Quick Recommendation: Which Solana RPC Node Type Fits Your Workload?
If you are building a production application on Solana, the choice between a shared and a dedicated RPC node comes down to your traffic profile, latency sensitivity, and budget. Here is a quick decision guide:
- Choose a shared RPC node if you are prototyping, running a low-traffic dApp, or have bursty but non-critical requests. Shared nodes are cost-effective and easy to start with, but performance can vary under load.
- Choose a dedicated RPC node if you need consistent low latency, high throughput, or run applications like trading bots, DeFi protocols, or real-time analytics that cannot tolerate jitter or rate limiting.
- Consider a hybrid approach: use a shared node for general reads and a dedicated node for critical paths like transaction submission or WebSocket streaming.
For most production workloads, a dedicated node provides the performance isolation you need. OnFinality offers both shared RPC endpoints and dedicated nodes so you can scale as your application grows.
What Is a Shared Solana RPC Node?
A shared RPC node is a server that multiple users or projects access through the same endpoint. The provider runs a cluster of nodes and distributes requests among them. This model is efficient for the provider and keeps costs low for you, but it means you share CPU, memory, and network bandwidth with other tenants.
Performance Characteristics of Shared Nodes
- Latency: Generally acceptable for most use cases, but can spike during peak hours when other tenants generate heavy traffic.
- Throughput: Limited by the total capacity of the shared infrastructure. Providers often enforce rate limits to prevent any single user from monopolizing resources.
- Jitter: Variance in response times can be significant, especially if a neighbor on the same node runs a high-volume workload.
- Reliability: If the shared node goes down, you are affected along with everyone else. Providers typically have failover, but you have less control.
What Is a Dedicated Solana RPC Node?
A dedicated RPC node is a server provisioned exclusively for your project. You get your own instance with dedicated CPU, memory, and network resources. This isolation provides predictable performance and allows you to tune the node configuration to your needs.
Performance Characteristics of Dedicated Nodes
- Latency: Lower and more consistent because you are not competing with other tenants for resources.
- Throughput: Higher and more predictable, enabling you to handle large volumes of requests without hitting shared rate limits.
- Jitter: Minimal, as your node's resources are not affected by external workloads.
- Reliability: You have more control over the node's configuration and can implement custom monitoring and failover strategies.
Head-to-Head Comparison: Shared vs Dedicated Solana RPC
The following table summarizes the key differences:
| Dimension | Shared RPC Node | Dedicated RPC Node |
|---|---|---|
| Latency | Moderate, variable | Low, consistent |
| Throughput | Limited by shared capacity | High, scalable |
| Jitter | Possible under load | Minimal |
| Cost | Lower, pay-as-you-go | Higher, predictable monthly fee |
| Control | Limited to provider's config | Full control over node settings |
| Use Cases | Prototyping, low-traffic dApps | Trading, DeFi, high-traffic apps |
| Rate Limits | Often enforced | Not applicable (your own node) |
Performance Factors Beyond Node Type
While the shared vs dedicated distinction is important, other factors also affect your Solana RPC performance:
- Geographic proximity: The physical distance between your application and the RPC node affects latency. Choose a provider with nodes in regions close to your users.
- Network routing: The path your requests take over the internet can introduce delays. Providers with optimized routing or multiple regions can reduce this.
- Node configuration: Solana nodes can be tuned for different workloads, such as enabling caching, adjusting transaction forwarding, or using specialized clients like Jito.
- TLS overhead: Encryption adds a small amount of latency. Dedicated nodes can sometimes use plain HTTP for internal networks, but this is rarely recommended for production.
When to Choose a Shared Solana RPC Node
Shared nodes are a great starting point for many projects. Consider a shared node if:
- You are building a prototype or MVP and want to minimize infrastructure costs.
- Your application has low to moderate traffic with no strict latency requirements.
- You are comfortable with potential rate limits and occasional performance variability.
- You want to get started quickly without managing infrastructure.
OnFinality's shared RPC endpoints provide a reliable and easy way to connect to Solana without worrying about node maintenance.
When to Choose a Dedicated Solana RPC Node
Dedicated nodes are essential for performance-critical applications. Choose a dedicated node if:
- You run a high-frequency trading bot or a DeFi protocol that requires low and consistent latency.
- You need to handle a high volume of requests without hitting rate limits.
- You require custom node configuration, such as enabling gRPC streaming or using a specific Solana client.
- You want to ensure that your application's performance is not affected by other tenants.
OnFinality's dedicated node service offers isolated resources and full control, allowing you to optimize your Solana RPC infrastructure for peak performance.
How to Test and Monitor Solana RPC Performance
Before committing to a node type, it is wise to benchmark and monitor performance. Here is a simple way to test latency using curl:
curl -X POST https://api.mainnet-beta.solana.com \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"getHealth"}'
Measure the time it takes to get a response. For a more comprehensive test, you can use a script to send multiple requests and calculate average latency and jitter.
For ongoing monitoring, set up alerts on key metrics like:
- Request latency (p95, p99)
- Error rate
- Throughput (requests per second)
-
Node health (e.g.,
getHealth)
Many RPC providers, including OnFinality, offer monitoring dashboards and API analytics to help you track performance.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
- Assuming shared nodes are always slow: Shared nodes can be perfectly adequate for many use cases. The key is to monitor performance and scale up when needed.
- Ignoring rate limits: Shared nodes often have rate limits. Make sure your application handles 429 responses gracefully and implements retry logic.
- Not considering geographic location: If your users are in Europe, an RPC node in the US will add unnecessary latency. Choose a provider with global coverage.
- Overlooking WebSocket connections: For real-time updates, WebSocket connections are essential. Ensure your provider supports WebSocket and that your dedicated node is configured for it.
- Forgetting about archive data: If you need historical data, you may need an archive node. Dedicated nodes can be provisioned with archive data, but this increases storage requirements.
Key Takeaways
- Shared Solana RPC nodes are cost-effective but offer variable performance due to resource sharing.
- Dedicated Solana RPC nodes provide consistent low latency, high throughput, and full control, making them ideal for performance-critical applications.
- Consider your traffic profile, latency requirements, and budget when choosing between shared and dedicated nodes.
- Monitor performance metrics and be prepared to scale your infrastructure as your application grows.
- OnFinality offers both shared RPC endpoints and dedicated nodes to support your Solana development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use a shared Solana RPC node for production?
A: Yes, many production applications use shared nodes successfully. However, you should monitor performance and be aware of rate limits. If your application is latency-sensitive or requires high throughput, a dedicated node is a safer choice.
Q: How much does a dedicated Solana RPC node cost?
A: Pricing varies by provider and configuration. Dedicated nodes are typically more expensive than shared nodes, but the cost is predictable and often includes dedicated support. Check RPC pricing for details.
Q: Can I switch from a shared to a dedicated node later?
A: Yes, most providers allow you to upgrade your plan. OnFinality makes it easy to provision a dedicated node and migrate your application with minimal downtime.
Q: What is the best way to reduce latency on Solana?
A: Choose a provider with nodes in regions close to your users, use a dedicated node to avoid resource contention, and optimize your application's request patterns. Consider using WebSocket for real-time data to reduce polling overhead.
Q: Does OnFinality support Solana devnet?
A: Yes, OnFinality provides Solana devnet RPC endpoints for testing and development.
For more information about supported networks, visit our supported RPC networks page.
Related resources
Originally published at OnFinality.
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