The Byzantine Generals Problem

Note: Actually New Location!!

Our next paper is "The Byzantine Generals Problem" by Lamport, Shostak, and Pease. This paper is a classic in distributed systems theory and will set us up to read a more practical paper in a subsequent meeting.

Reliable computer systems must handle malfunctioning components that give conflicting information to different parts of the system. This situation can be expressed abstractly in terms of a group of generals of the Byzantine army camped with their troops around an enemy city. Communicating only by messenger, the generals must agree upon a common battle plan. However, one or more of them may be traitors who will try to confuse the others. The problem is to find an algorithm to ensure that the loyal generals will reach agreement. It is shown that, using only oral messages, this problem is solvable if and only if more than two-thirds of the generals are loyal; so a single traitor can confound
two loyal generals. With unforgeable written messages, the problem is solvable for any number of generals and possible traitors. Applications of the solutions to reliable computer systems are then discussed.

Link: https://lamport.azurewebsites.net/pubs/byz.pdf

Afterwords we'll socialize with a drink and a bite somewhere nearby.

We will let you in so please arrive on time. Message us on Discord if no one is at the door.