Understanding Stratum Connection Examples: Parameters and Their Functions

In this article, we will dive into the world of Bitcoin’s Stratum protocol and explore the parameters involved in establishing a connection. We will use a Wireshark dump of CCminer to illustrate how each parameter works.

Introduction to Stratum

Stratum is a secure, decentralized, and peer-to-peer communication mechanism for Bitcoin nodes. It allows miners to connect to each other using a standardized format, enabling efficient communication and reducing the risk of attacks on nodes. In this article, we will focus on the parameters involved in establishing a Stratum connection.

CCminer Wireshark Print Analysis

To gain insight into the functions of Stratum’s parameters, let’s analyze the output of a CCminer Wireshark dump. We will examine the packets transmitted between the miner and the central node (also known as the “server”).

Package 1: CCminer - Initial request
+---+0000 ---+-----+-----+-----+
| | | |
+----+------+-----+-----+-----+
| 0 | H2 | P1P2 | S | W |
+----+------+-----+-----+-----+

In this package we can identify the following parameters:

• H2: This is the transaction hash (block hash).

• P1P2

  : These are the two previous blocks.

• S (server): The server’s IP address and port number.

• W (Wallet): Wallet information, which includes username and password.

Stratum Parameters

Let’s break each parameter down into its component parts:

1. Transaction Hash (H2)

The ‘Transaction Hash’ parameter is used to identify the current block being mined. This hash is created by combining the previous two blocks (P1 and P2) with a random salt, which is then encrypted using a key.

• Salt: A random value used to prevent mirror attacks.

• Key: An encryption key used for hashing.

2. Previous Blocks (P1P2)

The Previous Blocks parameter provides information about the two previous blocks that are part of the current block being mined.

• Block 0: The first block in the current chain.

• Block n-1: The previous block before the current one.

Stratum Protocol Steps

When establishing a Stratum connection, the following steps occur:

• Initial Request: CCminer sends an initial request packet with Transaction Hash, Previous Blocks, and other parameters to the central node.

• Receive Response: The central node replies with its own Transaction Hash and Wallet information, confirming the connection and providing additional details about the current block being mined.

Key Takeaways

In this article, we explored the functions of the Stratum protocol parameters using CCminer Wireshark output. By understanding the role of each parameter, you can better manage the communication process between your CCminer node and the central node.

To establish a Stratum connection:

• Use the stratum+tcp or stratum+https URLs to connect to the server.

• Specify the Transaction Hash, Previous Blocks, and other parameters in your initial request packet.

• Receive a confirmation from the central node, which will provide additional details about the current block being mined.

Don’t forget to check out the official Stratum documentation and CCminer source code for more information on parameter functions and protocol steps. Happy mining!