Merge pull request 0LNetworkCommunity#133 from petticur/add-network-diagram

Add network architecture page

Author: codilion

docs/guides/node-operators/validators/network-architecture.md

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# Network Architecture
+There are three types of note in the network. All nodes run the same binary software. The difference between node types is
+by configuration and the arrangement of network connectivity.
+ * Validator Node (VN): A node controlled by an on-chain account that is in the set of currently active validators.
+ The purpose of VNs is to provide chain consensus and to maintain authoratitive chain state.
+ Validator nodes communicate with each other to
+ maintain consensus and propagate new transactions. Validator node p2p networking is permissioned: a connection not originating from another validator node
+ will not succeed.
+ * Validator Full Node (VFN): A node run in association with a VN, controlled by the same account. 
+ The role of the VFN is to provide p2p service to other "downstream" nodes that in turn provide services to users.
+ The purpose of the VFN as a distinct concept from the VN is to act as a
+ resource isolation mechanism between the VN and Full Nodes (see below). VFNs receive new chain state from their peer VN and propagate
+ that new chain state "downstream" to FNs. Resource isolation is achieved by only allowing connections
+ on a non-permissioned p2p network to VNs to come from the peer VFN. Because VNs provide no p2p service except to peer validators,
+ the VFN is the only route by which network state propagates from VNs out to users connected to FNs.
+ * Full Node (FN): A node run by any entity wishing to provide API service. API service is used by end-users e.g. wallet users and commercial services
+ such as explorers and chain data indexers. Full Nodes may peer with VFNs to receive new chain state, or with other nodes known to the operators.
+ Full Nodes are the only providers of API service to any client anywhere in the network.
+
+The diagram below illustrates the arrangement of node types showing their network configuration:
+![Network Diagram](/img/node-network-details.png "Network Diagram")
+More text

sidebars.js

@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ const sidebars = {
                     items: [
                         'guides/node-operators/validators/validator-quickstart',
                         'guides/node-operators/validators/detailed-instructions',
+
                         'guides/node-operators/validators/governance-tx',
                         'guides/node-operators/validators/hot-upgrades',
                         'guides/node-operators/validators/network-health',
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ const sidebars = {
                         'guides/node-operators/validators/sybil-resistance',
                         'guides/node-operators/validators/vfn-setup',
                         'guides/node-operators/validators/with-docker-setup',
+                        'guides/node-operators/validators/network-architecture',
                         {
                             type: 'category',
                             label: 'YAML templates',