Guilds are live in Common Ground World, and Node Workload NFT owners are already rallying their guilds to build bigger and better together!
There is one more step in our distribution of Node Workload NFTs, however. Coming up next week, we’ll move to V2 of these NFTs!
Node Workload NFT V2
During the initial distribution of Common Ground World Node Workload NFTs, we made a miscalculation in our numbers, and 97 users were left without the NFTs to account for their existing Town Star Nodes. To rectify this issue and pave the way for the development of upgradable Node Workload NFTs, we will be issuing new V2 Node Workload NFTs for Common Ground World.
These NFTs will be identical to existing versions from a functional standpoint. In fact, you’ll still pile up daily $DIRT whether you have a v1 or a v2. To use your Workload NFT in-game as a guild, however, you’ll need to convert to the new v2 NFTs.
Updating your Node Workload NFTs
When the exchange opens, you’ll be able to find Common Ground World Node Workload NFT v2 in the Common Ground World Store. Unlike a regular purchase, however, the cost of acquiring this item will be one Common Ground World Node Workload NFT v1. This will initiate an even exchange for these two items, giving you the updated NFT.
This distribution will begin on July 29th at 10am PT.
At the time the exchange opens, all guilds in Common Ground World will be disbanded, as the v2 NFT becomes the official guild NFT. Guild owners should exchange their v1 for a v2 as soon as possible so they can get their guild together again using the new item.
Again, this is only necessary if you intend to use your Node Workload NFT as a guild in Common Ground World. If you do not, either the v1 or v2 versions will be identical in your wallet for the time being.
There is currently no duration for this exchange. If you purchase a Node Workload NFT v1 from a secondary market, you can easily exchange it for a v2 version. When/if the exchange is closing, we will let you know significantly in advance along with explaining the next steps.
NOTE: While you will need to have a v2 Node Workload NFT in your GalaChain wallet to use it in game, all Common Ground World Node Workload NFTs will still receive $DIRT distribution. All Common Ground World Node Workload NFTs will still get their $DIRT distribution, regardless of whether they are v1 or v2 – in your GalaChain allowance or your wallet on GalaChain.
Building for the Future
We realize this may be an inconvenience for some, but seeing this process through will create an easier path forward for all players. We’re proud to be the first operating Node Workload NFT in the Gala Ecosystem, and we thank you all for taking this journey with us!
This transition is coming. We’ll be in touch with more details as it approaches, but we wanted to alert everyone to the change as soon as possible.
Get your guilds ready and get the word out there so you can keep building the future of Common Ground World!
We love our communities at Gala. Even as they have grown and multiplied, first from solely Gala Games into multiple entertainment genres with Gala Music and Gala Film, then branching out into industries beyond entertainment with the release of the developer friendly GalaChain SDK. This family will get bigger and bigger, but we’re still (and always) a family.
One of the most foundational groups in our community is the Gala Founder’s Node operator ecosystem. Since the very beginning, they have been there, powering our network in exchange for $GALA even before GalaChain existed. Today, the operators of this massive DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) are behind one of the largest decentralized networks in the world.
As always, we want to thank our dedicated Founder’s Node operators for acting as the engine of our network. You are true pioneers who have believed in our web3 mission of empowerment through ownership, some of you since our earliest days. Thank you.
Understanding Gala Founder’s Nodes
At the core of our Gala Ecosystem lies the innovative and powerful Founder’s Nodes. These nodes are the backbone that supports and drives our entire network, playing a critical role in ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of our decentralized platform.
Think of a node as an intersection of data on a blockchain, or a joint. In the same way that a traffic intersection is governed and regulated by a traffic light, a blockchain intersection is regulated by a node.
The most fascinating thing about nodes in web3 is how they make decentralized networks possible, essentially turning operators’ home computers into agents (or employees) of the blockchain. By running a simple program in the background, operators can power the network, even with little to no understanding of how it’s working.
The distribution of data across a network of nodes is foundational to a decentralized ecosystem like Gala.
What Are Founder’s Nodes?
Founder’s Nodes are specialized servers operated by community members who have acquired a license to run them. These nodes are integral to the functioning of our GalaChain, contributing to various essential tasks such as securing the network and storing data. Think of them as the silent workhorses that keep our ecosystem thriving.
Incentives for Node Operators
Operating a Founder’s Node means collecting daily $GALA as it is generated. Node operators receive daily distributions of $GALA tokens, our ecosystem’s digital currency, for their contributions to the network. This reward mechanism not only incentivizes node operators but also ensures the continuous and sustainable operation of the network.
Distribution to Founder’s Node operators is one of the main ways that $GALA first enters into circulation. The amount of $GALA distributed to operators each day depends on the number of active operators and the current circulating supply of $GALA, using a dynamic halving model as described in the Ecosystem Blueprint.
