> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://eric-lo.gitbook.io/hyperledger-fabric/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://eric-lo.gitbook.io/hyperledger-fabric/prepare-to-deploy-smart-contract.md).

# Prepare to deploy the smart contract

## Basic Concepts of Fabric network

### Channels

In a Fabric network, we have multiple channels. Inside a channel, the participated peer nodes can interact with one another, and they can install and instantiate smart contracts.

Also, nodes outside the channel cannot read and write messages of that channel.

### Orderer Nodes

In a distributed system, such as a Fabric network, the order nodes run a consensus protocol to order all the put/get operations.

### Peer Nodes

Peers are those nodes who actually keep the ledger of a channel.  Also, they would endorse, verify, and commit the transactions.

### More...?

If you want to know more details, you can read [the official documents about Fabric's blockchain network](https://hyperledger-fabric.readthedocs.io/en/latest/network/network.html).

## Hyperledger Fabric Network of our demo cluster 

We have already set up a Hyperledger Fabric v2.3.0 Network with \
\- 1 orderer in `node-1`\
\- 3 peers on `node-1, node-2, node-3`. 

To stimulate different organizations (Smart Insurance, Great Insurance, Police), the peer of :\
\- node-1 represents Great Insurance\
\- node-2 represents Police\
\- node-3 represents Smart Insurance

In the following section, we are going to create your own Fabric Channel and deploy the written smart contract to the existing Hyperledger Fabric Network.

## Prepare the terminal environment

To simulate the operation carried out by different organizations (Smart Insurance, Great Insurance, Police), we open 3 terminals.

In terminal 1 (as Great Insurance) :

```bash
ssh node-1
source /home/fabric_lab/scripts/common.sh
export CORE_PEER_ADDRESS=node-1:7051
export CORE_PEER_MSPCONFIGPATH=${BASE_PATH_CERT_OUTPUT}/peerOrganizations/greatinsurance.com/users/Admin@greatinsurance.com/msp
export CORE_PEER_LOCALMSPID=greatinsurance
```

In terminal 2  (as Police):

```bash
ssh node-2
source /home/fabric_lab/scripts/common.sh
export CORE_PEER_ADDRESS=node-2:7051
export CORE_PEER_MSPCONFIGPATH=${BASE_PATH_CERT_OUTPUT}/peerOrganizations/police.com/users/Admin@police.com/msp
export CORE_PEER_LOCALMSPID=police
```

In terminal 3  (as Smart Insurance):

```bash
ssh node-3
source /home/fabric_lab/scripts/common.sh
export CORE_PEER_ADDRESS=node-3:7051
export CORE_PEER_MSPCONFIGPATH=${BASE_PATH_CERT_OUTPUT}/peerOrganizations/smartinsurance.com/users/Admin@smartinsurance.com/msp
export CORE_PEER_LOCALMSPID=smartinsurance
```

##