# Hardware requirements

The hardware requirements for running an ETN-SC node depend upon the node configuration and can change over time as upgrades to the network are implemented. Electroneum nodes can be run on low power, resource-constrained devices such as Raspberry Pi's. However, many users will choose to run nodes on laptop or desktop computers.

## Processor <a href="#processor" id="processor"></a>

It is preferable to use a quad-core (or dual-core hyperthreaded) CPU. Etn-sc supports a wide range of architectures.

## Memory <a href="#memory" id="memory"></a>

It is recommended to use at least 16GB RAM.

## Disk space <a href="#disk-space" id="disk-space"></a>

Disk space is usually the primary bottleneck for node operators. At the time of writing (March 2024), Electroneum Smartchain is in its infancy, a 200GB SSD is recommended for a full node running ETN-SC. Archive nodes require additional space. We recommend at least 500GB SSD for a "full" archive node that keeps all state back to genesis. Partial archive nodes can also be created by turning off the garbage collector after some initial sync - the storage requirement depends how much state is saved.

As well as storage capacity, ETN-SC nodes rely on fast read and write operations. This means HDDs and cheaper SSDs can sometimes struggle to sync the blockchain. A list of SSD models that users report being able and unable to sync ETN-SC is available in this [GitHub Gist](https://gist.github.com/yorickdowne/f3a3e79a573bf35767cd002cc977b038). Please note that the list has *not* been verified by the Electroneum team.

## Bandwidth <a href="#bandwidth" id="bandwidth"></a>

It is important to have a stable and reliable internet connection, especially for running a validator, because downtime can result in missed rewards or penalties. It is recommended to have at least 25Mbps download speed to run a node. Running a node also requires a lot of data to be uploaded and downloaded so it is better to use an ISP that does not have a capped data allowance.


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