@lodestar/beacon-node 1.44.0-dev.ff43f013ea → 1.44.0-rc.1

package/src/metrics/metrics/lodestar.ts

@@ -610,6 +610,11 @@ export function createLodestarMetrics(
         help: "The origination source of one of the BlockInputSync triggers",
         labelNames: ["source"],
       }),
+      payloadSource: register.counter<{source: BlockInputSource}>({
+        name: "lodestar_payload_input_sync_source_total",
+        help: "Count of payload (execution payload envelope) sync triggers, labeled by their source",
+        labelNames: ["source"],
+      }),
       pendingBlocks: register.gauge({
         name: "lodestar_sync_unknown_block_pending_blocks_size",
         help: "Current size of UnknownBlockSync pending blocks cache",
@@ -861,6 +866,12 @@ export function createLodestarMetrics(
         labelNames: ["numBlobs"],
       }),
 
+      skippedSlots: register.histogram({
+        name: "lodestar_gossip_block_skipped_slots",
+        help: "Number of skipped slots between a gossip block and its parent (blockSlot - parentSlot - 1)",
+        buckets: [0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32],
+      }),
+
       processBlockErrors: register.gauge<{error: BlockErrorCode | "NOT_BLOCK_ERROR"}>({
         name: "lodestar_gossip_block_process_block_errors",
         help: "Count of errors, by error type, while processing blocks",

package/src/network/processor/gossipHandlers.ts

@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ function getSequentialHandlers(modules: ValidatorFnsModules, options: GossipHand
       peerIdStr,
     });
     try {
-      await validateGossipBlock(config, chain, signedBlock, fork);
+      const {skippedSlots} = await validateGossipBlock(config, chain, signedBlock, fork);
 
       if (isForkPostGloas(fork)) {
         chain.seenPayloadEnvelopeInputCache.add({
@@ -205,8 +205,15 @@ function getSequentialHandlers(modules: ValidatorFnsModules, options: GossipHand
 
       metrics?.gossipBlock.gossipValidation.recvToValidation.observe(recvToValidation);
       metrics?.gossipBlock.gossipValidation.validationTime.observe(validationTime);
+      metrics?.gossipBlock.skippedSlots.observe(skippedSlots);
 
-      logger.debug("Validated gossip block", {...blockInputMeta, ...logCtx, recvToValidation, validationTime});
+      logger.debug("Validated gossip block", {
+        ...blockInputMeta,
+        ...logCtx,
+        recvToValidation,
+        validationTime,
+        skippedSlots,
+      });
 
       chain.emitter.emit(routes.events.EventType.blockGossip, {slot, block: blockRootHex});
 
@@ -1214,6 +1221,7 @@ function getSequentialHandlers(modules: ValidatorFnsModules, options: GossipHand
       }
       chain.forkChoice.notifyPtcMessages(
         toRootHex(payloadAttestationMessage.data.beaconBlockRoot),
+        payloadAttestationMessage.data.slot,
         validationResult.validatorCommitteeIndices,
         payloadAttestationMessage.data.payloadPresent,
         payloadAttestationMessage.data.blobDataAvailable

package/src/network/processor/index.ts

@@ -186,9 +186,11 @@ export class NetworkProcessor {
   // we may not receive the block for messages like Attestation and SignedAggregateAndProof messages, in that case PendingGossipsubMessage needs
   // to be stored in this Map and reprocessed once the block comes
   private readonly awaitingMessagesByBlockRoot: MapDef<RootHex, Set<PendingGossipsubMessage>>;
+  private awaitingBlockMessageCount = 0;
   // we may not receive the payload for messages that require the FULL payload variant to be processed,
   // in that case PendingGossipsubMessage needs to be stored in this Map and reprocessed once the payload comes
   private readonly awaitingMessagesByPayloadBlockRoot: MapDef<RootHex, Set<PendingGossipsubMessage>>;
+  private awaitingPayloadMessageCount = 0;
   private unknownBlocksBySlot = new MapDef<Slot, Set<RootHex>>(() => new Set());
   private unknownEnvelopesBySlot = new MapDef<Slot, Set<RootHex>>(() => new Set());
 
