Archive Nodes
Learn what archive nodes are, when you need them, how they differ from full nodes, and how to choose the right endpoint on Dwellir.
Archive nodes retain historical chain state for queries at past blocks. Use them for old balances, historical contract state, and supported tracing workflows.
Available history and methods depend on the chain, node client, and endpoint. Archive access alone does not guarantee genesis coverage, historical proofs, or every tracing method.
Archive vs Full Nodes
| Node Type | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Archive | Historical chain state and contract storage, plus debug/trace access where supported | Analytics, audits, historical balances, backfills, simulation, debugging |
| Full | Recent chain state, latest blocks, current balances, transaction submission, and standard RPC queries | Wallets, dApps, trading bots, indexers focused on recent data |
When You Need an Archive Node
Use an archive endpoint when your workload depends on historical state, including:
eth_calloreth_getBalanceat old block heightsdebug_*andtrace_*namespaces- large historical log scans and replay workloads
- backfilling analytics across long block ranges
- reproducing or debugging past transaction behavior
If you only need current balances, recent blocks, transaction sending, or real-time subscriptions, a full node is usually enough.
What Archive Nodes Store
Archive nodes retain:
- all historical blocks
- all historical transactions
- historical account balances and storage state
- contract state snapshots across past block heights
That extra history is why archive infrastructure costs more to run than standard full nodes.
Networks Without Standard Archive Access
Before a backfill, test the specific method at the oldest block you need. See historical query troubleshooting.
Some chains on Dwellir currently expose full nodes on the standard platform rather than archive nodes. You can still:
- query current state
- submit transactions
- read recent blocks and receipts
- use normal RPC integrations with SDKs like ethers.js, viem, Web3.js, and polkadot.js
If you need deep historical access on a chain that currently shows Full in the Supported Chains catalog, contact the team for dedicated node cluster options.
How to Decide Quickly
Use this rule of thumb:
- querying the present or the recent past: full node
- querying arbitrary historical state or traces: archive node
If you are unsure, check the method you plan to call. In Dwellir docs, trace/debug-heavy methods call out archive requirements explicitly.
Related Guides
Rate Limits
Dwellir rate limits by plan, token bucket algorithm with burst protection, handling 429 errors, and setting per-key usage quotas to control API spend.
Tracing
Use debug_traceTransaction, trace_transaction, and other tracing APIs to inspect smart contract execution, debug failed transactions, and analyze gas usage on Dwellir archive nodes.