# Engine API design space The purpose of this document is to frame the design space of the Consensus API. It starts with the minimally required set of methods and gradually increases the complexity of the design by adding asynchrony, consistency checkpoints and some methods that might increase UX and aid for faster recovery after failures but are not required for the core functionality. The end goal is to come up with the solution that would not restrict future extensibility of the protocol and on the other hand would re-use as much of the existing JSON-RPC implementation over HTTP and websockets that we already have across clients. The security of this API is critical, thus we propose that implementations expose this API at an independent port from standard JSON-RPC user API and to put the new set of methods into a new namespace. With [this progressive idea](https://twitter.com/protolambda/status/1427819892288393218) in mind we prefix `engine_` as the namespace as a working prototype to be able to generalize API between L1 and L2 in the future, though, the name is debatable and doesn't matter that much at this stage. Previous work: - Rayonism [consensus JSON-RPC](https://github.com/ethereum/rayonism/blob/master/specs/merge.md#consensus-json-rpc) - Some thoughts on [API improvements](https://hackmd.io/@n0ble/consensus_api_enhancement) ## Encoding We re-use the encoding notation from the existing user's JSON-RPC. For example, `ExecutionPayload` and `PowBlock` objects should be encoded as a JSON object with particular fields serialized according to the JSON-RPC notation, method parameters should be passed as JSON array or object depending on the particular case. Encoding of exact message parameters and payloads is out of the scope of this document and should be defined later when we move towards the standard of the consensus API. ## Minimal set of methods - ~~**`engine_assemblePayload`**. Selects transactions from the mempool and produces a block on top of the given one~~ - *Supplanted by **`engine_preparePayload`** and **`engine_getPayload`** couple of messages* - **`engine_preparePayload`**. Notifies an execution client that the consensus client will need to propose a block at some point in the future and that the payload will be requested by the corresponding **`engine_getPayload`** near to that point in time. This call also supplies an execution client with inputs required to produce a payload e.g. `random`. One of the purposes of this call is giving an execution client some time to get prepared to the subsequent **`engine_getPayload`** call that is required to be responded immediately with the most up-to-date version of the payload that is available by the time of the get call. One of the potential implementations of this method would be initiating a payload building process that builds an execution payload on top of a given parent with transactions selected from the mempool and arguments provided in the parameter set of the call. And then would keep this payload updated with the most recent state of the mempool. As the first action, it is recommended for implementations to build a payload with *empty* transaction set as a backup in order to be able to respond immediately if the corresponding **`engine_getPayload`** call happens e.g. 10ms after the prepare one which could be the case. Execution client *should* cancel the process of payload building (if there is a constant process of updating the payload) if `SECONDS_PER_SLOT` seconds have passed since the `timestamp` specified in the call. This suggestion is made to protect execution client from wasting resources in the edge case when related **`engine_getPayload`** call never happens. If the corresponding **`engine_getPayload`** call happens after the cancellation it should be responded with error. Related **`engine_getPayload`** call will likely happen very close to the `timestamp`. Execution client *may* use this information to choose the strategy of building a payload. A pair of **`engine_preparePayload`** and **`engine_getPayload`** related to each other are identified by the `payload_id` parameter. Consensus client implementations are free to use whatever value of the identifier they find reasonable. - In: `parent_hash: Hash32`, `timestamp: uint64`, `random: Bytes32`, `fee_recipient: Bytes20`, `payload_id: uint64` - Out: *nothing* - **`engine_getPayload`**. Given `payload_id` returns the most recent version of an execution payload that is available by the time of the call or responds with an error. This call *must* be responded immediately. An exception would be the case when no version of the payload is ready yet and in this case there might be a slight delay before the response is done. Execution client *should* create a payload with empty transaction set to be able to respond as soon as possible. If there were no prior **`engine_preparePayload`** call with the corresponding `payload_id` or the process of building a payload has been cancelled due to the timeout then execution client must respond with error message. Execution client *may* stop the building process with the corresponding `payload_id` value after serving this