@@ -228,8 +230,8 @@ export class NetworkProcessor {
           metrics.gossipValidationQueue.keySize.set({topic}, this.gossipQueues[topic].keySize);
           metrics.gossipValidationQueue.concurrency.set({topic}, this.gossipTopicConcurrency[topic]);
         }
-        metrics.awaitingBlockGossipMessages.countPerSlot.set(this.unknownBlockGossipsubMessagesCount);
-        metrics.awaitingPayloadGossipMessages.countPerSlot.set(this.unknownPayloadGossipsubMessagesCount);
+        metrics.awaitingBlockGossipMessages.countPerSlot.set(this.awaitingBlockMessageCount);
+        metrics.awaitingPayloadGossipMessages.countPerSlot.set(this.awaitingPayloadMessageCount);
         // specific metric for beacon_attestation topic
         metrics.gossipValidationQueue.keyAge.reset();
         for (const ageMs of this.gossipQueues.beacon_attestation.getDataAgeMs()) {
@@ -297,7 +299,7 @@ export class NetworkProcessor {
       return;
     }
     this.unknownEnvelopesBySlot.getOrDefault(slot).add(root);
-    this.chain.emitter.emit(ChainEvent.unknownEnvelopeBlockRoot, {rootHex: root, peer, source});
+    this.chain.emitter.emit(ChainEvent.unknownEnvelopeBlockRoot, {rootHex: root, slot, peer, source});
   }
 
   private onPendingGossipsubMessage = (message: PendingGossipsubMessage): void => {
@@ -497,7 +499,7 @@ export class NetworkProcessor {
         this.pushPendingGossipsubMessageToQueue(message);
         break;
       case PreprocessAction.AwaitBlock: {
-        if (this.unknownBlockGossipsubMessagesCount > MAX_QUEUED_UNKNOWN_BLOCK_GOSSIP_OBJECTS) {
+        if (this.awaitingBlockMessageCount > MAX_QUEUED_UNKNOWN_BLOCK_GOSSIP_OBJECTS) {
           // No need to report the dropped job to gossip. It will be eventually pruned from the mcache
           this.metrics?.awaitingBlockGossipMessages.reject.inc({
             reason: ReprocessRejectReason.reached_limit,
@@ -509,10 +511,11 @@ export class NetworkProcessor {
         this.metrics?.awaitingBlockGossipMessages.queue.inc({topic: topicType});
         const awaitingGossipsubMessages = this.awaitingMessagesByBlockRoot.getOrDefault(preprocessResult.root);
         awaitingGossipsubMessages.add(message);
+        this.awaitingBlockMessageCount++;
         break;
       }
       case PreprocessAction.AwaitEnvelope: {
-        if (this.unknownPayloadGossipsubMessagesCount > MAX_QUEUED_UNKNOWN_PAYLOAD_GOSSIP_OBJECTS) {
+        if (this.awaitingPayloadMessageCount > MAX_QUEUED_UNKNOWN_PAYLOAD_GOSSIP_OBJECTS) {
           this.metrics?.awaitingPayloadGossipMessages.reject.inc({
             reason: ReprocessRejectReason.reached_limit,
             topic: topicType,
@@ -525,6 +528,7 @@ export class NetworkProcessor {
           preprocessResult.root
         );
         awaitingPayloadGossipsubMessages.add(message);
+        this.awaitingPayloadMessageCount++;
         break;
       }
     }
@@ -548,6 +552,12 @@ export class NetworkProcessor {
       return;
     }
 
+    // Atomically remove from map and update counter before async iteration to
+    // prevent double-decrement race with onClockSlot during yield points below
+    if (this.awaitingMessagesByBlockRoot.delete(rootHex)) {
+      this.awaitingBlockMessageCount -= waitingGossipsubMessages.size;
+    }
+
     const nowSec = Date.now() / 1000;
     let count = 0;
     // TODO: we can group attestations to process in batches but since we have the SeenAttestationDatas
@@ -567,8 +577,6 @@ export class NetworkProcessor {
         await sleep(AWAITING_GOSSIP_OBJECTS_YIELD_EVERY_MS);
       }
     }
-
-    this.awaitingMessagesByBlockRoot.delete(rootHex);
   };
 
   private onPayloadEnvelopeProcessed = async ({blockRoot: rootHex}: {blockRoot: RootHex}): Promise<void> => {
@@ -577,6 +585,12 @@ export class NetworkProcessor {
       return;
     }
 
