Choosing Hardware, OS & Location for Ethereum staking

Complete guide to choose proper hardware, operating system and placement for a staking node allowing staking on multiple chains. This page is part of a complete Ethereum staking guide.

Staking hardware

Staking can be performed continuously on any type of computer device, as long as the hardware meets the minimum required specifications. Such device can be called a staking node.

Options for running a staking node

  1. Running the node on your PC

    Staking node can be teoreticaly launched on a PC or laptop you use for a daily work. However, this option is not recommended as it comes with many potential security issues.

  2. Running a dedicated personal computer for staking

    The most affordable secure way of running a staking node. You can either use some older PC or buy a new one. There is possible to run UI-based Operating system as well as server-based operating system, see operating systems section.

  3. Running on a server device

    Running a node on a server hardware.

Minimum hardware requirements:

  • Modern multi-core CPU
  • At least 32GB Ram
  • NVMe SSD of at least 2TB

Sample Hardware: Asus NUC

Staking Node Sample - Installing Ubuntu Server on Asus NUC

Hardware configuration

  • ASUS NUC with Intel Core i5 CPU and tall body (for better cooling), ASUS NUC 13 Pro NUC13ANHI5 Tall
  • 4 Tb SSD nVME, Kingston SSD KC3000 4TB NVMe
  • 64 Gb RAM, Kingston Fury Impact SODIMM DDR4 2x32GB 3200MHz

Staking node placement

Staking node can be placed at any location that meets the following criteria:

  • stable electrical network
  • stable and reliable internet connection of at least 15 MBPs download and upload without strict monthly data allowance
  • reasonable thermal and dusty conditions for PC operation
  • sufficient security against physical theft of the computer

Technically, any computer can be accessed and controlled locally through a directly connected monitor and keyboard as well as remotely through the SSH. From this point of view, based on your options and preferences you can choose from following:

  1. Running own hardware from your Home / Office

    Most simple way where you connect your staking node to the electricity and internet right at home / office or any other location you have under your control.

  2. Running own hardware located at a Server House

    You rent a space on a server house where you connect your staking node to electricity and internet. Server houses has usually certain level of redundancy against power and internet outages.

  3. Running rented hardware located at a Cloud

    You rent a hardware in a cloud-based service within which you will start a staking node.

Staking on an appropriately selected device is associated with a very low costs of electricity. Real Staking node location can be hidden from world by using VPN services.

Operating System

Staking can be operated on numerous Operating systems supported by staking clients. Recommended Operating system for Stakers.space staking guides is Ubuntu, but you can use also other operating systems including Microsoft Windows.

Get Ubuntu Server OS

Staking is possible from Ubuntu Desktop as well as Ubuntu Server OS. While Ubuntu Desktop comes with a standard User Interface (UI) and may seem to be easier to manage, the Ubuntu Server is usually the better choice as the UI is usually useless as you work with a terminal. Absence of that UI tools associated with Server distribution may save computional resources.

  1. Download Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Server from https://ubuntu.com/download/server
  2. Create a bootable USB Stick with the Ubuntu Server distribution image

Install Ubuntu Server OS to your your node

For this step, you need to

  1. Connect your node to monitor, keyborad, electricity and internet. Stick Ubuntu bootable flash disk to your node.
  2. Turn on the PC while pressing F11 key to load boot selection. If loaded, select your USB stick
  3. Install The Ubuntu Server
    Select "Try or Install Ubuntu Server"
    Wait for OS preparation
    Wait for timedatectl service
    Select OS language
    Select "Update to the new installer"
    Confirm keyboard
    Select "Ubuntu Server"
    Confirm network by selecting "Done"
    Skip proxy by pressing "Done"
    Wait till mirror is completed, then press "Done"
    Check Storage configuration, then press "Done". Confirm the option by pressing "Continue"
    Uncheck "Set up this disk as an LVM group to avoid disk fragmentation", then press "Done".
    Fill identifiers. Your name may be same as username. Server name is name under which you will see the device in the network.
    Skip "Upgrade pro" option
    You can check Install OpenSSH server option. Anyway, this may be installed later as well (see the guide).
    Skip snaps by pressing "Done".
    Wait for Ubuntu server OS installation complete. Then select "Reboot Now".
  4. Unstick flash
    On request, remove flash.

Set proper BIOS settings

  1. While PC loads ater restart, press F2 to load BiOS settings
  2. Set Power delivery after failure and cooling mode
  3. Press F10 to save and exit
In "Power,Performance and Cooling", set "After Power Failure" to Power On. This ensure that the node will automatically start after an electricity power failure.
Through "Secondary Power Settings" of the same section, you can customize cooling mode.

First load

  1. After auto restart, a login window appears.
  2. Past your username and press enter. You will be requested to palce password. Write the password and press enter.

After a succesfull login, you can skip at next step.

Get Ubuntu Server on Cloud node

  1. Select a choice with Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Server OS Installed

Check your server user

As your Ubuntu Server OS was installed automatically, you may face to being logged in as a root user. If that's the case, it's recommended to use a different user for accessing and managing the server.

  • create a new standard user and give it sudo rights.

    Select name for your new server user: 
    adduser yourusername
usermod -aG sudo yourusername

  • If you are logged in root through the SSH keys, associate these SSH keys to the newly create user

    rsync --archive --chown=yourusername:yourusername ~/.ssh /home/yourusername

Next step: Securying your server & Installing staking clients

Guide to Secure OS + Configurate & Install staking clients