For environments monitoring over 12,000 elements, SolarWinds recommends APEs with 8 CPU cores and 32 GB of RAM for medium scales, and scaling up to 12 cores and 64 GB of RAM for larger setups.
The database server should be provisioned with robust hardware as well. For medium deployments, SolarWinds suggests a database server with at least , ensuring low-latency connectivity to the main SolarWinds Platform server.
SQL Express is only supported for evaluation or very small environments. : IIS 10.0 or higher. Modern browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. "Free" Options and Trials
SolarWinds NPM scales its resource requirements based on deployment size. Deployments are measured by the total number of monitored elements, which include nodes, interfaces, and logical disk volumes. Environment Sizing Supported Elements Minimum CPU Recommended RAM Minimum Storage Up to 500 items 20 GB NTFS space Medium (SL2000) 501 – 2,000 items 40 GB NTFS space Large (SLX) 2,000+ items Dual Quad-Core 100 GB RAID 1+0 solarwinds npm 202026 system requirements free
For a standard installation of the SolarWinds Platform 2024.4 , the following hardware is recommended based on deployment size:
This article serves as a complete guide to the system requirements for deploying SolarWinds NPM 2026.1, covering hardware, software, and database prerequisites for various environment sizes. We will also outline how to obtain a free trial. 1. What is SolarWinds NPM?
Key OS considerations include:
Always install the SolarWinds Platform server and its SQL database on in production. This separation is the single most effective way to prevent resource contention and keep your monitoring console responsive.
For production, use Windows Server 2016 or 2019 for the best experience.
| OS | Edition | Compatibility | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Standard / Datacenter (Desktop Experience) | ✅ Fully supported | | Windows Server 2016 | Standard / Datacenter (Desktop Experience) | ✅ Fully supported | | Windows Server 2012 R2 | Standard | ⚠️ Legacy, but works | | Windows 10 Pro/Enterprise (v1809+) | 64-bit | ✅ Supported only for evaluation/trial (max 10 nodes for license reasons) | SQL Express is only supported for evaluation or
SolarWinds NPM 2026.1 is part of the integrated SolarWinds Platform, meaning it shares the same core infrastructure as other modules like NetFlow Traffic Analyzer (NTA).
SolarWinds NPM 2020.2.6 System Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide
Internet Information Services (IIS) Version 10 or higher "Free" Options and Trials SolarWinds NPM scales its
Before installing SolarWinds NPM 2022.06, ensure your system meets the following requirements: