Please describe your proposed solution.
We understand that time is valuable and reading through the entire project can be time-consuming. Therefore, we have prepared a summary (items below), complete with pictures.
1/Challenge: High server costs, limited internet access, and growing Cardano complexity hinder #Cardano SPOs. We aim to tackle these challenges and provide a solution that benefits both underprivileged SPOs and those seeking to optimize costs. See the graph (RAM vs VPS Cost)
2/Solution: We propose acquiring bare metal Amazonian Solar-Powered linux ubuntu servers through Fund10, which will run on the infrastructure of our registered IT company in Brazil. In addition, we will subsidize the internet costs. By joining us, SPOs will contribute to decentralization within the ecosystem, as our pool (ADABR) currently stands as the sole representative in the Amazon region. Access to the servers will be like a regular VPS server over ssh.
Photo vendors-quoted servers. Proposed tech spec (for multiple instance support): Intel® Xeon® Gold 5416S 2G, 16C/32T or similar; 128GB RDIMM, 4800MT/s Dual Rank; 4TB SSD RAID.
3/The community's Fund10 contribution will provide the subsidy to set up the structure and computer network specially for the project, which is simple. In return, we will offer maintenance and infrastructure, including company facilities, internet entreprise link and clean energy. We operate today ADABR Pool linux servers, and a mining farm with 30KW + 10,8KW on solar panels. See pictures below about where we are sited (Belem-PA-Brazil).
Facade of the our company's commercial building
10,8 kW panels over our company's solar farm 1 and 30 kW panels over our company's solar farm 2 near the equator
4/SPOs will only be responsible for the cost of the VPS internet link, which we'll strive to keep as low as possible. This aspect of the project has faced criticism, but it needs to be sustainable in the long run. As a potential solution, we propose sharing IP ports to divide the IP costs among users, reducing cost less than 50 ADA/month
5/Despite being located in the Amazon, our internet connection is highly stable, you can check our 24h-uptime on https://cexplorer.io/pool/pool1z97uz9kzzfdekjjrmxvslvxzyj9jep6thf4he5qtmcdaqvznl8c/about#data anytime. Additionally, the region's proximity to Central America and a four-hour flight to the USA provides convenient access.
Please proceed below with the full text of our project.
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The primary issue at hand revolves around the exorbitant costs associated with dedicated cloud or bare metal servers that meet the minimum requirements of the Cardano network. Currently, these requirements entail a minimum of 24GB RAM, 250GB SSD HDD, and a minimum two-core CPU. In Brazil, the price range for such servers fluctuates from approximately 200 USD to as high as 1500 USD on AWS EC2 instances, rendering them unaffordable for many Cardano Stake Pool Operators (SPOs). Despite pool rewards amounting to around 340 ADA every 5 days, SPOs often find themselves having to operate at least 3 servers, some even paying to stay active, with non-block producing pools all epochs.
To overcome this challenge, we propose an alternative approach. The project aims to procure reliable, high-end servers (proposed tech spec for multiple instance support: Intel® Xeon® Gold 5416S 2G, 16C/32T or similar; 128GB RDIMM, 4800MT/s Dual Rank; 4TB SSD RAID) specifically designed to operate with 99.9% uptime, utilizing solar energy as a sustainable power source. By capitalizing on solar energy and leveraging the infrastructure of or company facilities, operated by ADAZUL Pool (adazulpool.com), we can provide VPS servers at a significantly reduced price, as low as possible, our target is set to be less than 50 ADA/month.
In addition to the cost advantage, this project will ensure servers with fixed IP addresses and ports, running Ubuntu Linux and allowing SSH connections over the enterprise internet link we work on, thus guaranteeing the stability and reliability of the infrastructure. By offering affordable and sustainable server options, we aim to empower SPOs with the necessary resources to operate efficiently and contribute to the growth of the Cardano network, which currently faces escalating demands for more powerful hardware.
Through this solution, SPOs can optimize their financial expenditures, enhance their pool performance, and expand their operations. As a result, it promotes the decentralization and resilience of the Cardano blockchain.
