What It Takes to Run a Solana Validator: Hardware, Bandwidth, and Budget

Optimization of CPU and Memory Parameters for Blockchain Validation Servers Blockchain is a decentralized data storage system where each transaction is recorded in a chain of blocks, ensuring transparency and immutability of information. This allows the creation of trusted systems without central control, which has become the foundation for cryptocurrencies, decentralized applications (dApps), NFTs, and other innovations. Validation servers for blockchain networks, particularly those supporting high-performance networks like Solana, require careful consideration of hardware specifications to ensure optimal performance. Among the most critical components are the central processor (CPU) and random-access memory (RAM), which directly impact transaction processing speed, registry synchronization efficiency, and overall system reliability. Choosing a Processor The choice for blockchain validation servers is largely determined by the need to support multithreading and high clock speeds. Multithreading allows the processor to execute multiple threads simultaneously, thereby enhancing its ability to handle parallel operations—this is crucial for blockchains processing thousands of transactions per second. For example, AMD EPYC processors have gained widespread recognition due to their multi-core architecture. Configurations with a minimum of 24 cores or high-frequency CPUs with 16+ cores are often considered ideal for validators in blockchain networks like Solana. The AMD EPYC 9254 processor features 24 cores at a clock speed of 2.9 GHz and effectively handles the computational tasks associated with blockchain validation. Such configurations not only improve transaction throughput but also reduce latency during consensus participation and data distribution. Random-Access Memory (RAM) Plays an equally important role in ensuring smooth operation. Blockchain validators require significant memory—ranging from 256 to 512 GB, preferably DDR5 type—to meet their computational needs. This is due to the network architecture requiring fast access to large datasets for transaction verification and maintaining the state of the registry. Insufficient RAM can create bottlenecks during peak loads, leading to slower registry synchronization and degraded performance. For example, configurations offered by specialized blockchain solution providers like Cherry Servers include 384 GB DDR5 RAM, which represents a balance between cost and performance suitable for networks like Solana. Dedicated Solana Node Servers Solana-Optimized Hardware, AMD EPYC and Ryzen CPUs, Ultra-low latency network, 1Gbps to 10Gbps, 24/7 Technical Support Deploy Dedicated Solana Node Servers Dedicated Solana Node Servers Solana-Optimized Hardware, AMD EPYC and Ryzen CPUs, Ultra-low latency network, 1Gbps to 10Gbps, 24/7 Technical Support Deploy Deploy Data Storage Significantly impacts the efficiency of blockchain validation servers. NVMe SSDs are considered the preferred option over traditional SATA SSDs due to their higher read/write speeds exceeding 7000 MB/s compared to the SATA limit of 600 MB/s. This performance advantage reduces registry synchronization time—a critical factor for maintaining responsiveness in a rapidly changing environment. For hosting validator nodes, enterprise models of NVMe SSDs are recommended, with typical setups including separate drives for operating system installation and blockchain registry storage. For instance, Cherry Servers recommends using 2x1 TB NVMe drives for OS installation and 2x4 TB NVMe drives for registry storage, ensuring speed and durability. Advantage of NVMe and SATA SSD for Blockchain Hosting The rapid expansion of blockchain networks, especially high-performance systems like Solana, has necessitated a reevaluation of data storage solutions capable of managing significant volumes of information. As of April 2025, the Solana network generates approximately 80–95 TB of data annually under current traffic conditions, with potential