Bitcoin Forum

Whilst our computers are "mining" and performing these calculations, are they connected to a centralised server? 

A description in laymans terms would be awesome.

Thanks

They are not connected to a central server.   That is part of the reason why it is awesome.

You find out the reason why yourself, there is no laymens terms for the depth of what goes behind Bitcoin working.  Sadly, this is the reason why it works and why geeks love it. 

well put, it certainly seems a stroke of genius.  hopefully someone highly intelligent will take pity on me and make an attempt to explain in laymans terms.. do you have a link for the complex explanation?  Cheers

You are wrong. Over 300 posts and you don't even know how this works...

First let's make the distinction between the actual bitcoin client, and the mining software because they are two different things. His question was about the mining software connecting to a central server.
Now, when you mine solo your mining software does not connect to anyone but your own local bitcoin client in server mode. The actual bitcoin client does connect to everyone else that is running it because it needs to receive updates of the ever growing block chain and if you manage to solve a block on your own it needs to send out a notice to the network that you did so.

When mining for a pool, yes, your mining software does connect to that pool's central server(s) (most pools now have multiple servers located across the globe to spread the load) to get work assigned to you.

But doesn't the bitcoin client have to connect to somewhere to find out where to connect to other clients? (like a tracker)

I'll stop right there, I didn't even notice it in the subject, definite distinction as I am not a miner so I will keep out.  No need to be an ass, as if it was just the regular software, I'm right you big meanie douche :(

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peer-to-peer

Enjoy reading

DECENTRALIZED. Enough said.

I understand that the actual trading of bitcoins is decentralised, jesus give me some credit..

hehe, yeah I do consider myself a nerd so was confused, i'm well aware of the p2p concept  :P

just wanted to know more details about the complexity of the mining, but coolhwip has shed a bit more light for me.

is there a link for a complex description of the theory behind the mining?  I remember reading things such as mining gets more difficult when there are more people performing calculations, which surely suggests that there is a centralised server monitoring and spitting out rules for all the people performing said calculations?