How to run a fully validating Ethereum node. Yes you read that, it can be done with the correct hardware.

So Bitcoin is awesome when it comes to running your own node.  You can run it on hardware that is easily 10 years old.

Now running a fully validating Ethereum node using the Ethereumwallet 0.11.1 is a different story.  I gave up over a year ago and thought I would give it another try with new software and hardware and I did it.

I will give an abbreviated list of steps then move onto the hardware.
1).  Install Ubuntu 18.04, update and upgrade and setup.
2.)  Setup ufw .  Open ports 30304, 30304.  I also opened 30301 for good measure.

3.)  Port forward your router to these ports.

4.)  Run ethereumwallet.

5.)  After running it once wait several minutes, you may have to quit and restart to get geth working.

6.)  In the wallet GUI select fastsync.
7.)  The download will take at least two days.  When it is done it will no longer show remote (client) to the number of connections you have.  Presto.  Fully validating non archive node.  At the time of this writing it was only under 140 gigabytes.

Now the hardware.

155/15mbs modem speed

ryzen 2700x

16 gigs of 3200 ddr4 ram

This is the absolute most important upgrade... the hard drive, a Samsung SSD 970 evo 1tb m.2
https://www.harddrivebenchmark.net/hdd.php?hdd=Samsung%20SSD%20970%20EVO%201TB&id=15942

Using a regular hard drive I was not able to download the blockchain but with the SSD it took less than 2 days.
Good luck and ENJOY!