Running a Solana node isn’t just about launching a server — it’s about building reliable, high-performance infrastructure that can handle the demands of a fast, resource-intensive blockchain. With ultra-low block times and high throughput, Solana places unique technical requirements on validators and RPC providers alike. That’s why choosing the right setup is crucial from day one.
We made this guide to help you choose and prepare the optimal environment for running Solana validator or RPC nodes using Cherry Servers.
About Cherry Servers
Cherry Servers is a European infrastructure provider specializing in high-performance bare metal servers. Their platform lets users fully customize hardware configurations — from CPU to networking — without unnecessary limitations or hidden fees.
With data centers in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Chicago, Cherry Servers gives node operators the ability to deploy infrastructure close to major stake hubs. Automation tools like Terraform and Ansible are supported out of the box, and crypto payments are available for blockchain-native teams.
We at Everstake began working with Cherry Servers in June 2024. Since then, their consistent performance and responsive support have made them a trusted partner for our Solana validator infrastructure.
Why We Focus on Solana Nodes in This Guide?
Not all blockchains are created equal. Solana’s architecture is designed for speed, and that speed comes at a cost: the infrastructure requirements are significantly higher than many other chains. Validators and RPC nodes must handle high TPS (transactions per second), fast state changes, and heavy disk and memory usage.
We’ll walk you through every step: choosing your node type, understanding latency, picking CPUs and RAM, and knowing where to deploy geographically.
Each section is based on real-world DevOps experience, including what worked well for us at Everstake — and what didn’t. Our goal is to help you save time, reduce trial and error, and build infrastructure that actually scales.
How to Choose the Right Infrastructure
Follow this step-by-step guide to set up your Solana Node.
Step 1: Define Your Node Type
Before you dive into specs, you need to know what you’re building:
Validator Node
- Participates in consensus
- Stakes tokens and gets rewards
- Needs ultra-low latency, high availability, and predictable performance
RPC Node
- Serves queries to wallets, explorers, and apps
- Handles high I/O and concurrent requests
- Prioritizes disk and CPU throughput
Understanding this distinction affects every other decision you’ll make — from CPU to data center.
Step 2: Choose a Data Center Location
In Solana, latency isn’t just a detail — it can impact your ability to stay in sync or lead in block production.
- Validator nodes should be deployed in data centers close to major stake hubs. Cherry Servers’ Amsterdam and Frankfurt locations are well-connected and proven effective.
- RPC nodes have more flexibility, but we still recommend Amsterdam, Frankfurt, or Chicago to maintain responsive APIs and reduce propagation delays.
Step 3: Select the Right CPU
Solana workloads are compute-intensive. Poor CPU choices lead to dropped slots, slow replays, and missed leader opportunities.
Validator recommendations:
- AMD CPUs Gen4 (Genoa), e.g. EPYC 9254P, 9354P
- AMD Gen5 (Turin), when available
- 24–32 cores (32 is more future-proof)
- Base clock speed ≥ 2.8 GHz
- High all-core boost speed
- SHA extension support
- AVX2 and AVX512f extension support (AVX512f optional but helpful)
RPC recommendations:
- Same CPU families as validators
- 32–64 cores (to handle high-concurrency workloads)
- Prioritize core count over clock speed depending on load
- Balance base clock, core count, and sustained all-core boost performance
Step 4: Configure RAM
Solana’s validators store large amounts of on-chain data and state in memory. Under-provisioned RAM is one of the top causes of instability.
- Validator: Minimum 256 GB
- RPC: 512 GB (768 GB+ for full indexes)
The more ECC RAM you have, the better your node can handle ledger replay, account loads, and memory spikes during network congestion.
Step 5: Optimize Storage Layout
Disk IO is a huge bottleneck if not configured properly. Here’s how to avoid it:
- Use Gen4 NVMe drives (Gen5 even better, but not yet supported by Cherry Servers)
- Separate your workloads:
- 1x NVMe for OS
- 1x NVMe for ledger
- 1x NVMe for accounts & snapshots
This segmentation improves reliability and makes debugging much easier.
Step 6: Ensure Network Bandwidth
Validators need to push and receive data rapidly. Bottlenecks can cause sync issues or even skipped slots.
- Minimum bandwidth: 3 Gbps
- Cherry Servers meets this baseline — just make sure your plan includes it
Step 7: Do You Need a GPU?
No. As of now, running a Solana node does not require a GPU.
Our Partnership with Cherry Servers
We started testing Cherry’s Gen4 Solana servers in mid-2024. One of the first machines included a CPU we hadn’t used before — and that gave us the opportunity to experiment with performance tuning in production-like conditions.
Since then, we’ve gradually expanded our Solana infrastructure on Cherry’s platform. Why?
- Stable performance during peak loads
- Flexibility in configuring hardware
- Fast, responsive technical support
- Transparent billing and crypto payment options
We consider Cherry not just a vendor, but a partner we can rely on as we scale.
Final Thoughts
Running Solana nodes isn’t plug-and-play. It requires careful planning, ongoing monitoring, and hardware that can keep up with the network.
Cherry Servers offers an ideal platform for this kind of work: bare metal, no bloat, customizable, and tested by real validators like Everstake.
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Everstake is a software platform that provides infrastructure tools and resources for users but does not offer investment advice or investment opportunities, manage funds, facilitate collective investment schemes, provide financial services, or take custody of, or otherwise hold or manage, customer assets. Everstake does not conduct any independent diligence on or substantive review of any blockchain asset, digital currency, cryptocurrency, or associated funds. Everstake’s provision of technology services allowing a user to stake digital assets is not an endorsement or a recommendation of any digital assets by it. Users are fully and solely responsible for evaluating whether to stake digital assets.
