Join a Network

Joining a System Channel

After successfully bootstrapping the network, other organizations can join it. Joining the network means joining your ordering nodes to the ordering system channel and fetching or uploading its genesis block.

Starting from Catalyst Blockchain Manager v2.3 you can onboard a new organization to the network even if it doesn't host any ordering node. See Joining with an External Orderer.

First, create your organization as described in Build a Network — Create an Organization.

Then follow these steps:

Your organization (Organization 2):

1

Export MSP definition and ordering node JSON profile

2

Share your organization MSP and orderer JSON profiles to Organization 1

You can create as many ordering nodes as you want but share only one of the ordering nodes' profiles with Organization 1 during this step.

3

Wait for Organization 1 to add you as a partner

Wait until Organization 1 adds you as a partner and shares its MSP definition with you with a link to one of its ordering nodes or with the last system channel's genesis block protobuf file.

4

Add Organization 1 as a partner

Add its MSP to your partners MSPs.

5

Add your ordering node(s) to the system channel

Fetch the genesis block or upload the genesis block.

You can add all of your ordering nodes at once or one by one. Note that only consenters which are part of a system channel can be added to application channels.

6

Wait for sync

Wait a few minutes until the ordering node(s) sync with the network. Your organization is now a part of the blockchain network.

Meanwhile, Organization 1 (any network member) should perform the following steps:

1

Add your MSP definition to the partners list

See How to Add Organization as a Partner.

2

Add your organization as an orderer organization

See Adding Orderer Organizations.

3

Share a connection link or genesis block

Copy an external link from one of the ordering nodes connected to the system channel and share it with your organization. Or download the system channel's last block and share it.

4

Optionally add your organization to the consortium

See Adding an Organization to the Consortium.

A consortium defines a set of organizations that can create application channels and join them during creation.

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Joining a System Channel with an External Orderer

You can join a system channel with no ordering nodes deployed by your organization. In this case, ask any orderer organization to send you the link to any consenter from a system channel and add it as an external orderer.

Your organization:

1

Create your organization

Create your organization as described in Build a Network. Note: You don't need to create ordering sets with orderers in this case.

2

Export the MSP definition and share with Organization 1

3

Wait for Organization 1 to add you as a partner

Wait until they share their MSP definition and a link to one of the consenters.

4

Add Organization 1 as a partner

Add its MSP to your partners MSPs.

5

Create an external orderer

Create an external orderer with the provided link.

Your organization is now a part of the blockchain network. Meanwhile, Organization 1 should:

1. Add your organization's MSP definition to the partners list.

2. Add your organization as an orderer organization.

3. Copy an external link from one of the consenters of the system channel and share it with your organization.

4. Optionally add your organization to the members of a consortium.

Upon completion, your peers can be added to application channels (or create application channels if your organization was added to a consortium).