Cloud Compute IOPS Limits
Every DartNode Cloud Compute instance includes guaranteed IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) to ensure consistent storage performance. This article explains how IOPS limits are calculated and applied to your virtual server.
Standard VPS IOPS
For standard VPS instances, IOPS scales automatically with your disk size:
Formula: Disk Size (GB) × 500 IOPS
IOPS is clamped between a minimum floor and maximum ceiling:
| Limit Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Minimum IOPS | 3,000 |
| Maximum IOPS | 1,600,000 |
Examples
| Disk Size | Calculated IOPS | Actual IOPS |
|---|---|---|
| 5 GB | 2,500 | 3,000 (minimum floor) |
| 20 GB | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| 50 GB | 25,000 | 25,000 |
| 100 GB | 50,000 | 50,000 |
| 250 GB | 125,000 | 125,000 |
| 500 GB | 250,000 | 250,000 |
VDS (Dedicated Slice) IOPS
VDS instances use a slice-based allocation model. Each host node has a total IOPS budget based on its storage hardware, which is divided evenly across all available slices.
Node IOPS by Storage Type
| Storage Type | Total Node IOPS |
|---|---|
| NVMe | 800,000 |
| SSD (SATA) | 80,000 |
| SAS | 4,000 |
| HDD | 1,500 |
How it's calculated:
- Per-slice IOPS: Total Node IOPS ÷ Total Slices
- Your IOPS: Per-Slice IOPS × Slices Allocated
For example, on an NVMe node with 16 total slices, each slice receives 50,000 IOPS. A VDS with 4 slices would have 200,000 IOPS.
How IOPS Limits Are Applied
IOPS limits are applied as a combined read/write limit—not separate limits for reads and writes. This means your total disk operations (reads + writes) share the same IOPS budget.
In addition to IOPS, a bandwidth cap of 2,560 MB/s is applied to prevent any single instance from saturating shared storage bandwidth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I increase my IOPS limit?
For standard VPS, upgrading your disk size automatically increases your IOPS. Contact support if you need custom IOPS limits for specific workloads.
What happens if I hit my IOPS limit?
Disk operations will queue until capacity is available. You may experience increased latency during sustained high-IOPS workloads. Consider upgrading your disk or optimizing your application's disk access patterns.
Are IOPS guaranteed or burstable?
Your IOPS limit represents the maximum sustained rate. There is no burst capability above your allocated limit.