The uniqueness of this solution lies in its combination of affordability, sustainability, and reliability. By providing high-end servers powered by solar energy at a significantly lower cost compared to existing options, this project target audience are specifically the Cardano Stake Pool Operators.
Cardano will benefit from this solution as it addresses the cost barrier that presently hinders the participation of numerous SPOs. By offering accessible servers that meet the network's requirements, it enables a greater number of SPOs to actively contribute to the decentralized operation of the Cardano blockchain.
The importance of this solution to Cardano arises from the necessity of establishing a robust and diverse network of SPOs. As the demand for more powerful hardware increases, it becomes crucial to reduce entry barriers and make server infrastructure more affordable. By doing so, we foster inclusivity, encourage broader participation, and bolster the network's resilience and security.
To demonstrate the impact of this project, transparent documentation of the cost savings realized by SPOs who adopt these servers will be provided. Additionally, the increase in the number of active SPOs and their contributions to the Cardano network using the infrastructure will be noted.
Overall, this solution effectively addresses a critical problem, presents a unique approach and aims to empower SPOs to contribute effectively to the network's clean energy growth and decentralization.
How does your proposed solution address the challenge and what benefits will this bring to the Cardano ecosystem?
The proposed solution directly addresses the challenge of high costs associated with acquiring dedicated servers for Cardano Stake Pool Operators (SPOs). By offering reliable, VPS servers powered by solar energy at a significantly lower price, the solution enables SPOs to meet the minimum requirements of the Cardano network while reducing their operational expenses. This approach empowers SPOs to operate efficiently and contribute to the growth and decentralization of the Cardano ecosystem.
The benefits of this solution to the Cardano ecosystem are multi-fold. Firstly, it eliminates the cost barrier that prevents many SPOs from participating, allowing a greater number of stakeholders to actively engage in operating stake pools. This increased participation enhances the decentralization and security of the Cardano blockchain.
Secondly, the use of sustainable energy sources, such as solar power, aligns with Cardano's commitment to environmental responsibility. By promoting the adoption of eco-friendly practices within the network, the solution contributes to the long-term sustainability of Cardano's operations.
Thirdly, the provision of stable and reliable server infrastructure ensures uninterrupted operation, reducing downtime and improving the overall performance of the Cardano network. This increased stability enhances the user experience, attracting more users and stakeholders to the Cardano community.
The project's impact extends beyond funding the project team. It contributes to the growth of the Cardano ecosystem by expanding the network of active SPOs, strengthening the infrastructure, and fostering a more inclusive and sustainable community over Brazil's Amazon ground.
Quantifying the impact within a reasonable timeframe is dependent on several factors, including the adoption rate of the solution by SPOs and the overall growth of the Cardano network. However, it is realistic to anticipate an increase in the number of SPOs due to the reduced costs and improved operational efficiency provided by the solution. This, in turn, will contribute to a more robust and decentralized Cardano ecosystem.
By tracking the number of SPOs adopting the solution, the increase in active stake pools, and the overall growth of the Cardano network, we can quantify the project's impact. Additionally, monitoring user feedback, transaction volume, and community engagement will provide further insights into the value this solution brings to the Cardano ecosystem.
In conclusion, the proposed solution addresses the challenge of high server costs for SPOs, brings numerous benefits to the Cardano ecosystem, and aligns with Cardano's core principles of decentralization, sustainability, and user-centricity. Through increased participation, improved stability, and reduced operational expenses, the solution fosters a stronger, more resilient Cardano ecosystem that attracts and empowers a diverse community of stakeholders.
How do you intend to measure the success of your project?
The success of the project will be measured through a combination of quantitative and qualitative metrics that demonstrate the benefits brought to the Cardano ecosystem.
Quantitative metrics:
- Adoption rate: We will track the number of SPOs that adopt the servers provided by the project. This metric reflects the solution's acceptance and its ability to address the cost barrier for SPOs.
- Increase in active stake pools: By monitoring the growth in the number of active stake pools within the Cardano network, we can gauge the project's impact on expanding participation and decentralization.
