HOW TO USE SOLANA BEACH TO TRACK SOLANA NETWORK UPGRADES

The Solana network evolves rapidly, with frequent performance upgrades and validator improvements that keep it one of the fastest blockchains in the world. Instead of relying on social media updates, you can monitor Solana's real-time performance and upcoming network upgrades directly from Solana Beach, a public blockchain explorer that visualizes validator activity, block times, and network health.

This guide will show you how to use Solana Beach to stay informed about Solana's network status and protocol updates.

Step 1: Visit Solana Beach

1. Go to solanabeach.io in your web browser *Solana Beach provides detailed analytics for validators, staking, epochs, block production, and network versions, all in real time

   

Step 2: Check the Network Overview

1. On the homepage, you'll see a summary of key network data, including:

   • Current Slot and Epoch: Indicates how far along the network is in its block cycle

   • TPS (Transactions Per Second): Shows how quickly the network is processing transactions

   • Block Time: Displays average time per block, usually around 400–600 milliseconds

   • Version: The Solana software version currently running on most validators

     

     These metrics confirm that the network is healthy and operating efficiently.

Step 3: View Validator Activity

1. Scroll down to the Validator Map or open the Validators tab at the top

2. You'll see all active validators, their current version, uptime, and stake amount

   

   If you notice many validators running a new version (for example, upgrading from v1.17 to v1.18), it often indicates that a protocol update is being deployed across the network. You can also identify validators still running older versions, useful for tracking the progress of an upgrade rollout.

Step 4: Monitor the Current Epoch and Leader Schedule

1. Solana upgrades often roll out gradually during new epochs

2. In Solana Beach's Epoch section, you can:

   • View the current epoch number and its duration

   • Check how many slots have been completed

   • Track leader schedules, showing which validators are producing blocks

Understanding epochs helps you know when updates might take effect, since many network-level changes activate at epoch boundaries.

Step 5: Compare Network Versions

1. Click the "Versions" or "Validators" tab to see which Solana release versions validators are running *If a large percentage are already on a newer version, that usually means a new software update (upgrade) has been released and adopted

This is one of the easiest ways to identify new upgrades before official announcements are widely shared.

Step 6: Stay Updated

1. For deeper technical details about updates, you can also visit:

   • status.solana.com: for official network status reports

   • docs.solana.com: for release notes and validator changelogs

   • Solana Beach: for real-time confirmation that validators are running the latest software

Tips

• Check the average block time and TPS regularly to confirm the network's health

• A sudden drop in validator uptime or a mismatch in versions may indicate that an update is in progress

• Bookmark Solana Beach to easily monitor upgrades and network performance over time

Conclusion

Solana Beach is one of the best tools for keeping track of Solana's health and upgrades in real time. By checking validator versions, epochs, and performance metrics, you can see exactly when network improvements are being rolled out, all without connecting a wallet or holding any SOL.

Whether you're a validator, developer, or just a curious Solana user, understanding how to read Solana Beach keeps you ahead of every network upgrade.