LibreQoS/docs/v2.0/requirements.md

System Requirements

LibreQoS can be run either on a dedicated physical server (bare metal) or as a VM. Ubuntu Server 24.04 is the supported operating system.

Physical Server (Bare Metal)

CPU

• 2 or more CPU cores are required
• Choose a CPU with high single-thread performance within your budget. Queuing is CPU-intensive, and requires high single-thread performance.

Single-thread CPU performance determines the maximum capacity of a single HTB (CPU core). This, in turn, affects the maximum capacity of any top-level node in the network hierarchy (e.g., top-level sites in your network). This also impacts the maximum speed plan you can offer customers within safe margins.

Top-Level Node Max

Throughput	Single-Thread Score
1 Gbps	1000
2 Gbps	1500
3 Gbps	2000
5 Gbps	4000

Customer Plan Maximum

Throughput	Single-Thread Score
100 Mbps	1000
250 Mbps	1250
500 Mbps	1500
1 Gbps	1750
2.5 Gbps	2000
5 Gbps	4000

Below is a table of approximate aggregate capacity, assuming a CPU with a single thread performance of 1000, 2000, 3000, or 4000:

CPU Cores	Single-Thread Score: 1000	Single-Thread Score: 2000	Single-Thread Score: 3000	Single-Thread Score: 4000
2	1 Gbps	3 Gbps	5 Gbps	7 Gbps
4	3 Gbps	5 Gbps	9 Gbps	13 Gbps
6	4 Gbps	8 Gbps	14 Gbps	20 Gbps
8	5 Gbps	10 Gbps	18 Gbps	27 Gbps
16	10 Gbps	21 Gbps	36 Gbps	54 Gbps
32	21 Gbps	42 Gbps	72 Gbps	108 Gbps
64	42 Gbps	84 Gbps	144 Gbps	216 Gbps
128	84 Gbps	168 Gbps	288 Gbps

Hyper-threading

It is recommended to disable Hyper-Threading (Simultaneous Multi-Threading) in the BIOS/UEFI settings, as it can interfere with XDP processing.

Memory

• Recommended RAM:

RAM (using CAKE)	Max Subscribers
4 GB	1,000
8 GB	2,000
16 GB	5,000
32 GB	10,000
64 GB	20,000
128 GB	40,000

Disk Space

50 GB of disk space or more is generally recommended, both for servers and VM deployments.

Device Recommendations

Small Form Factor (1G to 10G)

Throughput	1 Gbps	2.5 Gbps	10 Gbps
Per Node / Per CPU Core	1 Gbps	2.5 Gbps	5 Gbps
Manufacturer	Supermicro	Supermicro	Minisforum
Model	SYS-E100-12T-H	SYS-E102-13R-E	MS-01
CPU Option	i7-1185GRE	Default	i9-12900H
RAM Option	2x8GB	2x8GB	1x32GB
NIC Option	Built-in	Built-in	Built-in
Extras	USB-C RJ45	USB-C RJ45
Temp Range	-30°C ~ 50°C	0°C ~ 40°C	0°C ~ 40°C
Temp Range	(-22°F to 122°F)	(32°F ~ 104°F)	(32°F ~ 104°F)
ECC	No	No	No
Power	12-24V DC	12-24V DC	19V DC

Rackmount Servers (10G to 100G)

Throughput	10 Gbps	10 Gbps	25 Gbps	50 Gbps	100 Gbps
Per Node / Per CPU Core	5 Gbps	5 Gbps	3 Gbps	3 Gbps	4 Gbps
Manufacturer	Supermicro	Dell	Supermicro	Supermicro	Supermicro
Model	SYS-511R-M	PowerEdge R260	AS-1115S-FWTRT	AS-1015SV-WTNRT	AS -2015CS-TNR
CPU Option	E-2488	E-2456	8534P	8534P	9745
RAM Option	1x32GB	1x32GB	4x16GB	2x64GB	4x64GB
NIC Option	10-Gigabit X710-BM2 (2 x SFP+)	Intel X710-T2L (2 x 10G RJ45)	Mellanox (2 x SFP28)	Mellanox 100-Gigabit (2 x QSFP56)	MCX653106A-HDAT
Temp Range	0°C ~ 40°C	5–40°C	0°C ~ 40°C	0°C ~ 40°C	0°C ~ 40°C
Temp Range	(32°F ~ 104°F)	(41–104°F)	(32°F ~ 104°F)	(32°F ~ 104°F)	(32°F ~ 104°F)
ECC	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Power	AC	AC	AC	AC	AC

Another cost-effective solution is to procure a used server from a reputable vendor, such as TheServerStore. Such vendors often stock servers capable of 10 Gbps throughput, for around $500 USD.

Network Interface Requirements

• One management network interface completely separate from the traffic shaping interfaces. Usually this would be the Ethernet interface built in to the motherboard.
• A Dedicated Network Interface Card for Two Shaping Interfaces

Officially supported Network Interface Cards for the two shaping interfaces are listed below:

NIC Controller	Port Speed	Suggested Models	Known Issues
Intel X520	10 Gbps		Module compatibility*
Intel X710	10 Gbps	X710-BM2 10G	Module compatibility*
Intel XXV710	10 / 25 Gbps	XXV710 25G	Module compatibility*
Intel XL710	10 / 40 Gbps	XL710-BM2 40G	Module compatibility*
Mellanox ConnectX-4 Lx	10/25/40/50 Gbps		No known issues.
Mellanox ConnectX-6	10/25 Gbps	MCX631102AN-ADAT	No known issues.
Mellanox ConnectX-6	100 Gbps	MCX623106AN-CDAT 100G	No known issues.
Mellanox ConnectX-7	200 Gbps	MCX755106AS-HEAT 200G	No known issues.

(*) Intel often vendor-locks SFP+ module compatibility. Check module compatibility before buying. Mellanox does not have this problem.

We will ONLY provide support for systems using a NIC listed above. Some other NICs may work, but will not be officially supported by LibreQoS. If you want to test the compatability of another card, please be aware of these fundamental NIC requirements:

• NIC must have multiple TX/RX transmit queues, greater than or equal to the number of CPU cores. Here's how to check from the command line.
• NIC must have XDP driver support for high-throughput (10 Gbps+).

If you discover that a card not listed in the table above is compatible, please let us know by emailing support [at] libreqos.io.

Virtual Machine

LibreQoS can be run as a VM, although this comes at a performance penalty of 30%. For VMs, NIC passthrough is required to achieve throughput above 10 Gbps (XDP vs generic XDP). LibreQoS requires 2 or more RX/TX queues, so when using a virtualization platform such as Proxmox, be sure to enable Multiqueue for the shaping interfaces assigned to the VM. Multiqueue should be set equal to the number of vCPU cores assigned to the VM.

Throughput	vCPU*	RAM	Disk
1 Gbps	2	8 GB	50 GB
10 Gbps	8	32 GB	50 GB

• Assumes vCPU performance equal to a single core of the Intel Xeon E-2456 with hyper-threading disabled.