Node Specifications
These are the recommended specs for a ZetaChain node.
| Node Type | CPU | Memory | Data Disk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Validator | 4 CPUs | 16 GB Memory | 300+ GB Data Disk |
| Full Node | 4 CPUs | 12 GB Memory | 300+ GB Data Disk |
| Archive | 4 CPUs | 12 GB Memory | 3+ TB Data Disk |
It is recommended to run validators on a machine with NVMe SSDs that support high IOPS (12K or higher) to avoid falling behind and getting the validator jailed.
Network Requirements
Public Ports
ZetaChain nodes communicate over the following ports. Make sure these are open to the public internet.
| Node Type | Port | Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| Full Node and Validator | 26656 | TCP |
RPC/API/Archive Nodes
If you want to access RPC/API services on your node you'll need to make sure the following ports are open.
| RPC Type | Port | Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| Tendermint | 26657 | TCP |
| EVM RPC - HTTP | 8545 | TCP |
| EVM RPC - WSS | 8546 | TCP |
| Cosmos RPC | 1317 | TCP |
Operating System
ZetaChain nodes have been developed and tested on x86_64 architecture. Our binary files have been compiled with Ubuntu 22.04 LTS x86_64. This guide assumes you are using Ubuntu 22.04 LTS x86_64. If you are using a different OS you may need to make some adjustments.
Infrastructure Cost Analysis
Understanding the costs associated with running a ZetaChain node is crucial for planning your deployment. Below is a comprehensive cost breakdown for different hosting options.
Monthly Cost Comparison
Cloud Providers
| Provider | Instance Type | Compute | Storage | Total Base | With Bandwidth* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWS | t3.xlarge | $121.47 | $24.00 | $145.47 | $235-595 |
| AWS | m5.xlarge | $140.00 | $24.00 | $164.00 | $254-614 |
| AWS | Reserved (1yr) | $85.00 | $24.00 | $109.00 | $199-559 |
| GCP | n2-standard-4 | $141.79 | $51.00 | $192.79 | $271-754 |
*Bandwidth costs vary significantly based on data transfer (1-5 TB/month estimated)
Bare Metal/Dedicated Servers
| Provider | Configuration | Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hetzner | 4-core, 32GB RAM, NVMe SSD | €54.99 (~$60) | Unmetered on 1 Gbps port; FUP may apply |
| OVHcloud | 4-core, 16GB RAM, NVMe/1TB SSD | €43.99 (~$48) | Unmetered on 1 Gbps port; FUP may apply |
| Vultr | 8 vCPU, 16GB RAM, 300GB NVMe | $180.00 | Good performance; check port speed cap |
| Cherry Servers | 4-core, 32GB RAM, 240GB SSD | $120.00 | Enterprise grade |
| InMotion Hosting | 4-core, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD | $69.99 | Budget option |
Annual Cost Summary
| Provider Type | Low End | High End | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bare Metal | $576 | $2,160 | Cost optimization |
| AWS Reserved | $2,388 | $6,708 | Enterprise/Production |
| GCP Optimized | $2,772 | $7,608 | Google ecosystem |
Additional Costs to Consider
Bandwidth Requirements
ZetaChain validators require significant bandwidth for:
- Block propagation and validation
- P2P network communication
- State synchronization
Estimated: 1-5 TB/month additional data transfer
- Cloud providers: $90-600/month (after free tiers)
- Bare metal: Usually unlimited or much cheaper
Operational Costs
- Monitoring & Management: $20-50/month
- Backup & Disaster Recovery: $10-50/month
- Security & Maintenance: Variable
Recommendations
For Cost Optimization
- Bare Metal (Hetzner/OVHcloud): $48-60/month
- Best price/performance ratio
- Unlimited bandwidth typically included
- Good for validators in stable regions
For Enterprise/Production
-
AWS Savings Plans or Reserved Instances: $199–300/month (estimate)
- Better SLA/support, mature IAM/KMS
- Easier scaling and management
- Multi-AZ placement recommended to reduce outage risk
-
Bare Metal Enterprise (Cherry Servers): $120/month
- Dedicated hardware performance
- Ensure spare-host or hot-standby for failover
For High Performance
- Ensure NVMe SSD storage for validator requirements
- Consider dedicated bandwidth allocation
- Implement proper monitoring and alerting
Key Considerations
Performance Requirements
- ZetaChain validators need high IOPS (12K+)
- NVMe SSDs strongly recommended over regular SSDs
- Network latency critical for validator performance
Reliability Factors
- Uptime requirements for validator rewards
- Slashing risks with poor performance
- Geographic distribution considerations