Performance Evaluation of Private Ethereum Networks

Abstract

This paper provides a performance evaluation of private blockchain networks based on Ethereum, an open-source blockchain platform. Different sectors with stringent blockchain security, privacy, and auditability requirements have adopted Ethereum private networks to keep their data exclusive within a permission group. However, the concrete performance of private Ethereum networks—i.e., transactions or smart contract interactions—has received limited attention. We have set an Ethereum private network to study the following configuration parameters: (1) distinct transaction complexity; (2) different block sizes; (3) two consensus algorithms, namely Proof-of-Work and Proof-of-Authority; and (4) multiple network nodes. Our evaluation has employed time series datasets from the pharma industry, where high levels of security, privacy, and auditability are always required. However, this evaluation approach is domain-agnostic being valid for other fields. We have observed an inverse correlation between the amount of transactions per block and the block period. In this context, we have determined linear models for the simple (low gas limit) and the complex transactions (high gas limit). The model enables to calculate the block period for a specific amount of transactions to be committed in a block. We also include predictive modelling for an optimal configuration taking into account the amount of transactions to commit into a blockchain network. Keywords Blockchain · Performance · Gas limit · Ethereum · Private networks · Pharmaceutical manufacturing · Auditability