[tor-bugs] #24506 [Core Tor/Torflow]: Move some bandwidth authority servers to a CDN

[Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki]

#24506: Move some bandwidth authority servers to a CDN
------------------------------+-----------------------------------
 Reporter:  teor              |          Owner:  tom
     Type:  task              |         Status:  needs_information
 Priority:  High              |      Milestone:
Component:  Core Tor/Torflow  |        Version:
 Severity:  Major             |     Resolution:
 Keywords:  tor-bwauth        |  Actual Points:
Parent ID:  #24499            |         Points:
 Reviewer:                    |        Sponsor:
------------------------------+-----------------------------------

Comment (by teor):

 Thanks Tom!
 A 15% increase in the differences between bandwidth authorities seems
 reasonable for such a major change,
 Are you only using fastly? Or are you using fastly alongside your existing
 server?


 Replying to [comment:6 mikeperry]:
 > FWIW, I think a better approach is to ensure we are getting the
 diversity we need by specifying a list of mirrors in specific geographic
 locations.

 We can use one or more CDNs to cover some geographic locations, and
 specifically set up servers in other locations that aren't covered by the
 CDNs.

 > If we can somehow specify which location that the CDN always uses for
 us, rather than having it picking the closest one to whichever exit, that
 would be better IMO. See also #24674.

 Fastly does not have this feature: it only allows us to select between US-
 EU POPs, and all POPs.

 Can you explain why choosing the nearest server is a bad thing?
 If our goal is to provide each client with approximately the same
 bandwidth regardless of path, then we should include paths that clients
 typically use. This includes downloads from CDNs. And it probably does
 include a bias towards the US and EU, because many websites are hosted
 there, or are hosted on CDNs that have a bias towards there. (But maybe
 not a bias that is as extreme as the one we have right now.)

--
Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/24506#comment:7>
Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki <https://trac.torproject.org/>
The Tor Project: anonymity online