this is a proof-of-concept ridiculous "token ring" style communication protocol implemented in node.js and using multicast.
it makes no sense and is definitely not something that should ever be used in a real network.
nodes
nodes are assigned roles through the RING0_ROLE env var:
- frodo: the ring-bearer, frodo is responsible for tracking and assigning the ring-holder
- anything else: all other nodes can be named any valid hostname string
ring-holder
- any node joined to the multicast network can be a ring-holder
- as the ring-bearer, frodo is the default ring-holder
- frodo is responsible for tracking who the current ring-holder is at all times
- all other nodes query frodo at a regular interval to find out who the current ring-holder is
- any node can also query frodo to request permission to become the ring-holder