Change the validator hardware requirements and add CPU features

[rach-id]

Similar to celestiaorg/celestia-app#5932, we need to update the docs to reflect the new hardware changes

[jcstein]

In order to deliver 128mb/6s blocks, we need to increase our validator's hardware requirements. These requirements are mainly for CPU, which should support GFNI instructions and optionally support SHA_NI instructions.

These requirements are not necessary for 32mb/6s, but it would be good to have validators think about upgrading their hardware beforehand.

Intel CPUs that support GFNI

Most new CPUs from intel, starting from Ice lake support GFNI. However, some series don't, so node operators need to run the check below to double check.

AMD CPUs that support GFNI

AMD CPUs support GFNI starting Zen4.

How to check

In order to check whether the CPU supports GFNI or SHA_NI, on linux, you can run:

grep -o -E 'sha_ni|gfni' /proc/cpuinfo

And if the CPU supports them, they will be printed:

sha_ni
gfni

i looked at the issue, are the above the new requirements? we recently updated spec requirements: 8451e43

[rach-id]

Yes, we want to bump the requirements for consensus validator nodes to 32 CPU supporting GFNI and optionally SHA_NI.

However, we don't want to include this change for 32mb/6s, but for 128mb/6s. That's why we should wait until we're done with the v6 upgrade not to confuse validators.

[jcstein]

should we change archival requirements?

https://docs.celestia.org/how-to-guides/nodes-overview#archival-consensus-nodes

[jcstein]

*Archival disk requirement is based on the current v6 32MB/6s throughput at maximum capacity. In reality the requirement can be much lower and we advise regularly checking disk usage and having at least 1 month worth of max throughput of extra disk space (8TiB).

[jcstein]

tracking here: celestiaorg/celestia-app#6046

[evan-forbes]

do we have hardware recs in the docs? if so can we update here @jcstein ?

[rach-id]

I will prepare some document and link it here

[jcstein]

they were updated recently. can you please double check? https://docs.celestia.org/how-to-guides/nodes-overview#recommended-celestia-node-requirements

[rach-id]

Yes, these are for 32mb/6s. We will need new ones for 128mb/6s. Created for more information: celestiaorg/celestia-app#6172

[jcstein]

should this only be done once it's live on mainnet?