[tor-relays] Dynamic upload limit

[Roger Dingledine]

On Sun, Feb 16, 2014 at 08:54:07PM +0100, Bram L wrote:
> Before I do so, however, I am curious whether it actually
> contributes to the Tor network.
> I noticed it takes time for the bandwidth to increase, and if my
> daytime upload limit is low (e.g. 80 kb/s) and unlimited (Gb/s) at
> night, my overall contribution could be very limited due to the time
> it takes Tor to utilize my available bandwidth.

Right -- as you note, the bandwidth authority measurers have no
notion of looking for daily/weekly/etc patterns like this.

> Do you have any insights in this matter?

A better bet might be to simply run your relay, at the Gb/s rate,
only during the times when you're allowed to use the fast rate. The
relay won't get the Guard flag because it won't be suitable for use at
that rate enough of the time, but the bwauths will remember their last
measurements of it each time it comes back, so it should get back in
use pretty quickly after returning each day.

You could even arrange to have it come back an hour or two before you
want things to ramp up, so there's time for it to get into the consensus,
get noticed by clients, etc.

--Roger