Last Will Letter: A Secure Federated P2P Scheme for Blockchain-Oriented Virtual Redundancy and Backup

This work extends previous research on blockchain-based Virtual Redundancy, proposing a new approach to improve the reliability of distributed systems, with a focus on power grid applications. The original solution used blockchain’s fault-tolerant properties to provide redundancy through virtualization. However, the existing application layer and API proved unsuitable for future projects. Moreover, building on the original architecture and optimal machine allocation algorithm, this work introduces a peer-to-peer (P2P) alternative to replace the application layer and API. The design addresses three major security concerns in algorithm allocation: information leaks, malware propagation, and man-in-the-middle attacks. To mitigate these risks, a scheme called the Last Will Letter is proposed, which involves three types of nodes, the Testator, the Inheritor, and the Executor, modeled after a fictional succession ritual. The scheme presented in the current study has been deployed and tested on a five-node network under stress conditions, such as single-node failures. Results show the system maintains performance while enabling secure migration. Finally, execution times and computational requirements for achieving Virtual Redundancy with this scheme are also reported.