- Cost savings: We will document and quantify the cost savings realized by SPOs who switch to the project's servers. This metric provides a concrete measure of the financial benefits the solution brings to the Cardano ecosystem.
Qualitative metrics:
- User feedback: We are still collecting feedback from SPOs comunity since we uploades this project on Catalyst, this text is being edited continuously, assessing their satisfaction with the solution, its reliability, and the overall user experience. This qualitative measure helps gauge the solution's impact on operational efficiency and user perception.
- Community engagement: We will monitor the level of engagement and participation of SPOs within the Cardano community. This includes involvement in discussions, contributions to the development of the ecosystem, and collaboration among stakeholders. Increased community engagement reflects the project's ability to foster a vibrant and supportive Cardano ecosystem.
These metrics are realistic as they align with the project's objectives and can be tracked through data analysis, user surveys, and community interactions. By combining quantitative and qualitative measures, we gain a comprehensive understanding of the project's impact on Cardano's productivity and growth.
In the short term, the project will provide immediate cost savings for SPOs, enabling them to allocate resources more efficiently and improve their pool performance. This will lead to increased stakeholder participation, contributing to the network's decentralization and resilience.
In the long term, the project's innovative approach of providing affordable, sustainable, and reliable servers will attract new stakeholders to the Cardano ecosystem. The expanded participation will enhance the network's productivity by increasing transaction volume, strengthening security, and fostering a diverse and engaged community.
Overall, the success of the project will be measured by its ability to drive adoption, cost savings, increased stakeholder participation, improved operational efficiency, and positive user feedback. By delivering on these metrics, the project will have a tangible and lasting impact on Cardano's growth, productivity, and ecosystem development.
Please describe your plans to share the outputs and results of your project?
We have devised a comprehensive plan to disseminate and share the outputs and results of our project in a manner that aligns with its nature and objectives.
- Project Website: We will create a specific project website session on adazulpool.com. that provides detailed information about our solution, its implementation process, and the benefits it offers to the Cardano ecosystem. The website session will serve as a central hub for accessing project updates, documentation, and relevant resources.
- Community Engagement: We will actively engage with the Cardano community through social media platforms, forums, and community channels. By sharing regular updates, progress reports, and success stories, we aim to generate awareness, foster dialogue, and encourage participation from stakeholders within the Cardano ecosystem.
- Collaboration with SPO: We will actively collaborate with Cardano Stake Pool Operators (SPOs) and other relevant stakeholders to share the outputs and results of our project. This collaboration can take the form of case studies, testimonials, and joint publications, where we highlight the impact and opportunities our solution brings to the SPO community.
- Presentations and Webinars: We plan to organize presentations and webinars targeted at the Cardano community, industry events, and relevant organizations. These sessions will allow us to showcase the outcomes of our project, discuss its implications, and offer insights on how stakeholders can leverage the solution to improve their operations within the Cardano ecosystem.
- Open-Source Resources and Industry Publications: While the hardware infrastructure itself may not be applicable for traditional research and academic publication, we will contribute to the open-source community by sharing relevant tools, software, and methodologies of know-how developed during the project. These resources will be made available on platforms like cardano.org forum, allowing developers and researchers to explore and build upon our work.
Additionally, if the project is approved and successful, we intend to expand the number of accessible high-end servers in the future. This expansion plan will be communicated to the Cardano community through the aforementioned channels to ensure transparency and facilitate further collaboration. Furthermore, we will explore opportunities to participate in FUND11 and other funding programs, aiming to secure larger perspectives and resources to scale our infrastructure and offer an even greater number of servers to the Cardano ecosystem. We believe that by continuously expanding our server capacity, we can contribute to the growth and resilience of the Cardano network, enabling more stakeholders to actively participate and further decentralize the blockchain.
By implementing these sharing strategies, we aim to raise awareness about our solution, encourage adoption within the Cardano community, and inspire further innovation and research in the field of affordable and sustainable server infrastructure. We are committed to promoting collaboration, sharing insights, and maximizing the dissemination of our project's outputs to benefit the Cardano ecosystem as a whole.