call. - In: `payload_id: uint64` - Out: [`ExecutionPayload`](https://github.com/ethereum/consensus-specs/blob/dev/specs/merge/beacon-chain.md#executionpayload) object or error - **`engine_executePayload`**. Verifies the payload according to the execution environment rule set ([EIP-3675](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-3675#specification)) and returns the status of the verification - In: [`ExecutionPayload`](https://github.com/ethereum/consensus-specs/blob/dev/specs/merge/beacon-chain.md#executionpayload) object - Out: `block_hash: Hash32`, `status: Enum [VALID | INVALID | KNOWN]` - **`engine_consensusValidated`** (`engine_consensusCommitted`, `engine_payloadCommitted`). Communicates that full consensus validation of an execution payload is complete along with its corresponding status - In: `block_hash: Hash32`, `status: Enum [VALID | INVALID]` - Action: the block and state should be persisted if the `status` is `VALID`, and must be discarded otherwise - [EIP-3675](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-3675#specification): maps on **`POS_CONSENSUS_VALIDATED`** event - **`engine_forkchoiceUpdated`**. Propagates the change in the fork choice to the execution client - In: `head_block_hash: Hash32`, `finalized_block_hash: Hash32`, `confirmed_block_hash: Hash32` - Action: the head of the chain and the finalized block must be updated according to the given data. The most recent confirmed block must be updated according to the given hash, in addition ancenstors of the confirmed block must be considered as confirmed - In addition: blocks referenced as `head` and `finalized_block` must be accepted as valid blocks with respect to the consensus rules disregarding whether the corresponding **`engine_consensusValidated`** message has been already received or not - In the prior versions of the JSON-RPC spec, there are two fork choice messages -- `setHead` and `finalizeBlock`. There is a possible corner case when two recent `finalizeBlock` and `setHead` messages may refer to two _different_ forks causing temporal discrepancy in the block tree, thus, the fork choice update should be applied atomically, hence the unification of these two messages. - [EIP-3675](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-3675#specification): maps on **`POS_FORKCHOICE_UPDATED`** event, [#3784](https://github.com/ethereum/EIPs/pull/3784) - *Note*: As it is stated by the [EIP-3675](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-3675#specification) the `finalized_block_hash` must be stubbed with all zeros *before* the first execution block is getting finalized. It doesn't require any additional work on consensus clients as the Merge fork should happen in about a month before the transition and starting from that moment til the transition block proposal every beacon block will contain zeroed `execution_payalod` with `block.body.execution_payload.block_hash` set to zeros which satisfies the requirement of the `finalized_block_hash` stubbed with zeros. - `confirmed_block_hash` is needed to serve Ethereum JSON-RPC requests with the new set of block identifiers: - `earliest` Points to the genesis block - `finalized` Points to the most recent finalized block - `safe` / `confirmed` Points to the most recent confirmed block, i.e. the most recent block in the canonical chain that has been attested by `>= 2/3` portion of total stake eligible for voting *Note*: Usually, in a healthy network it takes less than 12 seconds for an `unsafe` block to turn into a `safe` one. - `latest` *Becomes* an alias to `safe`. The rationale behind this change is to make `latest` provide at least the same guarantee that it currently has in the PoW network. Currently `latest` points to the block that is *acceptable* by the network from the consensus perspective which in the PoS network becomes the case only when the block has received at least `2/3` votes. *Note*: The block that has received `2/3` votes is very likely to stay in the canonical chain and get finalized eventually. It means that `safe` (and `latest` as an alias) will be giving more strong guarantee to the applications in the PoS chain as it's very unlikely that this block gets re-orged. - `unsafe` / `unconfirmed` The head of the canonical chain despite the number of received attestations. - `pending` Pending block built on top of the `unsafe` one. ### Block processing flow Sequence diagrams of processing a *valid* block containing *valid* execution payload are outlined below. #### Consensus rules are validated before the payload: ```sequence Note over Consensus: Block B arrives Consensus->Execution: engine_executePayload(B.payload) Note over Execution: B.payload validation starts Consensus->Execution: engine_consensusValidated(B.payload.hash) Note over Execution: B.payload validation finishes Execution-->Consensus: engine_executePayload(B.payload) response Note over Consensus,Execution: B is persisted Note over Consensus: B becomes the head Consensus->Execution: engine_forkchoiceUpdated(head: B.payload.hash) ``` #### The payload is validated before consensus rules: ```sequence Note over Consensus: Block B arrives Consensus->Execution: