# Cherry Servers

### 🛠️ Option B: Create a Cherry Servers Account and Obtain an API Key (Infrastructure Provider)

#### 1.1 Create an account

Go to <https://portal.cherryservers.com/register> and create a new user account.

#### 1.2 Complete identity verification (mandatory)

Once registered, go to your **Profile** and locate the **“Identity verification”** section.\
Complete the required verification process and wait until it is approved.

{% hint style="info" %}
⚠️ Identity verification is mandatory to use Cherry Servers services.
{% endhint %}

#### 1.3 Add a payment method and fund your balance

After verification approval:

* Go to **Profile → Billing**
* Add your preferred payment method
* Cherry Servers supports **crypto payments**

In the **Team Balance** section, you must add an initial balance in order to rent a VPS.

{% hint style="info" %}
💡 **Pricing notes:**

* For users **outside the European Union**, the VPS cost is approximately **USD 11.8**

EU residents must calculate and include **VAT** on top of this amount
{% endhint %}

💳 **Credit / Debit Card users:**\
If you fund your balance using a **credit or debit card**, you can enable automatic future charges.\
After adding balance, go to **User → Subscription Payments** and enable **Automatic Renewal** to allow future charges to be processed automatically.

#### 1.4 Generate an API Key

Once your account has available balance:

* Go to <https://portal.cherryservers.com/settings/api-keys>
* Create a new API Key
* Copy and store it securely

#### 1.5 Connect to Node Studio

Go to the Node Studio platform:\
<https://near.xnode.openmesh.network/>

#### 1.6 Deploy the VPS

* Click **Deploy**
* Select the recommended VPS option:

**Cloud VPS 6 (Gen 2)**\
6-Core CPU, 6 GB RAM, 100 GB SSD, 1 Gbps Networking, 1,024 GB Bandwidth

#### 1.7 Link your Cherry Servers account

* When prompted, paste the **Cherry Servers API Key**
* Click **Rent Server** (**⚠️ only once** to avoid multiple charges)

#### 1.8 Wait for provisioning

* Wait a few minutes for the server rental to execute
* The server will appear in Node Studio with status **“Provisioning”**
* This process usually takes around **10 minutes**

If after 10 minutes the status is still **“Provisioning”**, refresh the Node Studio page to update the status and continue with the validator setup process.

***

-> Continue on [Step 2](https://docs.metapool.app/master/validator-nodes/node-studio-software/quick-guide)