+    // Atomically remove from map and update counter before async iteration to
+    // prevent double-decrement race with onClockSlot during yield points below
+    if (this.awaitingMessagesByPayloadBlockRoot.delete(rootHex)) {
+      this.awaitingPayloadMessageCount -= waitingGossipsubMessages.size;
+    }
+
     const nowSec = Date.now() / 1000;
     let count = 0;
     for (const message of waitingGossipsubMessages) {
@@ -593,8 +607,6 @@ export class NetworkProcessor {
         await sleep(AWAITING_GOSSIP_OBJECTS_YIELD_EVERY_MS);
       }
     }
-
-    this.awaitingMessagesByPayloadBlockRoot.delete(rootHex);
   };
 
   private onClockSlot = (clockSlot: Slot): void => {
@@ -618,7 +630,9 @@ export class NetworkProcessor {
             );
             // No need to report the dropped job to gossip. It will be eventually pruned from the mcache
           }
-          this.awaitingMessagesByBlockRoot.delete(rootHex);
+          if (this.awaitingMessagesByBlockRoot.delete(rootHex)) {
+            this.awaitingBlockMessageCount -= gossipMessages.size;
+          }
         }
       }
       this.unknownBlocksBySlot.delete(slot);
@@ -641,7 +655,9 @@ export class NetworkProcessor {
             );
             // No need to report the dropped job to gossip. It will be eventually pruned from the mcache
           }
-          this.awaitingMessagesByPayloadBlockRoot.delete(rootHex);
+          if (this.awaitingMessagesByPayloadBlockRoot.delete(rootHex)) {
+            this.awaitingPayloadMessageCount -= gossipMessages.size;
+          }
         }
       }
       this.unknownEnvelopesBySlot.delete(slot);
@@ -784,20 +800,4 @@ export class NetworkProcessor {
 
     return null;
   }
-
-  private get unknownBlockGossipsubMessagesCount(): number {
-    let count = 0;
-    for (const messages of this.awaitingMessagesByBlockRoot.values()) {
-      count += messages.size;
-    }
-    return count;
-  }
-
-  private get unknownPayloadGossipsubMessagesCount(): number {
-    let count = 0;
-    for (const messages of this.awaitingMessagesByPayloadBlockRoot.values()) {
-      count += messages.size;
-    }
-    return count;
-  }
 }

package/src/network/reqresp/handlers/beaconBlocksByRange.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import {PeerId} from "@libp2p/interface";
 import {BeaconConfig} from "@lodestar/config";
-import {GENESIS_SLOT, isForkPostDeneb, isForkPostFulu} from "@lodestar/params";
+import {GENESIS_SLOT, isForkPostDeneb} from "@lodestar/params";
 import {RespStatus, ResponseError, ResponseOutgoing} from "@lodestar/reqresp";
 import {computeEpochAtSlot} from "@lodestar/state-transition";
 import {deneb, phase0} from "@lodestar/types";
@@ -29,13 +29,20 @@ export async function* onBeaconBlocksByRange(
   // starts above it to avoid duplicate yields. See archiveBlocks.ts for the migration logic.
   const archiveMaxSlot = finalizedSlot;
 
-  const forkName = chain.config.getForkName(startSlot);
-  if (isForkPostFulu(forkName) && startSlot < chain.earliestAvailableSlot) {
-    chain.logger.verbose("Peer did not respect earliestAvailableSlot for BeaconBlocksByRange", {
+  // endSlot is exclusive, so highest served slot is endSlot - 1.
+  // Throw only when the entire requested range is below earliestAvailableSlot.
+  if (endSlot - 1 < chain.earliestAvailableSlot) {
+    chain.logger.verbose("Peer requested range before earliestAvailableSlot for BeaconBlocksByRange", {
       peer: prettyPrintPeerId(peerId),
       client: peerClient,
+      startSlot,
+      count,
+      earliestAvailableSlot: chain.earliestAvailableSlot,
     });
-    return;
+    throw new ResponseError(
+      RespStatus.RESOURCE_UNAVAILABLE,
+      `Requested range is before earliestAvailableSlot startSlot=${startSlot} count=${count} earliestAvailableSlot=${chain.earliestAvailableSlot}`
+    );
   }
 