engine_executePayload(B.payload) Note over Execution: B.payload validation happens Execution-->Consensus: engine_executePayload(B.payload) response Consensus->Execution: engine_consensusValidated(B.payload.hash) Note over Consensus,Execution: B is persisted Note over Consensus: B becomes the head Consensus->Execution: engine_forkchoiceUpdated(head: B.payload.hash) ``` ### Block proposal flow Sequence diagram of a block proposal with respect to the block processing flow is outlined below: ```sequence Note over Consensus: Block B arrives Note over Execution: B.payload is validated Note over Consensus,Execution: B is persisted Note over Consensus: B becomes the head Consensus->Execution: engine_forkchoiceUpdated(head: B.payload.hash) Consensus->Execution: engine_preparePayload(head: B.payload.hash) Note over Execution: Turns on payload building on top of B.payload Consensus->Execution: engine_getPayload(head: B.payload.hash) Note over Execution: Turns off payload building Execution-->Consensus: engine_getPayload(B.payload.hash) response ``` The case when the head is changed during the process of building a payload: ```sequence Note over Consensus: P* becomes the head Consensus->Execution: engine_forkchoiceUpdated(head: P.payload.hash) Consensus->Execution: engine_preparePayload(head: P.payload.hash) Note over Execution: Turns on payload building on top of P.payload Note over Consensus: C* becomes the head Consensus->Execution: engine_forkchoiceUpdated(head: C.payload.hash) Consensus->Execution: engine_preparePayload(head: C.payload.hash) Note over Execution: Restarts payload building with C.payload as parent Consensus->Execution: engine_getPayload(head: C.payload.hash) Note over Execution: Turns off payload building Execution-->Consensus: engine_getPayload(C.payload.hash) response ``` <sup>*</sup>*P -- parent, C -- child* ### Transition process For the next two message see the rationale and more details in [#2547](https://github.com/ethereum/consensus-specs/issues/2547). - **`engine_terminalTotalDifficultyUpdated`**. Propagates an override of the `TERMINAL_TOTAL_DIFFICULTY` ([EIP-3675](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-3675#definitions)) to the execution client - In: `terminal_total_difficulty: uint256` - Action: **`TERMINAL_TOTAL_DIFFICULTY`** must be set as `terminal_total_difficulty` and take an effect according to the rules stated in [EIP-3675](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-3675#specification) - Scope: **`transition`** - **`engine_terminalPoWBlockOverride`**. Propagates the hash of the terminal PoW block. This takes precedence over the **`TERMINAL_TOTAL_DIFFICULTY`** rules. _Not in the specification yet_ - In: `block_hash: Hash32` - Action: specified block must be considered as the terminal PoW block and take effect according to the rules stated in [EIP-3675](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-3675#specification) (TBD). - Scope: **`transition`** - ~~**`engine_getPowBlock`**. Given the hash returns the information of the PoW block~~ - *Supplanted by the following change to the spec: Verify terminal PoW block after call to state_transition [#2595](https://github.com/ethereum/consensus-specs/pull/2595)* - In: `block_hash: Hash32` - Out: [`PowBlock`](https://github.com/ethereum/consensus-specs/blob/dev/specs/merge/fork-choice.md#powblock) object or _nothing_ - Action: if the block is not available in the store, the execution client should request the block from the wire, execute it and add to the store - Rationale: a transition block (the first PoS block in the system) is the child of a terminal PoW block by definition and the consensus client _must_ prove validity of the terminal PoW block that the particular transition block references to, otherwise, transition block can't be accepted by the node. In order to make a proper check, a consensus client needs information about the terminal PoW block _and_ its parent. If either of these blocks have been accidentally missed (due to gossip outage) then the node risks getting stuck in the middle of the transition process with manual restart as the only recovery option. - Alternative: **`eth_getBlockByHash`**, misses network lookup which might be critical for the transition - Scope: **`transition`** *Note:* methods and parameters that are scoped as **`transition`** throughout the doc are only required by the Merge transition process and will be _deprecated_ after the Merge. They also do not make sense for tests and testnets starting in a PoS mode (i.e. in after the Merge network state) and planned to be stubbed in these cases. ## Sync - **`engine_syncCheckpointSet`**. Propagates the header of the payload obtained from the state at the weak subjectivity checkpoint. - In: [ExecutionPayloadHeader](https://github.com/ethereum/consensus-specs/blob/dev/specs/merge/beacon-chain.md#executionpayloadheader) - Out: *nothing* - Action: Switch operating mode from PoW to PoS, i.e. enable changes specified by [EIP-3675](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-3675#specification), scope: **`transition`**. - Action: Initiate sync process. - Maps on: **checkpoint(H)** in the [merge-sync.md](https://github.com/fjl/p2p-drafts/blob/master/merge-sync/merge-sync.md#definitions) - **`engine_syncStatus`**. An execution client responds with this status to any request of the consensus layer while sync is being in progress. An execution client may send this message to signal the end of the sync process. - Params: `sync: Enum [SNAP | BLOCK | FINISHED | ERROR]`, `block_hash: Hash32`, `block_number: uint64`, any other meaningful information. These params may have different meaning depending on the sync mode - Rationale: a convenient way of informing consensus client that block/state sync is in progress - Maps on: responses to **final(B)** and **proc(B)** in the [merge-sync.md](https://github.com/fjl/p2p-drafts/blob/master/merge-sync/merge-sync.md#definitions) ## Extended set of features - ~~**`engine_switchToPos`**. Propagates the status of the network if it's been already switched to PoS (i.e. the Merge has happened)~~ - *Supplanted by **`engine_syncCheckpointSet`*** - In: _nothing_ - Action: execution client switches to PoS mode, i.e. sync, block propagation etc starts operating as if the transition has already happened - Rationale: execution client software will have to support PoW and PoS modes and switch between them during the transition process in the runtime. Therefore, the software default operation mode will be PoW, even after the Merge has already happened. For instance, the sync bootstrap process observes the network TD is likely the case near after the Merge while it should already be driven by the PoS. The consensus client may know that the PoS switch has happened in _some_ advance by e.g. looking into the state at weak subjectivity checkpoint and _may_ switch the execution client into a proper operating mode. Overall, this information should aid for faster bootstrap of the fresh node joining the network right after the Merge - Alternative: see **`engine_consensusStatus`** below - Much better alternative: see **checkpoint(H)** in the [merge-sync.md](https://github.com/fjl/p2p-drafts/blob/master/merge-sync/merge-sync.md#definitions) - Scope: **`transition`** - **`engine_consensusStatus`**. Sends information on the state of the client to the execution side. - Params: - transition state: `transition_total_difficulty: uint256`, `terminal_pow_block_hash: Hash32`, scope: **`transition`** - block tree state: `finalized_block_hash: Hash32`, `confirmed_block_hash: Hash32`, `head_block_hash: Hash32` - Response: `engine_executionStatus` - Rationale: See [Consistency checks](#Consistency-checks) section. - **`engine_executionStatus`**. Responnds with information on the state of the execution client to either **`engine_consensusStatus`** or any other call if consistency failure has occurred. - Params: `finalized_block_hash: Hash32`, `confirmed_block_hash: Hash32`, `head_block_hash: Hash32` - Rationale: See [Consistency checks](#Consistency-checks) section. ## Requirements to the underlying protocol ### Asynchrony Some messages can be heavy in terms of processing due to computations and network delays, for instance, ~~**`engine_assemblePayload`**~~, **`engine_executePayload`**, **`engine_getPowBlock`**, resulting in a high variability in response time. Thus, we might want to have asynchrony out of the box and websockets as an underlying communication protocol should fit our needs. ### Bi-directional property It might be the case when an execution client needs information from the consensus counter party e.g. during the sync process and becomes an *initiator* of a message roundtrip. In this case *bi-directional* property of an underlying communication protocol will be required. The websockets protocol should fit us well here too. ## Message ordering Currently, this document and [EIP-3675](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-3675) assumes that the message (or PoS event as per the EIP) delivery flow from the consensus to the execution layer maintains [weak ordering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consistency_model#Weak_ordering). For instance, the following message sequence is currently permitted: ```sequence Note over Consensus: Block B arrives Consensus->Execution: engine_consensusValidated(B.payload.hash) Consensus->Execution: engine_executePayload(B.payload) Execution-->Consensus: engine_executePayloadResponse(B.payload.hash) Consensus->Execution: engine_getPayload(parent: B.payload.hash) Consensus->Execution: engine_forkChoiceUpdated(head: B.payload.hash) Execution-->Consensus: engine_getPayloadResponse(parent: B.payload.hash) Consensus->Execution: engine_preparePayload(parent: B.payload.hash) ``` Currently, it is also not specified what to do if the `engine_forkChoiceUpdated(head: B.payload.hash)` has been delivered *earlier* than the payload it has a reference to. This document proposes to fall back to the [consistency check](#Consistency-checks) with further recovery procedure in such a case. Which would mean that the order of *some* messages matter. This section proposes to require maintaining of more strict ordering model for *ingress* messages pipeline of execution clients. Namely, require [causal ordering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamport_timestamp#Causal_ordering) to be maintained by consensus clients in the *egress* message pipeline and rely on the message ordering guarantee provided by TCP protocol (messages are delivered in the same order as they were sent within a TCP session, HTTP protocol doesn't always use the same TCP session for different requests). No additional requirement to the execution client is proposed by this section. It *may not* follow the order that is maintained by the ingress message pipeline while processing these messages. But, if an execution client would do this it would guarantee [causal consistency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consistency_model#Causal_consistency) in a normal operating mode. The latter means that no [consistency checks](#Consistency-checks) or such a mechanism would be required between periods of outage. Also, depending on its architecture, an execution client *might* want to follow this order and might even *require* this ordering model to be followed by its ingress message pipeline. It order to maintain causal ordering consensus clients will have to adhere the following set of rules: * Outgoing messages referencing the same execution block *must* be sent in the following sequence: ```sequence Note over Consensus: Block B arrives Consensus->Execution: engine_executePayload(B.payload) Consensus->Execution: engine_consensusValidated(B.payload.hash) Execution-->Consensus: engine_executePayloadResponse(B.payload.hash) Consensus->Execution: engine_forkchoiceUpdated(head: B.payload.hash) Consensus->Execution: engine_preparePayload(parent: B.payload.hash) Consensus->Execution: engine_getPayload(parent: B.payload.hash) ``` *Note*: Building a block on top of the head of *not canonical* chain *may* be allowed, then `engine_forkchoiceUpdated(head: B.payload.hash)` should be dropped out of this sequence. * The `engine_forkchoiceUpdated` message referencing a payload *must* be sent *after* the payload gets fully validated, specifically: ```sequence Consensus->Execution: engine_executePayload(B.payload) Consensus->Execution: engine_consensusValidated(B.payload.hash) Execution-->Consensus: engine_executePayloadResponse(B.payload.hash) Consensus->Execution: engine_forkchoiceUpdated(head: B.payload.hash) ``` * `engine_executePayload` and `engine_consensusValidated` calls *must* respect the parent -> child relation, specifically: ```sequence Consensus->Execution: engine_executePayload(Parent.payload) Consensus->Execution: engine_consensusValidated(Parent.payload.hash) Execution-->Consensus: engine_executePayloadResponse(Parent.payload.hash) Consensus->Execution: engine_executePayload(Child.payload) Consensus->Execution: engine_consensusValidated(Child.payload.hash) ``` * The `engine_getPayload` call *must* be made *only if* its parameter set matches the set of the most recent `engine_preparePayload` call, specifically: ```sequence Consensus->Execution: engine_preparePayload(Set1) Consensus->Execution: engine_preparePayload(Set2) Consensus->Execution: engine_getPayload(Set2) ``` * Maintain [sequential order](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consistency_model#Sequential_consistency) for `engine_forkchoiceUpdated` messages. It means that `engine_forkchoiceUpdated` messages *must* be sent respecting the order of their *occurrence* in the system, specifically: ```sequence Note over Consensus: P becomes the head Consensus->Execution: engine_forkchoiceUpdated(head: P.payload.hash) Note over Consensus: P' becomes the head Consensus->Execution: engine_forkchoiceUpdated(head: P'.payload.hash) Note over Consensus: C' becomes the head Consensus->Execution: engine_forkchoiceUpdated(head: C'.payload.hash) Note over Consensus: C becomes the head Consensus->Execution: engine_forkchoiceUpdated(head: C.payload.hash) ``` If ingress message order doesn't follow the above rule set then the execution client should notify the consensus side about consistency failure and fall back to the recovery procedure as proposed by the [Consistency checks](#Consistency-checks) section. ## Consistency checks Consensus and execution counterparties maintain their own states which in a normal case must be consistent with each other. This state consists of but may not be limited to the following items: - **Transition state**. `transition_total_difficulty` and `terminal_pow_block_hash`, maybe anything else (TBD). Transition state consistency between counterparties is critical for the transition process of a single node and overall network. - **Operating mode**. PoW/PoS node operating mode. See **`engine_switchToPos`** for details. This item is not critical for the operation of the node but should improve UX, especially during bootstrap of a fresh node. - **Block trees**. Beacon block and execution block trees should be consistent with respect to each other, likewise, the fork choice state (the head of the chain and the most recent finalized block). In case of software crash or temporal outage (on any side of the communication stack), consistency of block trees might be broken. The suggestion is to add a concept of consistency checks into the design of the API. It could