#Requirements

#Hardware

Nodes are lightweight. A basic VPS ($10–20/month) is sufficient.

Resource	Minimum	Recommended
CPU	2 cores	4 cores
RAM	2 GB	4 GB
Disk	20 GB SSD	100 GB SSD
Network	10 Mbps	100 Mbps
Uptime	95%	99.5%+

#Software

• Operating System: Linux (recommended), macOS, or Windows
• No runtime dependencies — the Hydra Node is a single statically-linked Go binary (no Node.js, Docker, or other runtime required)
• Optional: Docker, if you prefer containerised deployment

#Network

• A stable internet connection
• A public IP address or domain name (if running a public node)
• Port 4001 open for client connections (REST + WebSocket)
• Port 4002 bound to localhost for the control plane (do not expose publicly)
• Port 9090 for Prometheus metrics (optional)

#API Keys (Per Source)

Each data source you enable may require its own API key. All free-tier sources are marked below:

Source	Auth Required	Where to Get	Cost
USGS Earthquakes	None	—	Free
Pikud HaOref	None	—	Free
Polymarket	None	—	Free
Maritime (MARAD)	None	—	Free
Telegram	None	—	Free
Airspace (AWC SIGMETs)	None	—	Free
OTX AlienVault	API key	otx.alienvault.com	Free
ADS-B Exchange	RapidAPI key	rapidapi.com	Free tier / Paid
AIS Stream	API key	aisstream.io	Free
OpenAIP (airspace zones)	API key	openaip.net	Free

#Platform Registration (Public Nodes Only)

To run a public node that submits data and earns rewards:

1. Create an account at hydra.fast
2. Connect your wallet via Privy
3. Create an app on the platform
4. Use the Create Node wizard to register your node and receive credentials

Private nodes require no registration — just download the binary, create a config, and start.

#Uptime Expectations

Public nodes are expected to maintain 95% uptime over any rolling 30-day period:

Uptime	Effect
95%+	Full rewards
90–95%	Reduced rewards
Below 90%	Significantly reduced rewards
Below 80%	Node may be suspended

Uptime is tracked via heartbeats sent every 30 seconds to the Hydra backend.