   // Finalized range of blocks

package/src/network/reqresp/handlers/dataColumnSidecarsByRange.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import {PeerId} from "@libp2p/interface";
 import {ChainConfig} from "@lodestar/config";
+import {PayloadStatus} from "@lodestar/fork-choice";
 import {ForkSeq, GENESIS_SLOT} from "@lodestar/params";
 import {RespStatus, ResponseError, ResponseOutgoing} from "@lodestar/reqresp";
 import {computeEpochAtSlot} from "@lodestar/state-transition";
@@ -33,12 +34,20 @@ export async function* onDataColumnSidecarsByRange(
     return;
   }
 
-  if (startSlot < chain.earliestAvailableSlot) {
-    chain.logger.verbose("Peer did not respect earliestAvailableSlot for DataColumnSidecarsByRange", {
+  // endSlot is exclusive, so highest served slot is endSlot - 1.
+  // Throw only when the entire requested range is below earliestAvailableSlot.
+  if (endSlot - 1 < chain.earliestAvailableSlot) {
+    chain.logger.verbose("Peer requested range before earliestAvailableSlot for DataColumnSidecarsByRange", {
       peer: prettyPrintPeerId(peerId),
       client: peerClient,
+      startSlot,
+      count,
+      earliestAvailableSlot: chain.earliestAvailableSlot,
     });
-    return;
+    throw new ResponseError(
+      RespStatus.RESOURCE_UNAVAILABLE,
+      `Requested range is before earliestAvailableSlot startSlot=${startSlot} count=${count} earliestAvailableSlot=${chain.earliestAvailableSlot}`
+    );
   }
 
   const finalized = db.dataColumnSidecarArchive;
@@ -104,6 +113,11 @@ export async function* onDataColumnSidecarsByRange(
 
       // Must include only columns in the range requested
       if (block.slot > archiveMaxSlot && block.slot >= startSlot && block.slot < endSlot) {
+        // Post-gloas, columns exist only for FULL blocks (pre-gloas blocks are always FULL)
+        if (block.payloadStatus !== PayloadStatus.FULL) {
+          continue;
+        }
+
         // Note: Here the forkChoice head may change due to a re-org, so the headChain reflects the canonical chain
         // at the time of the start of the request. Spec is clear the chain of columns must be consistent, but on
         // re-org there's no need to abort the request

package/src/network/reqresp/handlers/dataColumnSidecarsByRoot.ts

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export async function* onDataColumnSidecarsByRoot(
     const {blockRoot, columns: requestedColumns} = dataColumnsByRootIdentifier;
     const availableColumns = validateRequestedDataColumns(chain, requestedColumns);
     if (availableColumns.length === 0) {
-      return;
+      continue;
     }
 
     const blockRootHex = toRootHex(blockRoot);

package/src/network/reqresp/handlers/executionPayloadEnvelopesByRange.ts

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import {PeerId} from "@libp2p/interface";
 import {ChainConfig} from "@lodestar/config";
 import {PayloadStatus} from "@lodestar/fork-choice";
 import {GENESIS_SLOT} from "@lodestar/params";
@@ -6,23 +7,38 @@ import {computeEpochAtSlot} from "@lodestar/state-transition";
 import {gloas} from "@lodestar/types";
 import {IBeaconChain} from "../../../chain/index.js";
 import {IBeaconDb} from "../../../db/index.js";
+import {prettyPrintPeerId} from "../../util.js";
 
 export async function* onExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRange(
   request: gloas.ExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRangeRequest,
   chain: IBeaconChain,
-  db: IBeaconDb
+  db: IBeaconDb,
+  peerId: PeerId,
+  peerClient: string
 ): AsyncIterable<ResponseOutgoing> {
   const {startSlot, count} = validateExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRangeRequest(chain.config, request);
   const endSlot = startSlot + count;
 
