> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.catalyx.solutions/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.catalyx.solutions/catalyx-blockchain-manager/canton-network/version-1.11/network-and-node-management/participants.md).

# Participants

This page introduces Participants in Canton and explains how they are created, configured, and managed using Catalyst. In Canton's execution model, each application party is hosted on a Participant Node, which maintains the party's private state and history and synchronizes with other participants using the Canton protocol via domains.

### What is a Participant?

Each party of the application is hosted on a **Participant Node**. The Participant Node stores the party's unique projection and history of the shared system of record. Participant Nodes synchronize by running a consensus protocol (the Canton Protocol) between them, sending encrypted messages through Domains that provide guaranteed delivery and order consistency.

<figure><img src="/files/v9pRJjfxuYwZfEHarMbc" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
For more information about Domains, see [Domains](broken://pages/df6fa4e1fbdb4023b904163cd1981d66ba03e3e1).
{% endhint %}

### How Do I Create a Participant?

To create a Participant, go to the **Participants** tab and click the **Create** button to open a side window.

<figure><img src="/files/hvMYDFFiv60zOLHxPqhy" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Provide a Participant name**

Enter a unique Participant name (required).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Fill in the main settings**

{% hint style="info" %}
Using a predefined image is recommended for compatibility. If you want to use an image from a private repository, specify an `imagePullSecret`.
{% endhint %}

* Choose participant image
* Choose DAR files to upload
* Enable **Navigator** if required
* Enable **Daemon** if required
* **Resources allocation:**
  * **Requested CPU** — Guaranteed CPU resources that will be allocated
  * **CPU limit** — Maximum CPU resources that will be allocated
  * **Requested memory (MB)** — Guaranteed amount of RAM that will be allocated
  * **Memory limit (MB)** — Maximum amount of RAM that can be allocated
  * **Storage size**
* You can add custom environment variables if needed

{% hint style="info" %}
To prevent pod evictions, you can choose to disable CPU limits for the resource allocation.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Fill in Topology**

* Enable **Embedded Topology** if needed
* **Topology:**
  * Choose between form or raw view topology
  * Choose **Admin Port**
  * Choose **Public port**
  * Choose **Storage type:**

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Memory" %}
No additional configuration required.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="PostgreSQL" %}
A postgres database will be provisioned in the cluster.

* Choose User
* Choose Password
* Choose Storage size
  {% endtab %}

{% tab title="External" %}
A database is expected to be hosted at the given hostname and port with the same name as the participant and a user with the provided credentials.

* Choose User

* Choose Password

* Choose Hostname

* Choose Port
  {% endtab %}
  {% endtabs %}

* Enable **Authorization Service** if needed
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Bootstrap (optional)**

Provide bootstrap commands if needed.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

### How Do I Connect a Participant to a Domain?

After the participant is created, click the **Connect to domain** button to open a side window.

<figure><img src="/files/ZUtQWT5K5AeBmmSOSjvV" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
Select either a domain available in this Catalyst Canton console, or connect to any external domain by providing the full domain URL.
{% endhint %}

### How Do I Upload DAR Files to a Participant?

After the participant is created, click the **Upload DAR** button to open a side window.

<figure><img src="/files/YIer00pICmxxQLA1JGEz" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
Select one or multiple DAR files to upload to the participant. DAR files can be added to the console through the [Collections](broken://pages/70b986760b8e86303857f0b72acf6a4f5adf5e8d) tab.
{% endhint %}

### Parties & Users

A party represents an entity capable of creating and interacting with contracts on the ledger. Each party is hosted on one or more Participant Nodes.

A Party is created by default once a Participant is connected to a Domain. However, Catalyst Blockchain Manager allows users to add additional parties on a participant node.

#### Local Parties vs. Parties

The Participant Details page includes the following tabs: **Local Parties**, **Parties**, **Users**, **Dar Files**, and **Logs**.

* **Local Parties** — Allows users to trigger an explicit fetch of all parties registered to this participant on the ledger.
* **Parties** — Shows parties across the entire ledger (the full network), not just those local to this participant.

{% hint style="info" %}
If you create a party outside of Catalyst, it will not appear in the list automatically. Click **Fetch Local Parties** again to pick up that change.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
The Local Parties tab is only shown for validator participants. It does not appear for standalone participants (non-validator nodes).
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
For networks with a large number of parties (e.g., MainNet with \~500,000 parties), the fetch process can take a considerable amount of time.
{% endhint %}

For detailed Party and User Management, head to the Parties and Users section:

{% content-ref url="/pages/f15e7603f08b261b9e85b489ea62cbaefac624f8" %}
[Parties & Users](/catalyx-blockchain-manager/canton-network/version-1.11/network-and-node-management/parties-and-users.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


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