What happens if block chain size gets bigger than available space?

[cr4zyd3v]

I was taking a look here: https://bitcoin.org/en/full-node and saw a minimum requirement of 200 GB of space,
but looking here: https://www.blockchain.com/charts/blocks-size I see that block chain size is getting close to 300 GB

what is the minimum free space required? and what happens with the server if the block chain size gets bigger than the free space we have in the server?

[pooya87]

what is the minimum free space required? and what happens with the server if the block chain size gets bigger than the free space we have in the server?

what "sever"? there is no server in a decentralized network. there are only peers which are individual computers. each computer can have a different storage types (HDD, SSD, M2,...) and different total and free space available to it. and so far the PCs have been way ahead in their storage than bitcoin blockchain size.

[odolvlobo]

I was taking a look here: https://bitcoin.org/en/full-node and saw a minimum requirement of 200 GB of space,
but looking here: https://www.blockchain.com/charts/blocks-size I see that block chain size is getting close to 300 GB

what is the minimum free space required? and what happens with the server if the block chain size gets bigger than the free space we have in the server?

I would devote 1 TB to the block chain. That should last for a few years and 1 TB is not all that much any more.

If you run out of space on your node, then it will stop working.

[ranochigo]

The free space won't matter as much if you enable pruning. There are certain constraints with pruned node as opposed to full nodes but if you're running low on space, it would be a viable option to keep the space utilisation constant.

If it runs into the buffer space, it would stop synchronising and it would be reflected in your debug.log.

[Lorence.xD]

what is the minimum free space required? and what happens with the server if the block chain size gets bigger than the free space we have in the server?

what "sever"? there is no server in a decentralized network. there are only peers which are individual computers. each computer can have a different storage types (HDD, SSD, M2,...) and different total and free space available to it. and so far the PCs have been way ahead in their storage than bitcoin blockchain size.

With the constant innovation in computing speed, free space would not be a problem because there will be a continous increase of users and comes with that is the increased spaces, not to mention that quantum computing is becoming a thing and it will be a revolutionary technology because it will increase the computing speed by hudredfolds if this will become available in public.

[stompix]

but looking here: https://www.blockchain.com/charts/blocks-size I see that block chain size is getting close to 300 GB
~
and what happens with the server if the block chain size gets bigger than the free space we have in the server?

As pooya87 said, there is no "server".
Second, if you look at the numbers, it's 70 GB a year and it can't grow with much more than that a year. The basic 500GB SSD you can get for under 100$ will be able to run the blockchain for another 3 years. By that time 1TB SSDs will be cheap enough for almost anyone to afford, and they will give you an extra 7 years of storage capacity.

[The Cryptovator]

what happens with the server if the block chain size gets bigger than the free space we have in the server?

Seems you have wrong idea about blockchain, using servers sound like centralized. But for decentralized blockchain doesn't required a specific storing servers. Blockchain stored to all computers those are using full nudes. It would be miners or user like you & me. For better understanding you may read this article, Where is the blockchain stored? . All the nudes acting like backup, and all nodes get update when a new transaction broadcast on the chain. You should read know everything about blockchain to gain more knowledge.

[slaman29]

The size of blockchain does mean that those who can't afford 1 TB or even the internet speed to download the entire one can't really get on board the network in that way though right?

I'm not even talking about an extreme case where people don't have internet. Even for me a 1 TB HDD is a mini luxury, and I don't have good enough connection at home to download that 300 GB unless I'm willing to wait 60 days with nothing else happening (power cut for sure happens every month at least once!).

[cr4zyd3v]

I think I did  pass the wrong impression here.. the server I mention is the computer supposed to run the node (what would happen to this computer).. it is an EC2 instance. also, it is not a criticism on bitcoin side. I will need to run a node for a web app, in order to handle payments and just want to make sure it won't crash while the app is running.

So RPC calls won't work if node stops syncing.. are there too many downsides by using the prunning mode?

Thank you for the answers so far

[cr4zyd3v]

So RPC calls won't work if node stops syncing.. are there too many downsides by using the prunning mode?

There are downside of pruned node, but that depends on which RPC call you need. If you only fetch transaction details of address on your wallet, pruned node should be good enough.

Oh, I see.. I have some options now. thank you for all the clarification guys! I will be closing this one