-  if (startSlot < chain.earliestAvailableSlot) {
-    return;
+  // endSlot is exclusive, so highest served slot is endSlot - 1.
+  // Throw only when the entire requested range is below earliestAvailableSlot.
+  if (endSlot - 1 < chain.earliestAvailableSlot) {
+    chain.logger.verbose("Peer requested range before earliestAvailableSlot for ExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRange", {
+      peer: prettyPrintPeerId(peerId),
+      client: peerClient,
+      startSlot,
+      count,
+      earliestAvailableSlot: chain.earliestAvailableSlot,
+    });
+    throw new ResponseError(
+      RespStatus.RESOURCE_UNAVAILABLE,
+      `Requested range is before earliestAvailableSlot startSlot=${startSlot} count=${count} earliestAvailableSlot=${chain.earliestAvailableSlot}`
+    );
   }
 
   const finalized = db.executionPayloadEnvelopeArchive;
-  const finalizedSlot = chain.forkChoice.getFinalizedCheckpointSlot();
-  // The current finalized block's envelope is still in the hot db; archive migration happens
-  // in the next finalization run (see migrateExecutionPayloadEnvelopesFromHotToColdDb).
+  // Use the finalized block's actual slot as the checkpoint epoch-boundary slot may be skipped
+  const finalizedSlot = chain.forkChoice.getFinalizedBlock().slot;
+  // The finalized block's envelope stays in the hot db until the next finalization run
   const archiveMaxSlot = finalizedSlot - 1;
 
   // Finalized range of envelopes

package/src/network/reqresp/handlers/executionPayloadEnvelopesByRoot.ts

@@ -1,14 +1,18 @@
+import {PeerId} from "@libp2p/interface";
 import {ResponseOutgoing} from "@lodestar/reqresp";
 import {computeEpochAtSlot} from "@lodestar/state-transition";
 import {toRootHex} from "@lodestar/utils";
 import {IBeaconChain} from "../../../chain/index.js";
 import {IBeaconDb} from "../../../db/index.js";
 import {ExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRootRequest} from "../../../util/types.js";
+import {prettyPrintPeerId} from "../../util.js";
 
 export async function* onExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRoot(
   requestBody: ExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRootRequest,
   chain: IBeaconChain,
-  db: IBeaconDb
+  db: IBeaconDb,
+  peerId: PeerId,
+  peerClient: string
 ): AsyncIterable<ResponseOutgoing> {
   // The gloas req/resp spec uses MIN_EPOCHS_FOR_BLOCK_REQUESTS to define the minimum range peers MUST serve.
   // Archival nodes may still serve older retained payloads to allow genesis sync.
@@ -20,6 +24,14 @@ export async function* onExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRoot(
     const slot = block ? block.slot : await db.blockArchive.getSlotByRoot(root);
 
     if (slot === null) {
+      chain.logger.debug(
+        "Cannot serve ExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRoot: block root not in fork choice or block archive",
+        {
+          root: rootHex,
+          peer: prettyPrintPeerId(peerId),
+          client: peerClient,
+        }
+      );
       continue;
     }
 
@@ -29,6 +41,13 @@ export async function* onExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRoot(
         data: envelopeBytes,
         boundary: chain.config.getForkBoundaryAtEpoch(computeEpochAtSlot(slot)),
       };
+    } else {
+      chain.logger.debug("Cannot serve ExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRoot: envelope not found", {
+        slot,
+        root: rootHex,
+        peer: prettyPrintPeerId(peerId),
+        client: peerClient,
+      });
     }
   }
 }

package/src/network/reqresp/handlers/index.ts

@@ -70,13 +70,13 @@ export function getReqRespHandlers({db, chain}: {db: IBeaconDb; chain: IBeaconCh
       return onDataColumnSidecarsByRoot(body, chain, db, peerId, peerClient);
     },
 
-    [ReqRespMethod.ExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRoot]: (req) => {
+    [ReqRespMethod.ExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRoot]: (req, peerId, peerClient) => {
       const body = ExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRootRequestType(chain.config).deserialize(req.data);
-      return onExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRoot(body, chain, db);
+      return onExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRoot(body, chain, db, peerId, peerClient);
     },
-    [ReqRespMethod.ExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRange]: (req) => {
+    [ReqRespMethod.ExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRange]: (req, peerId, peerClient) => {
       const body = ssz.gloas.ExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRangeRequest.deserialize(req.data);
-      return onExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRange(body, chain, db);
+      return onExecutionPayloadEnvelopesByRange(body, chain, db, peerId, peerClient);
     },
 