growth to several petabytes if usage approaches full projected capacity. This underscores the critical importance of choosing data storage technologies that can efficiently handle such massive datasets while maintaining performance standards. In this context, NVMe SSDs (Non-Volatile Memory Express) have emerged as an excellent choice over traditional SATA SSDs due to their exceptional read/write speeds and lower latency, making them ideal for blockchain hosting environments. NVMe SSDs operating on PCIe Gen4 x4 interfaces achieve sequential throughput of up to 7–8 GB/s, with enterprise models typically offering 5–7 GB/s read/write speeds. These figures sharply contrast with SATA III SSDs, which are limited to a maximum of 550 MB/s. For blockchain transaction validation workloads requiring high IOPS (up to 1 million random 4KB IOPS) and low latency (~100 µs), NVMe drives have a significant advantage over SATA and SAS options. Eliminating the SATA HBA layer allows NVMe drives to directly interact with the processor through PCIe, reducing latency and increasing efficiency. This capability is critical for blockchain nodes requiring fast registry synchronization, especially in high-performance applications like Solana. Network Bandwidth Requirements in High-Transaction Blockchain Networks In blockchain networks with high transaction volumes, network bandwidth plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of nodes. The robustness of the underlying network infrastructure directly affects validators' and RPC nodes' ability to process transactions efficiently and disseminate blocks across the decentralized network. For example, Solana validators are recommended to use symmetrical fiber connections with speeds exceeding 1 Gbps, reflecting the platform's heightened data exchange appetite. Such stringent requirements stem from the need to maintain the high throughput embedded in blockchain architecture, which can generate approximately 80–95 TB of data annually under current traffic volumes, with potential growth to several petabytes per year if usage reaches projected capacity. Monthly traffic limits for blockchain nodes further emphasize the importance of a reliable connection. Service providers focused on blockchain network loads like Solana often offer packages ranging from 100 TB to unlimited traffic, meeting the needs of networks where transaction volumes can exceed 100 TB per month. While Ethereum requires approximately 30–40 TB of monthly traffic with similar connection speeds of 1 Gbps. These figures highlight the importance of choosing hosting solutions capable of satisfying current and future demands. Regional limitations leading to latency further complicate optimizing network bandwidth for blockchain nodes. Studies show that regions with higher network latency experience delays in block propagation, negatively impacting overall network throughput. For instance, even a few milliseconds of delay in block dissemination can cause significant performance bottlenecks, especially in high-performance networks like Solana. The strategic choice of hosting region becomes crucial to mitigate these effects. Service providers with a global data center network allow operators to host their nodes closer to users or other network participants, reducing latency and improving block synchronization. This geographic factor is particularly important when deploying nodes in regions with connectivity issues or where internet service providers set asymmetric upload/download ratios unsuitable for blockchain operations. Dedicated Servers for Blockchain Transaction Validation: A Comprehensive Analysis Blockchain transaction validation is a computationally intensive process that requires robust and specialized infrastructure. Proposals for dedicated servers tailored to support blockchain workloads serve as critical solutions, especially for high-performance networks like Solana. Pricing for dedicated servers supporting blockchain workloads varies significantly by region and RAID configuration. Medium-sized projects begin at