namillum
Version:
Bubble Protocol SDK
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Markdown
id: mining-additional-info
title: Additional Information
keywords:
- mining
- pow
- network difficulty
- reward mechanism
- epoch architecture
- zilliqa
description: Mining Additional Informantion
## Network Epoch Architecture
At the start of each DS Epoch, all mining candidates will run the Proof-of-Work (Ethash algorithm) cycle for a `60` seconds window to compete to join the Zilliqa network.
- Nodes that fulfilled the `DS_POW_DIFFICULTY` parameter will qualify to join as DS nodes.
- Nodes that fulfilled the `POW_DIFFICULTY` parameter will qualify to join as shard nodes.
There are a total of `100` TX epochs (each 1-2 min) within each DS Epoch (2-3 hrs). Every 100th TX epoch is known as the **Vacuous epoch**.
The vacuous epoch is solely for:
- Distributing the coinbase rewards to all nodes.
- Processing of the upgrade mechanism (as there are no forks in pBFT).
- Writing of persistent state storage (updating of the nodes’ levelDB).
During a vacuous epoch, the network does not process any transactions.
## Proof-of-Work Algorithm
Zilliqa uses [**Ethash**](https://github.com/ethereum/wiki/wiki/Ethash) for its PoW algorithm. Hence, Zilliqa uses a DAG in its proof-of-work algorithm, which is generated at an incremental rate for each **DS epoch**. The bootstrap DAG size will be roughly `1.02GB`.
Refer to the [Core Protocol Documentation](../contributors/core-pow.md) for more details on the Zilliqa PoW algorithm.
## Network Difficulty
Refer to the [Core Protocol Documentation](../contributors/core-difficulty-adjustment.mdx) for more details on the difficulty adjustment algorithm.
## Network Reward Mechanism
Refer to [Zilliqa Architecture - Reward mechanism](../basics/basics-zil-reward.md).