If you are not familiar with blockchain nodes, these are computing devices that contain a copy of blockchain-related information. Not only are they geographically distributed elements of infrastructure, but they are also essential in making sure blockchain data is valid and confirmed.
That said, blockchain nodes are often used by Web3 builders and blockchain enthusiasts. Some developers opt for deploying self hosted blockchain nodes. These private nodes are undoubtedly hard to falsify or to be misused, hence they are costly and not-so-easy to maintain on your own.
Frankly speaking, not many rookie developers are ready for how tedious the maintenance of self-hosted nodes could be. Therefore, it is much more time- and cost-efficient to let blockchain node providers do the heavy lifting for you. For instance, GetBlock RPC provider offers private (dedicated) nodes for over 50+ networks.
In this article, we are going to break down the ways how the GetBlock blockchain node provider could help you start your own business in the blockchain industry from scratch
Types of blockchain nodes
Each node is assigned its own task. Generally, however, experts highlight three main node types used in the Ethereum ecosystem: full, light, and archive. Let’s take a closer look at each of them.
Full nodes: these crucial elements of blockchain infrastructure are used to store the entire blockchain history, participate in block validation, and verify block states & blockchain states. Additionally, full nodes are responsible for copying and saving transaction data - the process which could sometimes take up to several weeks, hence requiring high bandwidth and performance hardware. After synching all blockchain-related information, full nodes can provide data on request or demand.
Light nodes: these nodes sync block headers and are also known as read-only nodes designed to provide data related to the current state of the blockchain. Block headers contain summarized information, therefore light nodes do not need high-performance tools to operate.
Archive nodes: archive nodes, in their essence, are more helpful for blockchain services rather than an individual user as they are mostly used for analytical purposes. They store blockchain data since its inception and offer access to all historical states.
Related: Types of Nodes in Blockchains
Reasons to deploy self-hosted nodes
Let’s break down a few reasons why some developers opt for self hosted nodes.
Self-reliance in privacy and security
One of the most obvious reasons why running a self hosted node could be beneficial is privacy. As a self-reliant developer, you do not have to share your IP addresses with other platforms to access the blockchain copy. This way you minimize the risk of leaking sensitive information, and the possibility of fraudulent transactions is at its lowest potential.
No limits imposed
Running a self hosted blockchain node also represents the ability to access the blockchain whenever required and/or necessary. The access, therefore, cannot be censored or denied by third parties. Transactions are also immediately broadcast to the rest of the node participants.
Decentralization
If deployed nodes are reliant on a centralized entity, such as cloud servers, their maintenance could be disrupted due to malicious attacks or network errors. By running a self hosted node, users are able to minimize the possibility of failure by creating more resilience and choosing how to control their node.
Reasons NOT to deploy self-hosted nodes
Now we are going to mention several drawbacks of utilizing self hosted nodes.
Requires programming skills
A major disadvantage of hosting an independent node is the high-level programming skill requirement, meaning that each developer has to understand how to maintain nodes and be familiar with specific hosting needs, while also filling in other knowledge gaps in the meantime. Essentially, a self hosted node requires time, money, a professional DevOps team, and a large amount of dedication.
Results in high maintenance costs
Not only are self hosted nodes difficult to maintain but they also can get quite expensive to run. If you run your node on your personal computer, you will need a large amount of hardware space (minimum 500 GB) in addition to NVMe SSDs and a lot of RAM. Some estimates show that a node deployment for a larger-scale project could result in thousands of dollars nnually in maintenance costs alone, not including engineering work and Internet access.
Could lack reliability
Deploying self hosted nodes could take up to 3-6 months on average. The entire process is dependent solely on the developer and/or the development team to establish stable and robust infrastructure and reduce downtime. Connectivity issues may lead to inconsistency, unreliability, and unproductivity. What’s more, building self-hosted nodes includes getting access to private keys and passwords. Developers should be careful not to lose their private data, as it is impossible to regain if lost.
Why you should run nodes with GetBlock
GetBlock is a blockchain node provider for 50+ networks designed specifically to help its clients escape any troubling points of running self hosted nodes but still keep the benefits of using node infrastructure at the same time. Let’s look at some of the ways GetBlock makes Web3 builders forget about one of the most monotonous parts of their job.
Top level of privacy
In December 2022, GetBlock updated its privacy policy by adding Web3 authorization through MetaMask in addition to the elimination of IP tracking. This way, users are guaranteed safe handling of their email addresses as they do not have to share their sensitive data with GetBlock any longer. GetBlock’s key privacy goal is aimed at minimizing the amount of processed data.
Related: GetBlock Activates Major Privacy Upgrade: Now Users Sign Up via Crypto Wallets
Related: Blockchain RPC Provider That Won’t Track You: Case of GetBlock
Continuous online support
All dedicated node users receive 24/7 online support from GetBlock’s technical team. GetBlock is a blockchain-as-a-service and RPC node provider that strives to guarantee an easy and safe experience for each client, therefore the support is handled by professionals in the blockchain industry and GetBlock users do not need to hire engineering and technical teams to keep their nodes up and running.
Guaranteed reliability
By using dedicated nodes hosted by GetBlock, users are provided with the best user experience alongside 100% availability. This means that GetBlock clients can send and receive transactions on time, request data from blockchain explorer, and much more. There also won’t be a need to waste time on fixing issues single-handedly.
| GetBlock blockchain node provider | Self-hosted nodes |
|---|---|
| Private authorization through Ethereum wallet & guaranteed security | Self-responsibility for privacy & security issues |
| 24/7 online support | No support |
| Reliable and stable connection | THigh chance of reliability issues |
| Tiered pricing | High costs |
| Out-of-box solution | More time-consuming |
Final thoughts: Why is GetBlock better than self-hosted nodes?
GetBlock is a blockchain node provider with one of the widest selections of networks in the industry. The list of dedicated nodes includes BNB Chain (BSC) nodes, Ethereum (ETH) nodes, Polygon (MATIC) nodes, Bitcoin (BTC) nodes, Tron (TRX), and other popular networks. GetBlock alleviates the need to spend your time and money on building and hosting blockchain nodes, which, as we know, are crucial elements of creating an efficient and successful decentralized application.
Additionally, GetBlock users can access shared nodes -- the type of nodes where users share node infrastructure with their peers. Newcomers can try out GetBlock’s free plan to experiment with shared nodes by utilizing 100k daily requests and the rate limit of 60 requests/sec.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact GetBlock customer support here.
Related: GetBlock Records: Our Progress and Endeavors in 2022
