Node Specifications
Running a Ethereum node is not a one‑size‑fits‑all affair. Hardware needs grow with the amount of historical data you keep and the additional services you plan to enable. The following table shows the typical node setups.
| Node Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Downloads block headers and verifies minimal parts of the chain. | |
| Keeps recent state only and prunes old data once hash tree is verifiable. | |
| Runs a proof‑of‑stake slasher service to the regular node services. | |
| Stores all historical state ideal for explorers, research & analytics. |
Further details about node variations can be found on the Client Types and Client Providers pages.
Hardware Requirements
Meeting or exceeding the hardware specs below keeps your specific node type synced, healthy and penalty‑free.
- Minimal: Your node will synchronize but may lag under load or when synchronizing to the current chain head.
- Recommended: Smooth performance during synchronization with headroom for storage, metrics, and monitoring.
- Minimal
- Recommended
| Node Type | CPU | RAM | Storage | Network | Typical Execution Clients | CLI Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Cores | 2 GB | 2 GB | ≥ 5 Mbps | Helios, Nimbus-Eth2, Lodestar | ❌ No | |
| 4 Cores | 8 GB | 500 GB | ≥ 25 Mbps | Geth, Erigon, Nethermind, Besu | ✅ Yes | |
| 6 Cores | 16 GB | 1 TB | ≥ 50 Mbps | Geth, Erigon, Nethermind, Besu | ✅ Yes | |
| 8 Cores | 16 GB | 2 TB | ≥ 50 Mbps | Erigon, Besu | ✅ Yes |
| Node Type | CPU | RAM | Storage | Network | Typical Execution Clients | CLI Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 – 4 Cores | 4 GB | 5 – 10 GB | ≥ 10 Mbps | Helios, Nimbus-Eth2, Lodestar | ❌ No | |
| 6 – 8 Cores | 16 GB | 1 - 2 TB | ≥ 25 Mbps | Geth, Erigon, Nethermind, Besu | ✅ Yes | |
| 8 - 10 Cores | 32 GB | 2 - 4 TB | ≥ 50 Mbps | Geth, Erigon, Nethermind, Besu | ✅ Yes | |
| 12 – 16 Cores | 32 GB | 4 - 6 TB | ≥ 50 Mbps | Erigon, Besu | ✅ Yes |
A modern node performs millions of tiny random reads and writes every hour. Modern NVMe or SATA SSD drives are strongly recommended and deliver high access rates and low seek times that keep your execution client at the chain head. In comparison, traditional spinning‑disk HDDs are houndred times slower for random access, and should only be used when
- you operate an offline analytics node that doesn’t need real‑time block execution
- you’re running a minimal learning node with higher synchronization times and frequent lags
- you're running an archive node with an SSD and want to extend the storage for historical data
If you're staking with a validator, operating for the consensus network requires great network bandwidth and low latency to receive blocks information and attest them before the deadline. High latency leads to missed attestations, orphaned blocks, and potential penalties. More details can be found on the Router Requirements and Network Demand pages.
- Falling Behind Chain Head: Slow processors or storage can’t process blocks quickly enough, leading to lags.
- Consensus Penalties: Missed validator duties from lags or crashes cause validator inactivity or even slashing.
- Downtime: Operation systems kill resource‑starved software, meaning clients, tools, or metrics stop responding.
- Corrupted Data: Hitting a disk‑space wall forces an emergency resynchronization, taking the node offline.
- Resource Conflicts: All clients and services fight for the same RAM and disk reads, cascading slow‑downs.
- Security Risks: Overloaded nodes may skip signature verification or leave vulnerable endpoints exposed.
Slasher Requirements
The slasher tracks validator attestations to detect misbehaviour on the network. Its computational needs, especially memory and disk usage are significantly higher. Slasher services are recommended for advanced rigs, staking pools, or data‑centers, likely meeting the official requirements within the Prysm, Lighthouse, or Teku consensus clients.
Further details about the slasher functionality can be found on the Slasher Service page.
| Resource | Baseline |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i7‑4770, AMD FX‑8310, or newer |
| RAM | 16 - 32 GB |
| Storage | 1 - 4 TB SSD |
| Network | Reliable broadband with low latency |
The Slasher DB could potentially expand from 0 → 200 GB in one year. Plan for continuous growth or a separate SSD drive.
- Delayed Detection: Lagging behind the chain head means slashable events are missed, making the slasher node useless.
- Cascading Crashes: The slasher can starve the beacon or validator client of resources, meaning the node stops working.
- Higher Penalty Risk: Instability may cause your own validators to be penalised from other slashers.
Storage Demand
Since the LUKSO Mainnet Launch, the blockchain data has increased on a rather static level.
As of May 2025 fully synchronized LUKSO Mainnet Full Node occupies ≈ 62 GB of data, and ≈ 40 GB of slasher database.
An extended analysis and comparison of storage usage across execution clients can be found on the Client Providers page.
| Network | Monthly Growth | Yearly Growth | Monthly Slasher Growth | Yearly Slasher Growth | Genesis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainnet | ~ 2.6 GB | ~ 31 GB | ~ 2 GB | ~ 20 GB | May 23 2023 |
| Testnet | ~ 0.3 GB | ~ 3.7 GB | ~ 0.2 GB | ~ 2 GB | May 03 2023 |
The above data was gathered from Geth and Prysm clients with an active slasher service without any data compromization since genesis. The storage numbers might vary based on other client providers and the total runtime of the slasher service.