Module 2: Infrastructure, Hardware & Security Basics

What this module covers

• Where to run Ethereum validators
• Hardware requirements
• Basic security and operational hygiene

Where validators can run

Ethereum validators can run in multiple environments, including:

• Consumer-grade hardware at home
• Cloud servers

Running validators from home strengthens the network by improving decentralization and is encouraged where feasible. That said, many operators (especially professionals) run validators on cloud infrastructure.

Hardware requirements

Exact requirements vary by client and configuration, but a reasonable baseline is:

• CPU: 4 cores (modern x86 or ARM)
• RAM: 16 GB (ideally 32 GB)
• Storage: 2 TB SSD (ideally 4 TB)
• Network:
• Stable connection
• Low latency preferred
• There’s no strict bandwidth requirements
• High or inexistent monthly data cap (nodes communicate constantly with others and can reach hundreds of GB every month)

Security basics

At this stage, we are not setting anything up yet but you should internalize these rules early:

• Validator keys:
• Must be generated securely (we’ll show how later)
• Must never be reused across machines
• Must never be shared
• Access:
• Use SSH keys, not passwords
• Keep software updated
• Backups:
• Keep a backup of essential files (e.g. keystores)

Read more here

1. Node hardware requirements https://ethereum.org/developers/docs/nodes-and-clients/run-a-node/
2. Nodes and clients overview https://ethereum.org/developers/docs/nodes-and-clients/

End of the module

By this point, you should have a rough idea of where and how you plan to run your validator.