> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.plasma.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Hardware Requirements

> Hardware specifications for running Plasma non-validator nodes.

Running a Plasma node requires thoughtful hardware selection to ensure performance, reliability, and cost-efficiency. This guide outlines hardware recommendations for non-validator nodes.

## Hardware Requirements

| Hardware | Minimum | Recommended (Prod) |
| - | - | - |
| Processor | 4 Cores | 8 Cores |
| Memory | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Storage | 250 GB SSD | 1 TB NVMe SSD |
| Network | 100+ Mbps | 100+ Mbps, redundant |

> [!NOTE]
>
> Mainnet consensus and execution currently use approximately 350 GB of storage. A 1 TB drive provides comfortable headroom for chain growth.

## Cloud Provider Recommendations

> [tab] AWS
>
> | Instance | vCPUs | RAM | Use Case |
> | :- | :- | :- | :- |
> | `c6a.2xlarge` | 8 | 16 GB | High CPU performance |
> | `m6i.2xlarge` | 8 | 32 GB | Balanced compute and memory |
> | `r6i.2xlarge` | 8 | 64 GB | Memory-optimised for heavy workloads |

> [tab] GCP
>
> | Instance | vCPUs | RAM | Use Case |
> | :- | :- | :- | :- |
> | `c2-standard-8` | 8 | 32 GB | High-performance CPU |
> | `n2-standard-8` | 8 | 32 GB | Balanced workloads |
> | `c2-standard-16` | 16 | 64 GB | High-traffic scenarios |

> [tab] Azure
>
> | Instance | vCPUs | RAM | Use Case |
> | :- | :- | :- | :- |
> | `F8s_v2` | 8 | 16 GB | Compute-optimised |
> | `D8s_v5` | 8 | 32 GB | General purpose |
> | `E8s_v5` | 8 | 64 GB | Memory-optimised |

**Storage recommendations**: Use provider-native SSD volumes (AWS `gp3`, GCP SSD persistent disks, Azure Premium SSD) with provisioned IOPS for high-traffic RPC endpoints. Enable regular snapshots or automated backup for data protection.

## Getting Started

**1. Select cloud provider**

Choose based on your geographic needs, existing relationships, and pricing preferences.

**2. Configure monitoring**

Set up essential monitoring before deployment to track performance from the start. See the [monitoring guide](https://docs.plasma.org/docs/node-operators/maintenance/monitoring.md).

**3. Deploy**

Follow the [Non-Validator Node Setup](https://docs.plasma.org/docs/node-operators/setup-and-configuration/non-validator-node-setup.md) guide.


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