The host channel in Russia is the second bottleneck after electricity. A slow, asymmetric or unstable channel means low utilization, a failed bandwidth test and lost rentals.
Vast.ai requirements
- ≥ 500 Mbit/s download AND ≥ 500 Mbit/s upload
- Symmetry is key: clients upload results and models, so upload matters
- Low packet loss and stability (high loss = dropped rentals)
- Latency is not critical for batch ML
The main problems in Russia
- Tariff asymmetry: often 1000 down / 100–300 up — upload < 500 fails the requirement
- Blocking: Docker Hub and the bandwidth test are throttled by DPI → a VPN tunnel via a foreign VPS is needed
- Network hardware or driver can underperform even on a good tariff
From the field: Realtek caps upload at ~330 Mbit → use Intel; NIC offloads (GSO/TSO/GRO) cause loss and halve speed — disabling them adds 40–55%; an ISP can silently cut the channel; rentals push tens of TB per month — you need unlimited traffic.
To start, get a symmetric ≥ 500/500 plan (ideally gigabit symmetry) with unlimited traffic and a static IP, and plan from the outset for the channel to run through a VPN tunnel.