Introduction#
Currently, I am responsible for the chaincode management part of a Blockchain as a Service (BaaS) platform for Hyperledger Fabric in my work. I am very interested in the architecture and implementation of this BaaS platform. As a platform that provides developers with a one-stop solution for creating, managing, and maintaining blockchain applications, what is its architecture like?
This article is a summary and overview of the architecture of the BaaS platform.
Introduction to BaaS#
Blockchain is a complex distributed system, especially platforms like Hyperledger Fabric, an enterprise consortium chain platform, which has complex deployment and operation. As application developers, we need to deal with many environmental issues (such as certificates, Docker environment, etc.), which brings many challenges.
Therefore, BaaS platforms have emerged. It is a type of application platform that helps users create, manage, and maintain enterprise-level blockchains. Users can operate the blockchain through a user-friendly web interface. With the BaaS platform, users can flexibly build blockchain networks, manage the functions of blockchain business and modules, develop and deploy smart contracts, and perform real-time monitoring and operation.
Through the BaaS platform, developers can quickly develop blockchain businesses, greatly reduce comprehensive costs, and help improve system stability, security, and usability.
Platform Architecture#
As a one-stop application service, the BaaS platform can be divided into the following layers from bottom to top:
- Resource Layer
- Monitoring and Operation Layer
- Blockchain Infrastructure Layer
- Blockchain Service Layer
- Application Layer
According to the differences in the business of each system, the architecture and functional modules of each layer may vary. The following will describe the architecture of several mainstream platform layers.
Hyperledger Cello#
Hyperledger Cello is one of the top projects of IBM Hyperledger. It is an open-source blockchain management platform that supports deployment, runtime management, and data analysis.
Cello currently supports Hyperledger Fabric blockchain and can effectively manage the lifecycle of Fabric chains. It mainly includes the following modules:
In addition to efficiently creating and deploying networks, Cello provides some management functions for blockchains:
- Blockchain lifecycle management
- Support for various architectures such as Docker, Swarm, Kubernetes, etc.
- Support for multiple underlying blockchain platforms and customizable configurations
- Support for runtime monitoring and operation
- Pluggable framework design that can be extended with third-party functionality through plugins, such as resource scheduling, driver agents, etc.
QuChain BaaS#
According to the official website, BlocFace is a blockchain service platform newly launched by QuChain Technology for enterprises and developers. It provides users with one-click deployment of consortium chains, visual monitoring and operation, and smart contract development services. The platform architecture is as follows:
Conclusion#
The above is an introduction and architectural analysis of the Blockchain as a Service (BaaS) platform. As the current leader is the initiator and core developer of the Hyperledger Cello project, I am encouraged to actively participate in the open-source development of Cello. Let's keep up the good work!