# 1000 Rounds of Consensus

**URL:** <https://forum.algorand.co/t/1000-rounds-of-consensus/1886>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [July 31, 2020, 8:11pm UTC](https://forum.algorand.co/t/1000-rounds-of-consensus/1886 "2020-07-31T20:11:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![TheMattRay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.algorand.co/themattray/32/604_2.png) [@TheMattRay](https://forum.algorand.co/u/TheMattRay)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 8:11pm UTC](https://forum.algorand.co/t/1000-rounds-of-consensus/1886/1 "2020-07-31T20:11:50Z")

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Couple of things that are unclear to me as I am running a node that is marked online now.

- The part key is good for 3 million rounds, but the firstvalid/lastvalid for consensus registration seems to be limited to 1000 rounds. Is that correct?
- At the end of that 1000 rounds, I need to re-register for consensus, correct?
- Assuming above is indeed correct, does this build value for the network or should I be waiting some N rounds to participate again?

Thank you in advance again and apologies in advance if my understanding of this is, well, moderate at best.

Cheers!

Matt

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**Author:** ![tsachi](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.algorand.co/tsachi/32/29_2.png) [@tsachi](https://forum.algorand.co/u/tsachi)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 8:27pm UTC](https://forum.algorand.co/t/1000-rounds-of-consensus/1886/2 "2020-07-31T20:27:27Z")

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@TheMattRay

When you create a new part key, you typically make it for 3 million round. The first valid / last valid as far as I understand applies to the transaction which register this particular part key. once your transaction was included in a block, your “registration” becomes “active”. It would last until the 3 million rounds expires.

My understanding of this goes as that -  
you’re letting the network know that you want to participate in the consensus. Once your transaction is included in a block, all the nodes would be aware of that. At that point, all the nodes would also accept your node’s votes & proposals ( since these can be verified against the registered participation key ).