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Workload guide · NetworkingAlways-on 24/7

Reverse proxy: hardware requirements guide

Nginx Proxy Manager / Traefik / Caddy for service exposure.

Needs no bulk storage — a small boot SSD is enough. Spend the budget on CPU, RAM and network instead.

Hardware requirements by tier

Three tiers for every workload: the minimum that works, the recommended sweet spot, and the comfortable headroom level. These are the same tiers the WisePC decision engine uses when it plans a build around your goal.

CPU cores
2cores
RAM
2GB
Storage
0TB
SSD
GPU
None
—
TierCPU coresRAMStorageGPUVRAMNetwork
Minimum1 cores1 GB0 TB (ssd)None—1 GbE
Recommended2 cores2 GB0 TB (ssd)None—1 GbE
Comfortable4 cores4 GB0 TB (ssd)None—2.5 GbE
Overkill7 cores7 GB0 TB (ssd)None—2.5 GbE

Beyond Comfortable — 7 cores, 7 GB RAM, 0 TB (SSD): headroom you will never use for this workload alone. Put the difference into storage, backup or silence.

Recommended system shape

Derived by the decision engine from the recommended tier — the same logic that plans full builds.

Form factor
sff
Build style
prebuilt
Drive plan
—

Light requirements (2 threads, 2GB RAM) fit a sff prebuilt system — simpler and more efficient than building from parts.

One box or a separate machine?Keep on the main server

Whether this workload deserves its own system or should live on the main server.

Lightweight always-on service — a separate system would add cost, energy and maintenance for no benefit.

What will it cost?

Market-neutral EUR bands from the reference drive model (≈ = estimated street price). Live component prices resolve on the build page for your region.

Array energy / year
≈ €33/yr
∼15 W idle

Compute (CPU, board, RAM, GPU) is not included — see the recommended build for live prices.

Which tier do you need?

  • Pick Minimum (1 cores, 1 GB RAM) only for a single-purpose machine on a tight budget — expect little headroom.
  • Recommended (2 cores, 2 GB RAM) is the sweet spot: enough for the workload plus the usual side-services, without overspending.
  • Pick Comfortable (4 cores, 4 GB RAM) when this workload shares the machine with others or will grow — you pay for headroom, not for anxiety.
  • GPU rule for this workload: None.GPU rule for this workload: None (no discrete VRAM needed).

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM does reverse proxy need?

1 GB is the sensible minimum, 2 GB covers most real setups, and 4 GB gives comfortable headroom for growth and extra services.

How many CPU cores does reverse proxy need?

A 1-core CPU is the minimum, 2 cores is the recommended sweet spot, and 4 cores is comfortable when it shares the machine with other workloads.

Does reverse proxy need a dedicated GPU?

No — integrated graphics or a headless setup is enough.

What storage and network does reverse proxy expect?

Storage: 0 TB of SSD is the recommended baseline (0 TB minimum, 0 TB comfortable). Network: 1 GbE is the recommended baseline.

What runs well alongside reverse proxy?

It pairs naturally with: Router / gateway, Firewall.

How much power does reverse proxy use?

The storage array idles around 15 W (≈ 33 €/year at 0.25 €/kWh). The full system adds CPU, board and fans on top — see the cost section for the honest bands.