Received: from sog-mx-2.v43.ch3.sourceforge.com ([172.29.43.192] helo=mx.sourceforge.net) by sfs-ml-2.v29.ch3.sourceforge.com with esmtp (Exim 4.76) (envelope-from ) id 1WYHpm-00068r-QP for bitcoin-development@lists.sourceforge.net; Thu, 10 Apr 2014 16:28:14 +0000 Received-SPF: pass (sog-mx-2.v43.ch3.sourceforge.com: domain of gmail.com designates 209.85.214.172 as permitted sender) client-ip=209.85.214.172; envelope-from=mh.in.england@gmail.com; helo=mail-ob0-f172.google.com; Received: from mail-ob0-f172.google.com ([209.85.214.172]) by sog-mx-2.v43.ch3.sourceforge.com with esmtps (TLSv1:RC4-SHA:128) (Exim 4.76) id 1WYHpm-0006Gc-3Z for bitcoin-development@lists.sourceforge.net; Thu, 10 Apr 2014 16:28:14 +0000 Received: by mail-ob0-f172.google.com with SMTP id wm4so4665827obc.17 for ; Thu, 10 Apr 2014 09:28:08 -0700 (PDT) MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Received: by 10.60.146.201 with SMTP id te9mr14626133oeb.38.1397147288722; Thu, 10 Apr 2014 09:28:08 -0700 (PDT) Sender: mh.in.england@gmail.com Received: by 10.76.96.180 with HTTP; Thu, 10 Apr 2014 09:28:08 -0700 (PDT) In-Reply-To: References: Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2014 18:28:08 +0200 X-Google-Sender-Auth: joMMMkO-RVt1bzfF4pLB1NsmsH8 Message-ID: From: Mike Hearn To: Brian Hoffman Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=047d7b5d524ed7e43a04f6b2b372 X-Spam-Score: -0.5 (/) X-Spam-Report: Spam Filtering performed by mx.sourceforge.net. See http://spamassassin.org/tag/ for more details. -1.5 SPF_CHECK_PASS SPF reports sender host as permitted sender for sender-domain 0.0 FREEMAIL_FROM Sender email is commonly abused enduser mail provider (mh.in.england[at]gmail.com) -0.0 SPF_PASS SPF: sender matches SPF record 1.0 HTML_MESSAGE BODY: HTML included in message 0.1 DKIM_SIGNED Message has a DKIM or DK signature, not necessarily valid -0.1 DKIM_VALID Message has at least one valid DKIM or DK signature X-Headers-End: 1WYHpm-0006Gc-3Z Cc: Bitcoin Dev Subject: Re: [Bitcoin-development] Chain pruning X-BeenThere: bitcoin-development@lists.sourceforge.net X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.9 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2014 16:28:15 -0000 --047d7b5d524ed7e43a04f6b2b372 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Suggestions always welcome! The main problem with this is that the block chain is mostly random bytes (hashes, keys) so it doesn't compress that well. It compresses a bit, but not enough to change the fundamental physics. However, that does not mean the entire chain has to be stored on expensive rotating platters. I've suggested that in some star trek future where the chain really is gigantic, it could be stored on tape and spooled off at high speed. Literally a direct DMA from tape drive to NIC. But we're not there yet :) --047d7b5d524ed7e43a04f6b2b372 Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Suggestions always welcome!

The main pr= oblem with this is that the block chain is mostly random bytes (hashes, key= s) so it doesn't compress that well. It compresses a bit, but not enoug= h to change the fundamental physics.

However, that does not mean the entire chain has to be = stored on expensive rotating platters. I've suggested that in some star= trek future where the chain really is gigantic, it could be stored on tape= and spooled off at high speed. Literally a direct DMA from tape drive to N= IC. But we're not there yet :)
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