Node Requirements
Hardware
| Resource | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 1 vCPU | 2 vCPU |
| RAM | 1 GB | 2 GB |
| Disk | 20 GB SSD | 40 GB SSD |
| Bandwidth | 100 Mbps | 1 Gbps |
Why 1 GB RAM?
The Priva node-client uses libp2p for peer-to-peer networking. libp2p requires significant memory during peer discovery and connection initialization (especially when joining the network for the first time). With less than 1 GB, the node may be killed by the OS OOM killer.
Operating System
Supported: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, Debian 12, Debian 11
Not officially supported: Windows, macOS (may work via Docker Desktop for testing)
Network
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Port 8336/TCP | P2P communication with other nodes |
| Port 8336/UDP | QUIC transport (faster P2P) |
| Static or stable IP | Required for reliable node registration |
| IPv4 | Required |
| IPv6 | Optional (supported) |
Check if ports are accessible
From another machine:
# Test TCP
nc -zv <your-server-ip> 8336
# Test UDP (requires netcat with -u flag)
nc -zuv <your-server-ip> 8336
Or use an online port checker like portchecker.co.
Docker
The node runs exclusively via Docker. Docker Engine 24+ and Docker Compose v2 are required.
Check your versions:
docker --version # Should be 24.x or higher
docker compose version # Should be v2.x
VPS Providers
Tested and recommended:
| Provider | Plan | ~Cost/mo |
|---|---|---|
| OVH VPS | VPS Starter | €4–6 |
| Hetzner | CX22 | €4 |
| DigitalOcean | Basic Droplet 1GB | $6 |
| Vultr | Regular Performance 1GB | $5 |
| Contabo | Cloud VPS 1 | €4 |
tip
Hetzner and OVH offer the best price/performance ratio for node operators.