approximately $1800 per month, while larger operations may exceed $3800 per month with additional resources. The cost reflects not only premium hardware but also the redundancy and scalability inherent in blockchain validation tasks. RAID configurations, such as enterprise NVMe disks set up in RAID 1 or RAID 10 arrays, enhance data resilience and fault tolerance—critical aspects due to the constant operation required by blockchain nodes. Ethereum (ETH) Full Node Hosting High-Performance Web3 Servers for Ethereum Staking. Crypto-optimized, secure, and fully customizable hosting. Deploy Ethereum (ETH) Full Node Hosting Ethereum (ETH) Full Node Hosting High-Performance Web3 Servers for Ethereum Staking. Crypto-optimized, secure, and fully customizable hosting. Deploy Deploy Innovations in Cloud Hosting for Blockchain Applications The rapid advancement of blockchain technology has necessitated advanced hosting solutions capable of meeting its computational needs. Among the most transformative innovations is the integration of GPU acceleration into cloud hosting platforms, significantly enhancing performance for tasks such as transaction validation and smart contract execution. For example, Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers managed blockchain solutions that utilize GPU instances to optimize workloads requiring high parallel processing. These capabilities are particularly beneficial for blockchains like Solana, which use a Proof-of-History consensus mechanism to process thousands of transactions per second. Using AWS infrastructure, developers can deploy nodes with configurations tailored to the extensive computational requirements of modern decentralized applications. Another important innovation in cloud hosting for blockchain applications is the implementation of automatic scaling. This feature allows dynamic allocation of resources based on current demand, ensuring stable performance even during transaction volume spikes. For example, providers integrate AI-based autoscaling solutions that smoothly adjust resource distribution, reducing operational costs while maintaining low response latency. Such systems are vital for supporting high-frequency trading (HFT) platforms and real-time DeFi protocols, where delays of even milliseconds can lead to significant financial losses. Autoscaling also addresses the issue of unpredictable network traffic characteristic of blockchain ecosystems, offering a reliable foundation for scalability without compromising reliability. Integrations with blockchain-specific APIs further enhance the functionality of cloud hosting platforms. Tools provided by Solana, such as Gulf Stream protocol optimizations and custom plugins like Jupiter API and Jito client, simplify node deployment and management processes. These integrations allow developers to precisely configure node parameters, optimizing elements such as memory distribution and validator selection to meet their project's unique needs. Additionally, services like SOL Trading API bloXroute facilitate predictive caching and early transaction processing aligned with Solana's mempool-free design architecture. These achievements highlight the importance of platform compatibility when selecting a hosting provider, as they directly impact blockchain operations' efficiency and adaptability. Despite these advancements, there are notable trade-offs between traditional virtual private servers (VPS) or dedicated servers and modern cloud solutions optimized for specific blockchain use cases. Traditional setups, such as bare-metal servers, excel in performance and configuration control, making them ideal for critical applications. However, they often come at a higher cost and lack the scalability of cloud alternatives. Conversely, cloud solutions offer greater flexibility and economic efficiency but may struggle to match the raw performance of dedicated hardware under extreme loads. This dilemma underscores the need for careful evaluation of an organization's priorities—whether it be performance, customization, or