the source and destination" , then how an intermediary node is able to find the best rout for a destination that they do not know? And (2) some approaches such as (https://bitfury.com/content/downloads/whitepaper_flare_an_approach_to_routing_in_lightning_network_7_7_2016.pdf) are based on routers and routing tables. Thank you if you could clarify.
– Questioner – 2018-12-17T09:39:43.597The intermediary hops don't make routing decisions at all. The source does all of the routing itself in advance. Onion routing is used, roughly similar to Tor. Then again, LN could work with basically any imaginable routing protocol, as all it takes is a bunch of peer to peer nodes that speak a common language. Many further improvements are certainly being worked on. – Jannes – 2018-12-18T02:13:57.233
@Janne , Thank you, Could you please propose me a document explaining in detail (step by step) the current routing approach used in LN ? Thanks very much. – Questioner – 2018-12-18T09:54:54.683
1
Probably the BOLT specs. A new version came out just a few weeks ago. Probably on https://lightning.network/ somewhere. Or this older series: https://medium.com/@rusty_lightning/the-bitcoin-lightning-spec-part-1-8-a7720fb1b4da
– Jannes – 2018-12-18T18:32:21.243