Governance and Decentralization
Our vision for Gala is deeply rooted in the principles of decentralization. Founder’s Nodes play a crucial role in this vision by participating in governance through consensus voting. Node operators have the power to influence major decisions, such as the distribution of $GALA and other significant ecosystem developments. This participatory approach ensures that our community has a voice in shaping the future of the Gala Ecosystem.
Founder’s Nodes are the foundation upon which our Gala Ecosystem is built. They provide essential services, secure the network, and empower our community through governance participation. By running these nodes, our dedicated operators contribute to the resilience and growth of the GalaChain, helping us drive the decentralized revolution forward.
We’re working hard to build Gala Film bigger and better every day. Today, we want to share the following critical update for Film Node operators:
Starting on Monday, June 3rd in order to receive Distribution Film Nodes must meet the following requirements;
Node Software version v3.6.6 (or higher)
The following ports must be exposed: 4002, 9096, 5443
Each node must have it’s own Public IP Address
System:
Windows, Mac, or Linux (64-bit)
4GB RAM
2 or more CPU Cores
60GB free storage space
A stable internet connection
This includes any Nodes currently running and any new Nodes that come online. Any nodes that do not satisfy all of these requirements by Monday, June 3rd will not be eligible for Film Rewards Distribution until the requirements are met.
Check Your Node Status
Head over to your Node Dashboard (https://node.gala.com/#/). If your Node is on version v3.6.6 (or higher) and you have a GREEN dot next to your node, the various workloads, and the port status icon next to “Running” – you are all good. No action required!
Please be patient with these steps. These requirements empower your Nodes that are running Gala Film workloads to support the Gala Decentralized Content Delivery Network (dCDN). This is still an experimental, emerging technology that requires thousands of Nodes to talk to each other as well as Gala backend services. All of this network communication taking place means things (like port checking and online status updates) may take longer than expected.
If you are interested in more of the technical details of Nodes, please check out the FAQs at the end.
If the Dot Under ‘Node’ Is Orange
Check the following;
Each node runs on its own unique Public IP Address This will generally be an issue if you run multiple nodes from your home network. If your Node runs on a VPS or if you run a single Node at home you likely do not have to worry about this at all.
Your nodes meet the minimum system requirements. With more workloads going through the node ecosystem, if your node does not meet the requirements it may frequently fall offline.
Windows, Mac, or Linux (64-bit)
4GB RAM
2 or more CPU Cores
60GB free storage space
A stable internet connection
You can find multiple guides for setting up, managing and updating your node Software on the Gala Node Support Page:
Issue Fix #1 – Is your node version v3.6.6 (or higher)?
If your node is currently under version v3.6.6, you will need to update your node. This can only be done via your system, and NOT through the Node Dashboard.
You can find guides for updating your node Software on the Gala Node Support Page.
If you find an ORANGE Status on the Node Management Dashboard, hover over the icon to highlight the issue you need to resolve to get your node back online.
Gala Nodes require certain ports to be open for your node to run.
Any nodes running at home will likely be behind a firewall as part of your Internet Service Provider. If you’re a Node Operator running through your home connection and need these ports exposed, you will need to set up port forwarding through your ISP.
Any Nodes running on a VPS probably already have these ports exposed.
The following 3 ports all need to be open; 4002, 9096, 5443.
Check your firewall settings to open these ports if needed.
Previously we required Ports 4002, 9096, and 5080. Please note that the third port number requirement has changed and your Film workload will not be able to run without all three ports exposed.
Try using a free port checking tool (like this one: https://portchecker.co/) to verify that the correct ports are exposed.
Once the ports are available, it could take several hours for your node to recognize that the ports are properly exposed.
Issue Fix #3 – Have you restarted your Node?
Once your Node Software is up to date (v3.6.6 or higher) your Film Workload will automatically update itself to the latest version (v4.1.21 as of this article’s publishing). Once your Gala Film Workload has automatically updated, YOU WILL NEED TO RESTART YOUR NODE.
You should see a “Restart Required” message in the Node Management page next to the restart button if your Node requires a restart. This is a Node restart, not a Film Workload restart.
The restart will need to happen AFTER your Film Workload has updated itself to the latest version (v4.1.21 as of this message going out for the first time), if you restart before the update is complete it will need to be restarted again.
Important Notes
It can take a while for your workload to verify that the ports are exposed so please be patient!
Once you see your Film Workload is up and running according to the Node Management page, it may also take some time for your Node Dashboard to show your node online.
FAQs:
Q: Why does each node require its own Public IP address?
A: The core technology that powers the dCDN uses IPFS, which relies on public IP addresses to identify peers. Our IPFS implementation is technically able to perform NAT (thanks to libp2p) however, the dCDN egress doesn’t (yet). So, for now, we rely on a fixed set of ports and a public IP.
Q: Why do we need to expose those ports both inbound and outbound?