budget constraints—when choosing a hosting strategy. Brief Overview of Blockchain Technologies and Analysis of Hosting Providers with Solana Example Solana is one of the most high-performance blockchain networks, capable of processing up to 65,000 transactions per second thanks to its unique architecture that combines Proof-of-History (PoH) with traditional Proof-of-Stake (PoS). This makes it one of the most popular platforms for DeFi, Web3, and fast smart contracts. Solana 65,000 transactions per second Key Components of Solana: Validators — Participate in consensus, verify transactions, vote on blocks, receive rewards. RPC Servers (Remote Procedure Call nodes) — Provide API for interacting with the network, used by dApp developers, exchanges, and wallets. Indexers — Collect data about transactions, accounts, events, and store them in a structured format for easy search and analysis. Test Nodes (Test Validators / DevNet) — Local or remote nodes used by developers to test smart contracts, dApps, and new features before launching on the mainnet. Validators — Participate in consensus, verify transactions, vote on blocks, receive rewards. Validators RPC Servers (Remote Procedure Call nodes) — Provide API for interacting with the network, used by dApp developers, exchanges, and wallets. RPC Servers (Remote Procedure Call nodes) Indexers — Collect data about transactions, accounts, events, and store them in a structured format for easy search and analysis. Indexers Test Nodes (Test Validators / DevNet) — Local or remote nodes used by developers to test smart contracts, dApps, and new features before launching on the mainnet. Test Nodes (Test Validators / DevNet) Resources Required for Solana Components Each type of node has its own hardware resource requirements. Below are the recommended specifications: Type of Node Processor (CPU) RAM Disk Network Note Validator 24+ cores (AMD EPYC/Intel Xeon) 512 GB DDR4+ 2x2TB NVMe RAID0+ 1–10 Gbps Requires a lot of memory and disk speed RPC Node 8–16 cores 64–128 GB 1–2 TB NVMe 1 Gbps Stability and availability are crucial Indexer 8–16 cores 64–256 GB 2–4 TB NVMe 1 Gbps Requires a powerful database Test Node 4–8 cores 16–32 GB 100 GB+ NVMe 100 Mbps Suitable even for mid-level VPS Type of Node Processor (CPU) RAM Disk Network Note Validator 24+ cores (AMD EPYC/Intel Xeon) 512 GB DDR4+ 2x2TB NVMe RAID0+ 1–10 Gbps Requires a lot of memory and disk speed RPC Node 8–16 cores 64–128 GB 1–2 TB NVMe 1 Gbps Stability and availability are crucial Indexer 8–16 cores 64–256 GB 2–4 TB NVMe 1 Gbps Requires a powerful database Test Node 4–8 cores 16–32 GB 100 GB+ NVMe 100 Mbps Suitable even for mid-level VPS Type of Node Processor (CPU) RAM Disk Network Note Type of Node Type of Node Processor (CPU) Processor (CPU) RAM RAM Disk Disk Network Network Note Note Validator 24+ cores (AMD EPYC/Intel Xeon) 512 GB DDR4+ 2x2TB NVMe RAID0+ 1–10 Gbps Requires a lot of memory and disk speed Validator Validator Validator 24+ cores (AMD EPYC/Intel Xeon) 24+ cores (AMD EPYC/Intel Xeon) 512 GB DDR4+ 512 GB DDR4+ 2x2TB NVMe RAID0+ 2x2TB NVMe RAID0+ 1–10 Gbps 1–10 Gbps Requires a lot of memory and disk speed Requires a lot of memory and disk speed RPC Node 8–16 cores 64–128 GB 1–2 TB NVMe 1 Gbps Stability and availability are crucial RPC Node RPC Node RPC Node 8–16 cores 8–16 cores 64–128 GB 64–128 GB 1–2 TB NVMe 1–2 TB NVMe 1 Gbps 1 Gbps Stability and availability are crucial Stability and availability are crucial Indexer 8–16 cores 64–256 GB 2–4 TB NVMe 1 Gbps Requires a powerful database Indexer Indexer Indexer 8–16 cores 8–16 cores 64–256 GB 64–256 GB 2–4 TB NVMe 2–4 TB NVMe 1 Gbps 1 Gbps Requires a powerful database Requires a powerful database Test Node 4–8 cores 16–32 GB 100 GB+ NVMe 100 Mbps Suitable even for mid-level VPS Test Node Test Node Test Node 4–8 cores 4–8 cores 16–32 GB 16–32 GB 100 GB+ NVMe 100 GB+ NVMe 100 Mbps 100 Mbps Suitable even for mid-level VPS Suitable even for mid-level VPS GPUs are not currently mandatory for most Solana components, as computations occur on the