Walrus Protocol is a decentralized storage system designed to efficiently handle large data objects known as blobs. Its architecture connects end users, clients, publishers, aggregators, storage nodes, and blockchain smart contracts to provide secure, scalable, and low-latency data access. The diagram explains how different components interact to support reading and writing data in the network.
1. End User: Starting Point of Data Access
The process begins with the End User, who wants to read or write blobs (large data files). The user can directly interact with the client for both reading and writing, or access data through web-based services using HTTP and browsers for fast and simple access.
2. Client: Core Interface of the System
The Client runs on the end-user device, publisher, or aggregator. It acts as the main interface between users and the Walrus network.
• For writing, the client sends blob data to storage nodes.
• For reading, the client can fetch data either directly from storage nodes or via aggregators and CDN systems.
The client also communicates with the blockchain smart contract to manage blob metadata and storage reservations.
3. Publisher: Uploading Content to the Network
The Publisher is responsible for writing data into the system. It uses the client to upload blobs and register them on the network. This is useful for applications that continuously publish data, such as media platforms, NFT storage, or decentralized apps.
4. Aggregator: Optimizing Data Reads
The Aggregator collects and manages data retrieval requests. It improves performance by:
• Handling read requests efficiently
• Connecting with CDN and cache systems
• Reducing load on storage nodes
This ensures users get fast and reliable access to frequently requested data.
5. CDN / Cache: Low-Latency Web Access
The CDN (Content Delivery Network) and Cache layer provides scalable and low-latency HTTP access, especially for web browsers. Popular or frequently accessed blobs are cached closer to users, improving speed and user experience.
6. Storage Nodes: Decentralized Data Holders
Storage Nodes are responsible for storing the actual blob data. When the client uploads data, it is distributed across multiple storage nodes to ensure:
• Data redundancy
• High availability
• Fault tolerance
These nodes also send commit and payment-related information to the blockchain contract.
7. Public Sui Walrus Contract: On-Chain Coordination
The Public Sui Walrus Contract manages:
• Blob metadata
• Storage reservations
• Payments and commitments from storage nodes
It acts as the trust layer, ensuring that storage is paid for, verified, and properly maintained across the decentralized network.
Conclusion
The architecture of Walrus Protocol combines decentralized storage with traditional web performance techniques like CDNs and caching. By connecting end users, clients, aggregators, and storage nodes through smart contracts on the Sui blockchain, Walrus ensures secure, scalable, and cost-effective data storage. This hybrid design makes it suitable for modern Web3 applications that require both decentralization and high-speed access.
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