     [ReqRespMethod.LightClientBootstrap]: (req) => {

package/src/network/reqresp/utils/dataColumnResponseValidation.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import {LogData} from "@lodestar/logger";
+import {ForkSeq} from "@lodestar/params";
 import {RespStatus, ResponseError} from "@lodestar/reqresp";
 import {ColumnIndex, Slot} from "@lodestar/types";
 import {prettyBytes, prettyPrintIndices, toRootHex} from "@lodestar/utils";
@@ -38,6 +39,13 @@ export async function handleColumnSidecarUnavailability({
 
   chain.logger.debug("dataColumnSidecar requested unavailable", logData);
 
+  // Post-gloas, columns exist only for FULL blocks; a finalized block is FULL if its envelope was
+  // archived. Bid blobsCount is unreliable here since an EMPTY block's bid may still commit to blobs
+  if (blockRoot === undefined && chain.config.getForkSeq(slot) >= ForkSeq.gloas) {
+    const envelopeBytes = await db.executionPayloadEnvelopeArchive.getBinary(slot);
+    if (!envelopeBytes) return;
+  }
+
   const blockBytes = blockRoot ? await db.block.getBinary(blockRoot) : await db.blockArchive.getBinary(slot);
   if (!blockBytes) {
     chain.logger.verbose(
@@ -71,9 +79,19 @@ export function validateRequestedDataColumns(chain: IBeaconChain, requestedColum
     throw new ResponseError(RespStatus.INVALID_REQUEST, "dataColumnSidecar requested without column indices");
   }
 
-  const custodyColumns = chain.custodyConfig.custodyColumns;
-  const availableColumns = requestedColumns.filter((c) => custodyColumns.includes(c));
-  const missingColumns = requestedColumns.filter((c) => !custodyColumns.includes(c));
+  const {custodyColumns, custodyColumnsIndex} = chain.custodyConfig;
+  const availableColumns: ColumnIndex[] = [];
+  const missingColumns: ColumnIndex[] = [];
+  for (const c of requestedColumns) {
+    // `c` is peer-controlled and SSZ-deserialized as `uint64`, so it may exceed
+    // `NUMBER_OF_COLUMNS - 1`; `Uint8Array` returns `undefined` for OOB reads,
+    // and `undefined !== 0` would silently classify OOB indices as custodied.
+    if ((custodyColumnsIndex[c] ?? 0) !== 0) {
+      availableColumns.push(c);
+    } else {
+      missingColumns.push(c);
+    }
+  }
 
   if (missingColumns.length > 0) {
     chain.logger.verbose("Requested dataColumnSidecar for non-custody columns", {

package/src/sync/types.ts

@@ -19,7 +19,14 @@ export enum PendingBlockType {
    */
   INCOMPLETE_BLOCK_INPUT = "IncompleteBlockInput",
 
-  UNKNOWN_DATA = "unknown_data",
+  /**
+   * Payload analog of UNKNOWN_BLOCK_ROOT: we have a beacon block root but not its execution payload envelope.
+   */
+  UNKNOWN_PAYLOAD_BLOCK_ROOT = "unknown_payload_block_root",
+  /**
+   * Payload analog of INCOMPLETE_BLOCK_INPUT: we have a partial payload input that did not complete in time.
+   */
+  INCOMPLETE_PAYLOAD_ENVELOPE = "incomplete_payload_envelope",
 }
 
 export enum PendingBlockInputStatus {
@@ -70,6 +77,8 @@ export type PendingPayloadInput = {
 export type PendingPayloadRootHex = {
   status: PendingPayloadInputStatus.pending | PendingPayloadInputStatus.fetching;
   rootHex: RootHex;
+  // message slot hint, may be missing when resolving a parent payload
+  slot?: Slot;
   timeAddedSec: number;
   timeSyncedSec?: number;
   peerIdStrings: Set<string>;
@@ -125,5 +134,5 @@ export function getPayloadSyncCacheItemSlot(payload: PayloadSyncCacheItem): Slot
     return payload.envelope.message.payload.slotNumber;
   }
 
-  return "unknown";
+  return payload.slot ?? "unknown";
 }