Navigation: DEDIS :: Cothority :: Applications :: CISC
Cisc uses a personal blockchain handled by the cothority. It can store key/value pairs, and has special modules for managing ssh-public-keys and web-pages.
Based upon skipchains, cisc serves a data-block with different entries that can be handled by a number of devices who propose changes and cryptographically vote to approve or deny those changes. Different data-types exist that will interpret the data-block and offer a service.
Besides having devices that can vote on changes, simple followers can download the data-block and get cryptographically signed updates to that data-block to be sure of the authenticity of the new data-block.
Here is an overview of the terms used in cisc:
- CISC - Cisc Identity SkipChain
- Skipchain - blockchain structure developed by the EPFL/DEDIS lab
- Conode - a server program offering services like cisc and others
- Device - a computer that has voting power on an identity-skipchain
- Data - all key/value pairs stored on the SkipChain
- Proposed Data - data that has been proposed but not yet voted with a threshold
Each block in a CISC skipchain contains the following information:
- Threshold of how many devices need to sign to accept the new block
- A list of all devices allowed to sign
- All key/values stored in CISC (yes, this is non-optimal :)
- the new proposed roster - nil if the old is to be used
- Votes for that block
Please be aware that this is still quite experimental - so always back up your ssh private keys and make sure you have an alternative way of logging in to your server who is following the keys.
- Create your own, personal blockchain, using the DEDIS-Cothority or your own
- Add devices who are allowed to evolve the blockchain
- Add ssh-keys to the blockchain
- Follow the blockchain with a server