> ## 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.
</Note>

## Cloud Provider Recommendations

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="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>

  <Tab title="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>

  <Tab title="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  |
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

**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

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select cloud provider">
    Choose based on your geographic needs, existing relationships, and pricing preferences.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure monitoring">
    Set up essential monitoring before deployment to track performance from the start. See the [monitoring guide](../maintenance/monitoring).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Deploy">
    Follow the [Non-Validator Node Setup](./non-validator-node-setup) guide.
  </Step>
</Steps>