# Getting Started

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Request Access**

Get your access with the Dashboard bot in the [Thor Labs Discord Server](https://discord.gg/thorlabs). You'll need to provide:

* Server IP address
* Preferred UDP port
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Receive Credentials**

Once the bot approves, you'll receive confirmation that your IP:port is registered.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Start Receiving**

Run your UDP listener on the registered port. Shreds will begin flowing immediately.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Monitor Health**

Check that you're receiving shreds:

{% code title="Monitor packets (example)" %}

```bash
# Count packets per second
tcpdump -i eth0 udp port 9000 2>/dev/null | pv -l -i 5 > /dev/null
```

{% endcode %}

Expected: 3,000-10,000 shreds/second depending on network activity.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Data Characteristics

| Metric            | Typical Value                                   |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| Shreds per second | 3,000 - 10,000                                  |
| Shred size        | 800 - 1,228 bytes                               |
| Bandwidth         | 30 - 100 Mbps                                   |
| Latency advantage | <p>200 - 400ms vs RPC<br>100-200 ms vs gRPC</p> |

## Next Steps

* [Choose Your Data Source](/infrastructure/thor-shredstream/choose-your-data-source.md) — Explore all available data sources
* FAQs — Frequently Asked Questions


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.thornode.io/infrastructure/thor-shredstream/getting-started.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.