CPU. However, GPUs can be used for specific tasks such as data analysis, machine learning, and indexing large volumes. not currently mandatory Dedicated servers are preferable, especially for validators, because they provide: Dedicated servers are preferable Full control over hardware High performance and stability Scalability options Lack of "noisy neighbors" (unlike VPS) Full control over hardware High performance and stability Scalability options Lack of "noisy neighbors" (unlike VPS) VPS is suitable only for: VPS is suitable only for: RPC nodes Indexers Test nodes RPC nodes Indexers Test nodes Cloud solutions (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure) are possible but require proper configuration under Solana load to avoid delays and overloads. U.S., European, and UK Market of Hosters: Ready-made Solutions and Universal Providers The market offers both specialized hosters providing ready-made blockchain solutions and universal providers that can be adapted for Solana needs. Universal Hosters: Hostkey — Powerful servers with AMD EPYC/Ryzen processors featuring many cores, high-throughput network, and locations in various countries. Offers the lowest prices on the market. Cryptocurrency payment possible. Cherry Servers — Bare-metal servers, AMD EPYC, NVMe SSDs, global data center network. Bacloud — Powerful servers for Solana validators, cryptocurrency payments, flexible configuration. AWS / Google Cloud / Azure — Cloud solutions offering flexibility but more complex to optimize for Solana. Specialized Hosters: Chainstack — Managed nodes, elastic RPC, free plans, cryptocurrency payment options. Blockdaemon — Enterprise level, supports multiple networks, SLA and monitoring. Dysnix — Specializes in blockchain, offers GPU/VPS/dedicated servers, supports Solana, Ethereum, Cosmos, and other networks. Universal Hosters: Hostkey — Powerful servers with AMD EPYC/Ryzen processors featuring many cores, high-throughput network, and locations in various countries. Offers the lowest prices on the market. Cryptocurrency payment possible. Cherry Servers — Bare-metal servers, AMD EPYC, NVMe SSDs, global data center network. Bacloud — Powerful servers for Solana validators, cryptocurrency payments, flexible configuration. AWS / Google Cloud / Azure — Cloud solutions offering flexibility but more complex to optimize for Solana. Universal Hosters: Hostkey — Powerful servers with AMD EPYC/Ryzen processors featuring many cores, high-throughput network, and locations in various countries. Offers the lowest prices on the market. Cryptocurrency payment possible. Cherry Servers — Bare-metal servers, AMD EPYC, NVMe SSDs, global data center network. Bacloud — Powerful servers for Solana validators, cryptocurrency payments, flexible configuration. AWS / Google Cloud / Azure — Cloud solutions offering flexibility but more complex to optimize for Solana. Hostkey — Powerful servers with AMD EPYC/Ryzen processors featuring many cores, high-throughput network, and locations in various countries. Offers the lowest prices on the market. Cryptocurrency payment possible. Hostkey Cherry Servers — Bare-metal servers, AMD EPYC, NVMe SSDs, global data center network. Cherry Servers Bacloud — Powerful servers for Solana validators, cryptocurrency payments, flexible configuration. Bacloud AWS / Google Cloud / Azure — Cloud solutions offering flexibility but more complex to optimize for Solana. AWS / Google Cloud / Azure Specialized Hosters: Chainstack — Managed nodes, elastic RPC, free plans, cryptocurrency payment options. Blockdaemon — Enterprise level, supports multiple networks, SLA and monitoring. Dysnix — Specializes in blockchain, offers GPU/VPS/dedicated servers, supports Solana, Ethereum, Cosmos, and other networks. Specialized Hosters: Chainstack — Managed nodes, elastic RPC, free plans, cryptocurrency payment options. Blockdaemon — Enterprise level, supports multiple networks, SLA and monitoring. Dysnix — Specializes in blockchain, offers GPU/VPS/dedicated servers, supports Solana, Ethereum, Cosmos, and other networks. Chainstack — Managed nodes, elastic RPC, free plans, cryptocurrency payment options. Chainstack Blockdaemon — Enterprise level, supports multiple networks, SLA and monitoring. Blockdaemon Dysnix — Specializes in blockchain, offers GPU/VPS/dedicated servers, supports Solana, Ethereum, Cosmos, and other networks. Dysnix Comparative Table of Providers Hoster Validator RPC Testnet Price Note HOSTKEY ✅ ✅ ✅ from €349/month (validator) Flexible configurations, ready-made and custom-built servers Cherry Servers ✅ ✅ ✅ from $798/month Bare-metal, EPYC Bacloud ✅ ✅ ✅ from $1800/month Custom order Chainstack ❌ ✅ ❌ from $0 Managed nodes Dysnix ✅ ✅ ✅ $500+/month Specialization in blockchain AWS ⚠️ (more complex to configure) ✅ ✅ $ Scalability Hoster Validator RPC Testnet Price Note HOSTKEY ✅ ✅ ✅ from €349/month (validator) Flexible configurations, ready-made and custom-built servers Cherry Servers ✅ ✅ ✅ from $798/month Bare-metal, EPYC Bacloud ✅ ✅ ✅ from $1800/month Custom order Chainstack ❌ ✅ ❌ from $0 Managed nodes Dysnix ✅ ✅ ✅ $500+/month Specialization in blockchain AWS ⚠️ (more complex to configure) ✅ ✅ $ Scalability Hoster Validator RPC Testnet Price Note Hoster Hoster Validator Validator RPC RPC Testnet Testnet Price Price Note Note HOSTKEY ✅ ✅ ✅ from €349/month (validator) Flexible configurations, ready-made and custom-built servers HOSTKEY HOSTKEY HOSTKEY ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ from €349/month (validator) from €349/month (validator) Flexible configurations, ready-made and custom-built servers Flexible configurations, ready-made and custom-built servers Cherry Servers ✅ ✅ ✅ from $798/month Bare-metal, EPYC Cherry Servers Cherry Servers Cherry Servers ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ from $798/month from $798/month Bare-metal, EPYC Bare-metal, EPYC Bacloud ✅ ✅ ✅ from $1800/month Custom order Bacloud Bacloud Bacloud ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ from $1800/month from $1800/month Custom order Custom order Chainstack ❌ ✅ ❌ from $0 Managed nodes Chainstack Chainstack Chainstack ❌ ❌ ✅ ✅ ❌ ❌ from $0 from $0 Managed nodes Managed nodes Dysnix ✅ ✅ ✅ $500+/month Specialization in blockchain Dysnix Dysnix Dysnix ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ $500+/month $500+/month Specialization in blockchain Specialization in blockchain AWS ⚠️ (more complex to configure) ✅ ✅ $ Scalability AWS AWS AWS ⚠️ (more complex to configure) ⚠️ (more complex to configure) ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ $ $ Scalability Scalability Choosing Machines for Solana Using the HOSTKEY Provider Example HOSTKEY offers several types of servers suitable for various tasks within the Solana network. Let's explore which options are best suited for different blockchain components: VPS (Virtual Private Server) Suitable for: Test Validator, DevNet, RPC Node, Indexers, DeFi Recommended plans: v2, v3, ryzen or higher: vm.v2-heavy, 8 cores, 16 GB RAM, 240 GB NVMe (from €22/month) vm.ryzen-16, 8 cores, 16 GB RAM, 120 GB NVMe (from €40/month) vm.v3-ultra, 10 cores, 64 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe (from €85/month) VPS Plans VDS (Instant Dedicated) Suitable for: RPC Node, Indexers, DeFi Recommended plan: vds.ryzen-64 VDS Instant Custom Configured Dedicated Server (4th Gen AMD/Intel) Suitable for: Test Validator, DevNet, RPC Node, Indexers, DeFi, Solana Validator Configurations: EPYC 9354 with 32 cores, 384 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe, network 1G (from €349/month) EPYC 9354 with 32 cores, 768 GB RAM, 2x3.84 TB NVMe, network 10G (from €599/month) Advantages: Fully meets Solana's requirements Disadvantages: Requires manual configuration Server Configurator VPS (Virtual Private Server) Suitable for: Test Validator, DevNet, RPC Node, Indexers, DeFi Recommended plans: v2, v3, ryzen or higher: vm.v2-heavy, 8 cores, 16 GB RAM, 240 GB NVMe (from €22/month) vm.ryzen-16, 8 cores, 16 GB RAM, 120 GB NVMe (from €40/month) vm.v3-ultra, 10 cores, 64 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe (from €85/month) VPS Plans VPS (Virtual Private Server) VPS (Virtual Private Server) Suitable for: Test Validator, DevNet, RPC Node, Indexers, DeFi Recommended plans: v2, v3, ryzen or higher: vm.v2-heavy, 8 cores, 16 GB RAM, 240 GB NVMe (from €22/month) vm.ryzen-16, 8 cores, 16 GB RAM, 120 GB NVMe (from €40/month) vm.v3-ultra, 10 cores, 64 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe (from €85/month) Suitable for: Test Validator, DevNet, RPC Node, Indexers, DeFi Test Validator, DevNet, RPC Node, Indexers, DeFi Recommended plans: v2, v3, ryzen or higher: vm.v2-heavy, 8 cores, 16 GB RAM, 240 GB NVMe (from €22/month) vm.ryzen-16, 8 cores, 16 GB RAM, 120 GB NVMe (from €40/month) vm.v3-ultra, 10 cores, 64 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe (from €85/month) v2, v3, ryzen or higher vm.v2-heavy, 8 cores, 16 GB RAM, 240 GB NVMe (from €22/month) vm.ryzen-16, 8 cores, 16 GB RAM, 120 GB NVMe (from €40/month) vm.v3-ultra, 10 cores, 64 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe (from €85/month) vm.v2-heavy, 8 cores, 16 GB RAM, 240 GB NVMe (from €22/month) vm.v2-heavy vm.ryzen-16, 8 cores, 16 GB RAM, 120 GB NVMe (from €40/month) vm.ryzen-16 vm.v3-ultra, 10 cores, 64 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe (from €85/month) vm.v3-ultra VPS Plans VPS Plans VDS (Instant Dedicated) Suitable for: RPC Node, Indexers, DeFi Recommended plan: vds.ryzen-64 VDS Instant VDS (Instant Dedicated) VDS (Instant Dedicated) Suitable for: RPC Node, Indexers, DeFi Recommended plan: vds.ryzen-64 Suitable for: RPC Node, Indexers, DeFi RPC Node, Indexers, DeFi Recommended plan: vds.ryzen-64 vds.ryzen-64 VDS Instant VDS Instant Custom Configured Dedicated Server (4th Gen AMD/Intel) Suitable for: Test Validator, DevNet, RPC Node, Indexers, DeFi, Solana Validator Configurations: EPYC 9354 with 32 cores, 384 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe, network 1G (from €349/month) EPYC 9354 with 32 cores, 768 GB RAM, 2x3.84 TB NVMe, network 10G (from €599/month) Advantages: Fully meets Solana's requirements Disadvantages: Requires manual configuration Server Configurator Custom Configured Dedicated Server (4th Gen AMD/Intel) Custom Configured Dedicated Server (4th Gen AMD/Intel) Suitable for: Test Validator, DevNet, RPC Node, Indexers, DeFi, Solana Validator Configurations: EPYC 9354 with 32 cores, 384 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe, network 1G (from €349/month) EPYC 9354 with 32 cores, 768 GB RAM, 2x3.84 TB NVMe, network 10G (from €599/month) Advantages: Fully meets Solana's requirements Disadvantages: Requires manual configuration Suitable for: Test Validator, DevNet, RPC Node, Indexers, DeFi, Solana Validator Test Validator, DevNet, RPC Node, Indexers, DeFi, Solana Validator Configurations: EPYC 9354 with 32 cores, 384 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe, network 1G (from €349/month) EPYC 9354 with 32 cores, 768 GB RAM, 2x3.84 TB NVMe, network 10G (from €599/month) EPYC 9354 with 32 cores, 384 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe, network 1G (from €349/month) EPYC 9354 with 32 cores, 768 GB RAM, 2x3.84 TB NVMe, network 10G (from €599/month) EPYC 9354 with 32 cores, 384 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe, network 1G (from €349/month) EPYC 9354 with 32 cores, 768 GB RAM, 2x3.84 TB NVMe, network 10G (from €599/month) Advantages: Fully meets Solana's requirements Disadvantages: Requires manual configuration Server Configurator Server Configurator Total Cost of Ownership Comparison Hoster Server Type Monthly Cost Annual Cost Comments HOSTKEY Validator (custom-configured) from €349 (~$390) ~$4,680 Economical if European data centers are needed Cherry Servers Validator (EPYC) from $798 from $9,576 SLA 99.97%, good quality Bacloud Validator (custom order) from $1,800 from $21,600 High performance level Dysnix Validator (bare metal) from $500 from $6,000 Budget option, requires coordination AWS Validator (EC2 m6a.16xlarge + EBS) from $1,200 ~$14,400 Challenges with disks and network HOSTKEY RPC Node (ryzen-64) from €119 (~$130) from $1,560 Ideal for small business Cherry Servers RPC Node (i7 BM) from $199 from $2,388 More scalability options HOSTKEY Test Validator (v2, v3, ryzen) from €22 (~$25) from $660 Most economical for development Hoster Server Type Monthly Cost Annual Cost Comments HOSTKEY Validator (custom-configured) from €349 (~$390) ~$4,680 Economical if European data centers are needed Cherry Servers Validator (EPYC) from $798 from $9,576 SLA 99.97%, good quality Bacloud Validator (custom order) from $1,800 from $21,600 High performance level Dysnix Validator (bare metal) from $500 from $6,000 Budget option, requires coordination AWS Validator (EC2 m6a.16xlarge + EBS) from $1,200 ~$14,400 Challenges with disks and network HOSTKEY RPC Node (ryzen-64) from €119 (~$130) from $1,560 Ideal for small business Cherry Servers RPC Node (i7 BM) from $199 from $2,388 More scalability options HOSTKEY Test Validator (v2, v3, ryzen) from €22 (~$25) from $660 Most economical for development Hoster Server Type Monthly Cost Annual Cost Comments Hoster Hoster Server Type Server Type Monthly Cost Monthly Cost Annual Cost Annual Cost Comments Comments HOSTKEY Validator (custom-configured) from €349 (~$390) ~$4,680 Economical if European data centers are needed HOSTKEY HOSTKEY HOSTKEY Validator (custom-configured) Validator (custom-configured) from €349 (~$390) from €349 (~$390) ~$4,680 ~$4,680 Economical if European data centers are needed Economical if European data centers are needed Cherry Servers Validator (EPYC) from $798 from $9,576 SLA 99.97%, good quality Cherry Servers Cherry Servers Cherry Servers Validator (EPYC) Validator (EPYC) from $798 from $798 from $9,576 from $9,576 SLA 99.97%, good quality SLA 99.97%, good quality Bacloud Validator (custom order) from $1,800 from $21,600 High performance level Bacloud Bacloud Bacloud Validator (custom order) Validator (custom order) from $1,800 from $1,800 from $21,600 from $21,600 High performance level High performance level Dysnix Validator (bare metal) from $500 from $6,000 Budget option, requires coordination Dysnix Dysnix Dysnix Validator (bare metal) Validator (bare metal) from $500 from $500 from $6,000 from $6,000 Budget option, requires coordination Budget option, requires coordination AWS Validator (EC2 m6a.16xlarge + EBS) from $1,200 ~$14,400 Challenges with disks and network AWS AWS AWS Validator (EC2 m6a.16xlarge + EBS) Validator (EC2 m6a.16xlarge + EBS) from $1,200 from $1,200 ~$14,400 ~$14,400 Challenges with disks and network Challenges with disks and network HOSTKEY RPC Node (ryzen-64) from €119 (~$130) from $1,560 Ideal for small business HOSTKEY HOSTKEY HOSTKEY RPC Node (ryzen-64) RPC Node (ryzen-64) from €119 (~$130) from €119 (~$130) from $1,560 from $1,560 Ideal for small business Ideal for small business Cherry Servers RPC Node (i7 BM) from $199 from $2,388 More scalability options Cherry Servers Cherry Servers Cherry Servers RPC Node (i7 BM) RPC Node (i7 BM) from $199 from $199 from $2,388 from $2,388 More scalability options More scalability options HOSTKEY Test Validator (v2, v3, ryzen) from €22 (~$25) from $660 Most economical for development HOSTKEY HOSTKEY HOSTKEY Test Validator (v2, v3, ryzen) Test Validator (v2, v3, ryzen) from €22 (~$25) from €22 (~$25) from $660 from $660 Most economical for development Most economical for development Conclusion For specific types of Solana nodes, certain server types are necessary: VPS — for testing and development VDS — for RPC and DeFi services GPU — for parallel computations and analytics Custom Configured Dedicated Servers — for a full-fledged Solana Validator VPS — for testing and development VPS VDS — for RPC and DeFi services VDS GPU — for parallel computations and analytics GPU Custom Configured Dedicated Servers — for a full-fledged Solana Validator Custom Configured Dedicated Servers For blockchain projects with medium to high load, VDS or configurable servers are sufficient. VDS or configurable servers Read this text also on GitHub Read this text also on GitHub Read this text also on GitHub