A: We require inbound traffic because your Node isn’t just talking to a backend server, it’s actually talking to A BUNCH of other peers (thus, a decentralized system). If your node can’t be reached by its peers, then your Node can’t participate in the network. Also, if a node doesn’t allow inbound traffic then no client can send a request to stream content from that node.
Q: Why are there more requirements for running a Film Workload on a Gala Node than any other Gala Workloads? A: Film Workloads (and Film-Beta Workloads) are the only Gala Node workloads that facilitate and participate in the Gala Decentralized Content Delivery Network (dCDN) at this time.
To keep up with powering the most innovative projects, products and platforms in web3, it’s crucial that we maintain optimized node networks. These networks empower users to contribute computing power to the decentralized network through GalaChain’s cutting edge DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network), essentially turning community computers into employees of the blockchain and rewarding operators for their time and energy.
While GalaChain was being created from the ground up by our team of blockchain experts, tokenization of node licenses was always an important part of the vision. A key benefit to blockchain is the user’s ability to own tokenized items on their terms, so a license to operate a DePIN node for rewards should be no exception.
As recently announced in this blog, Founder’s Nodes and Common Ground World Nodes would be the first nodes in the GalaChain network to undergo this “tokenization” process.
Today, we’re pleased to announce that Common Ground World Nodes have now made GalaChain history, becoming the first tokenized node licenses in the GalaChain ecosystem.
Node Workload NFTs
Throughout the history of the decentralized Gala ecosystem, node licenses have been issued as account locked items, making them unable to be transferred or traded. With Node Workload NFTs, operators are becoming empowered to trade their licenses with one another for the first time.
Please note that the Node Workload NFT is not the node itself, but the tokenized license to operate the node for rewards. No matter which node network (there are already several and more in the works), the node is run using the GalaChain node client on the operator’s computer.
By transferring a Node Workload NFT to another user, you are also giving them the right to operate that node and receive the rewards that come with it.
Initial Features
The Common Ground World team is bravely leading the way into this uncharted territory by tokenizing licenses for Common Ground World Nodes. This is a crucial step before the upcoming release of Common Ground World Guilds, which promises to be a truly game-changing feature for Gala’s flagship game of town and city builders.
Your Node Workload NFTs will initially be transferable to other users and bridgeable to the Ethereum blockchain for external trade. However, please note that your Node Workload NFT must be on GalaChain to run your workload.
Future Features
The ability to list your Node Workload NFTs on GalaSwap will be added with a future update.
Allocation of CGW Node Workload NFTs
For anyone who purchased Common Ground World Node (formerly known as Town Star Node) licenses in a previous sale, you will receive a number of Node Workload NFTs that corresponds to the amount you spent on your CGW Node license in the original sale.
Around midday on March 27th, operators should have received 1 Node Workload NFT for each $1000 spent on the license in the original sale. For example, if you spent $1000, you should have received 1 Node Workload NFT, but if you spent $4000, you should have received 4.
Stay tuned for more updates and the tokenization of other node networks within the GalaChain ecosystem, such as Gala Founder’s Nodes!
This update is important for the future of Gala’s DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network), which allows the ecosystem to scale with all the decentralized power and web3 security of GalaChain.
A New Era of Distribution
For years, the Gala ecosystem has thrived with the support and computing power of our Founder’s Node operators. To acknowledge and further encourage their support, we’re transitioning to a new distribution system designed to reward the efforts of our node operators based on their operational time.
Gone are the days of the simple pass-fail system. We’re introducing a more dynamic point system that rewards operators not just for meeting a minimum uptime requirement, but for their continuous support throughout the day. This new system is a reflection of our appreciation for our operators who go above and beyond in their contribution to the network’s strength and reliability.
The First Step
This update will initially affect the distribution of rewards for Founder’s Nodes and Common Ground World Nodes, aligning with our long-term plan to enhance the ecosystem’s utility and inclusivity. On the back end, this shift is an important step toward the upcoming introduction of Node Workload NFTs (tokenized node licenses). Transferable and tradable node licenses will level up freedom and control for our valued community of operators.
Common Ground World Nodes will lead the way in conversion to Node Workload NFTs, just before the addition of the newly announced and game-changing Guild feature described in this blog. Founder’s Node Workload NFTs will be released soon after, paving the way to a more empowering ecosystem for node operators.
Future Updates
We are also fine-tuning additional updates to reward operators who stay current with the latest node client versions. This step ensures our network remains robust, secure, and at the forefront of blockchain technology. If you are a node operator, ensure that you are appropriately rewarded when these updates are implemented by downloading the latest node client here.
Stay Updated
You’ll find full details on the new point system in the blog linked below. Your feedback and participation are what make the Gala ecosystem vibrant and strong as we continue on our journey to onboard the first billion users to web3 tech. Together, let’s build a decentralized future where everyone is rewarded for their contribution.