be implemented as follows. Consensus client sends **`engine_consensusStatus`** message to the execution client upon start up to request a consistency check. If the execution client was out and just started up it should respond with the corresponding **`engine_executionStatus`** to _the first_ message received from the consensus client to request the check. The other case for an execution client to initiate the check would be discovering an inconsistency between block trees, i.e. receiving any message that is referencing to unknown parent, head or finalized block. Each party should respond with the corresponding status message upon receiving such a request, and then proceed either with the recovery process or a normal operating mode. Suggested data for status messages: - **`engine_consensusStatus`** - `transition_total_difficulty: uint256`, scope: **`transition`** - `terminal_pow_block_hash: Hash32`, scope: **`transition`** - `finalized_block_hash: Hash32` - `confirmed_block_hash: Hash32` - `head_block_hash: Hash32` - **`engine_executionStatus`** - `finalized_block_hash: Hash32` - `confirmed_block_hash: Hash32` - `head_block_hash: Hash32` The recovery process may look as follows: - **Transition state**. The execution client _must_ update its transition state with the corresponding data and immediately take according actions that are specified in the transition process scope of [EIP-3675](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-3675). - **Operating mode**. The execution client switches to PoS operating mode if it is assumed by received data. It may or may not persist this information for further usage. - **Block trees**. The execution client provides the consensus counterparty with its version of the head of the chain. If a consensus client discovers the inconsistency it may take one of the following steps. Simply ignore it and initiate a sync on the execution client side to pull missed data from the network. The other, more convenient option might be to find the last point of consistency between the trees and replay missed execution payloads, then signify the end of the recovery process with the corresponding **`engine_forkchoiceUpdated`** message. ### Consistency check flow Sequence diagrams illustrating different cases and parts of consistency check flow are outlined below. #### Consensus software outage: ```sequence Note over Consensus: Outage Consensus->Execution: engine_consensusStatus Note over Execution: Catch ups with received data Note left of Consensus: Normal functioning Consensus->Execution: engine_executePayload Consensus->Execution: ... ``` #### Execution software outage: ```sequence Note over Consensus: Note over Execution: Outage Consensus->Execution: engine_executePayload Execution-->Consensus: engine_executionStatus Consensus->Execution: engine_consensusStatus Note over Execution: Catch ups with received data Note left of Consensus: Block tree recovery Consensus->Execution: engine_executePayload Consensus->Execution: engine_consensusValidated Consensus->Execution: ... Consensus->Execution: engine_forkchoiceUpdated Note left of Consensus: Normal functioning Consensus->Execution: engine_executePayload Consensus->Execution: ... ``` ## Execution payload cache In order to properly handle a pair of **`engine_executePayload`** and **`engine_consensusValidated`** messages, the execution client needs a kind of cache that would keep execution payload in the temporal store until it must be persisted or discarded upon receiving **`engine_consensusValidated`**. In general, executing the payload is a heavier operation than validating the consensus block but it would be great to leave an opportunity for the consensus client to process beacon block and execution payload _in parallel_ which requires the execution client to match information on the consensus and execution validity. ## Shared execution client One of the potential approaches to better resource utilization is sharing the execution client between multiple consensus clients, especially for large infrastructures. Designing the API we might want to look into this direction. A single execution client listening to multiple consensus clients might lead to undesired switches between different fork choice states received from multiple sources. In order to avoid this it might be an option for consensus clients to _disable_ **`engine_forkchoiceUpdated`** messages. With this option _a single_ consensus client may become a source of the fork choice state updates for the execution client to prevent possible adverse effects. Support of concurrent block building is also increases the level of implementation complexity. Client may support multiple payload building processes in parallel but that would require an access to multiple versions of the mempool if these processes are building payloads on top of different parents. The protocol could provide a support of this feature as **`engine_getPayload`** has the parameter set that could identify the building process that the payload should be returned from.
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Mikhail Kalinin
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