Node Requirements for OKTC: Validator, Full, and Archive Nodes

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Running a node on the OKTC (OKX Chain) network is a critical step for participants who wish to contribute to network security, decentralization, and data availability. Whether you're setting up a Validator Node, Full Node, or Archive Node, understanding the precise hardware and performance requirements ensures stable operation and long-term reliability.

This guide outlines the minimum hardware configurations, explains key technical considerations, and provides actionable recommendations—especially when deploying nodes on cloud platforms like AWS or Alibaba Cloud.

Minimum Hardware Configurations

To ensure your node functions effectively within the OKTC ecosystem, adhere to the following baseline specifications. These requirements vary slightly depending on the type of node you're operating.

Validator Node

As the most critical node type, validators are responsible for proposing and voting on new blocks. They must maintain high uptime, fast synchronization, and strong security.

Full Node

Full nodes validate transactions and blocks independently by downloading the entire blockchain. While they don’t participate in consensus directly, they play a vital role in network integrity and data distribution.

👉 Optimize your node performance with reliable infrastructure tools and resources.

Archive Node

Archive nodes store complete historical state data, making them essential for analytics platforms, block explorers, and auditing services. Due to extensive data retention needs, their storage demands are significantly higher.

💡 Note: As the OKTC blockchain grows over time, storage requirements will increase. It's strongly advised to provision more than the minimum storage capacity to ensure uninterrupted operation and future-proof your setup.

Technical Background: Why Disk Performance Matters

OKTC nodes utilize LevelDB as the underlying database engine to store both block data and state information. LevelDB is optimized for high-speed key-value operations but places significant I/O demands on storage systems.

Because nodes frequently read from and write to disk during block validation, synchronization, and state queries, disk performance becomes a bottleneck if not properly addressed—especially under heavy network load.

Poor disk performance can lead to:

Therefore, selecting the right type of storage medium is not just a recommendation—it’s a necessity for reliable node operation.

Common Issues with Standard Cloud Storage

Many users attempt to deploy OKTC nodes using standard cloud disk offerings such as Alibaba Cloud’s Ultra Disk or shared storage solutions. However, these often result in suboptimal performance.

The Problem: Synchronization Lag

Nodes deployed with basic cloud disks—particularly mechanical or entry-level SSDs—frequently experience:

This lag compromises node reliability and can disqualify validators from participating in consensus rounds.

Recommended Storage Solutions

To overcome performance limitations, it's crucial to select high-performance storage options available on major cloud providers.

Alibaba Cloud Disk Options

Alibaba Cloud offers four primary types of cloud disks:

  1. Standard SSD – Balanced performance and cost; suitable for most node operations
  2. Ultra Disk – Lower-cost option but limited I/O capacity; not recommended for production nodes
  3. ESSD (Enhanced SSD) – High IOPS and throughput; ideal for archive nodes or high-load environments
  4. ESSD AutoPL – Automatically scales performance based on capacity; flexible for growing chains

Best Practice: Use Standard SSD or ESSD

For both AWS and Alibaba Cloud, we recommend using Standard SSD as the minimum viable disk type. For archive nodes or high-throughput validators, consider upgrading to ESSD or equivalent high-performance NVMe-backed storage.

👉 Access advanced tools and ecosystem support to streamline your node deployment.

Using enterprise-grade SSDs ensures:

For reference: Alibaba Cloud Disks Overview

Key Takeaways for Node Operators

Successfully running an OKTC node requires more than just meeting minimum specs—it demands strategic planning around hardware selection, cloud provider choices, and ongoing maintenance.

Core Keywords:

These keywords reflect common search intents from developers, validators, and infrastructure teams exploring how to deploy compliant and efficient nodes on the OKTC network.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I run an OKTC node on a consumer-grade PC?

A: While technically possible during early stages, consumer hardware typically lacks the sustained I/O performance and RAM capacity needed for long-term stability—especially for full or archive nodes.

Q: Is it safe to use HDD instead of SSD?

A: No. Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) have significantly slower random access times compared to SSDs. This results in poor synchronization performance and increases the risk of node failure.

Q: How much will storage needs grow over time?

A: Storage requirements expand with blockchain activity. While current needs start at 1 TB for full nodes, expect annual growth of 20–50%. Archive nodes may require additional terabytes each year.

Q: Do all node types require 64G RAM?

A: Yes. All three node types—validator, full, and archive—require 64 GB RAM to handle concurrent operations, state caching, and peak load scenarios efficiently.

Q: Why does CPU speed matter for validator nodes?

A: Validator nodes must process blocks rapidly and sign them within tight time windows. A faster CPU (3.5 GHz+) reduces processing latency, improving proposal success rates.

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By aligning your infrastructure with these guidelines, you ensure optimal performance, reduce operational risks, and contribute meaningfully to the health and decentralization of the OKTC network. Whether you're a developer, validator candidate, or blockchain enthusiast, investing in robust hardware is the foundation of successful node operation.