Hard Fork No. 4: Spurious Dragon

The Countdown Begins: Understanding the Spurious Dragon Hard Fork

As the Ethereum network continues to evolve, a hard fork is scheduled to take place on November 22, 2016, at block number 2,675,000. This event, known as the Spurious Dragon hard fork, aims to address several pressing issues that have been affecting the network's health and security. In this article, we will delve into the details of the hard fork, its implications, and what users need to do to prepare.

Preparing for the Hard Fork

To ensure a smooth transition, it is essential to update your Ethereum client to the latest version. The recommended versions are:

• Ethereum Wallet/Mist (v0.8.7)
• geth client (v1.5.2)
• Parity client (v1.4.4)
• ruby-ethereum client (v0.11.0)

If you fail to update your client, you will be stuck on an incompatible chain following the old rules, and you will be unable to send ether or operate on the post-fork Ethereum network. Moreover, your transactions will still be susceptible to replay attacks.

Web and Mobile Ethereum Wallets

If you are using a web or mobile Ethereum wallet like MyEtherWallet or Jaxx, you generally do not need to take any action. However, it is crucial to check with your wallet provider to see what steps they are taking to update for the hard fork and if they are asking their users to take other steps. Ensure that transactions are generated with the new replay-protected EIP 155 scheme.

Troubleshooting Sync Issues

If your Ethereum client is having trouble syncing to the blockchain, make sure you have downloaded the latest version of your client. If you are using Geth or Mist, refer to the Ethereum StackExchange thread. If you are using Parity, refer to the Parity wiki.

Why the Hard Fork?

The Spurious Dragon hard fork is the second hard fork of the two-round hard fork response to the DoS attacks on the Ethereum network in September and October. The previous hard fork, known as Tangerine Whistle, addressed immediate network health issues due to the attacks. The upcoming hard fork addresses important but less pressing matters such as further tuning opcode pricing to prevent future attacks on the network, enabling "debloat" of the blockchain state, and adding replay attack protection.

Changes Implemented in the Hard Fork

The following Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) describe the protocol changes implemented in this hard fork:

• EIP 155: Replay Attack Protection - prevents transactions from one Ethereum chain from being rebroadcasted on an alternative chain. For example, if you send 150 test ether to someone from the Morden testnet, that same transaction cannot be replayed on the main Ethereum chain.
• EIP 160: EXP Cost Increase - adjusts the price of EXP opcode so it balances the price of EXP with the computational complexity of the operation, essentially making it more difficult to slow down the network via computationally expensive contract operations.
• EIP 161: State Trie Clearing - makes it possible to remove a large number of empty accounts that were put in the state at very low cost as a result of earlier DoS attacks. With this EIP, 'empty' accounts are removed from the state whenever 'touched' by another transaction. Removal of the empty accounts greatly reduces blockchain state size, which will provide client optimizations such as faster sync times.
• EIP 170: Contract Code Size Limit - changes the maximum code size that a contract on the blockchain can have. This update prevents an attack scenario where large pieces of account code can be accessed repeatedly at a fixed gas cost. The maximum size has been set to 24576 bytes, which is larger than any currently deployed contract.

Conclusion

The Spurious Dragon hard fork is a crucial step in the evolution of the Ethereum network. By addressing several pressing issues, the network will become more secure and efficient. As a user, it is essential to update your client and understand the implications of the hard fork. The changes implemented in this hard fork will have a significant impact on the network's health and security, and it is crucial to be aware of the details.

Forward-Looking Thoughts

The Spurious Dragon hard fork is just one step in the ongoing evolution of the Ethereum network. As the network continues to grow and develop, it is essential to stay up-to-date with the latest developments and changes. The Ethereum community is constantly working to improve the network, and it is crucial to be a part of this process. By staying informed and engaged, you can help shape the future of the Ethereum network and ensure its continued growth and success.

Source: https://blog.ethereum.org/en/2016/11/18/hard-fork-no-4-spurious-dragon