diff --git a/doc/reducetraffic.md b/doc/reducetraffic.md index 085da1a287..a79571913a 100644 --- a/doc/reducetraffic.md +++ b/doc/reducetraffic.md @@ -1,36 +1,35 @@ -REDUCE TRAFFIC +Reduce Traffic ============== -Some node operators need to deal with bandwith cap given by their ISPs. +Some node operators need to deal with bandwith caps imposed by their ISPs. By default, bitcoin-core allows up to 125 connections to different peers, 8 of -them outbound (and therefore 117 max inbound connections). +which are outbound. You can therefore, have at most 117 inbound connections. The default settings can result in relatively significant traffic consumption. - Ways to reduce traffic: -1. Use `-maxuploadtarget=` +## 1. Use `-maxuploadtarget=` -A major part of the traffic is caused by serving historic blocks to other nodes -in initial blocks download state (syncing up a new node). +A major component of the traffic is caused by serving historic blocks to other nodes +during the initial blocks download phase (syncing up a new node). This option can be specified in MiB per day and is turned off by default. -This is *not* a hard limit but a threshold to minimize the outbound -traffic. When the limit is about to be reached, the uploaded data is cut by not -serving historic blocks (blocks older than one week). +This is *not* a hard limit; only a threshold to minimize the outbound +traffic. When the limit is about to be reached, the uploaded data is cut by no +longer serving historic blocks (blocks older than one week). Keep in mind that new nodes require other nodes that are willing to serve historic blocks. **The recommended minimum is 144 blocks per day (max. 144MB per day)** -2. Disable "listening" (`-listen=0`) +## 2. Disable "listening" (`-listen=0`) -Disable listening will result in fewer nodes connected (remind the max of 8 -outbound peers). Fewer nodes will result in less traffic usage because relaying -blocks and transaction needs to be passed to fewer nodes. +Disabling listening will result in fewer nodes connected (remember the maximum of 8 +outbound peers). Fewer nodes will result in less traffic usage as you are relaying +blocks and transactions to fewer nodes. -3. Reduce maximal connections (`-maxconnections=`) +## 3. Reduce maximum connections (`-maxconnections=`) -Reducing the connected nodes to a miniumum can be desired in case traffic -limits are tiny. Keep in mind that bitcoin trustless model works best if you are -connected to a handfull of nodes. +Reducing the maximum connected nodes to a miniumum could be desirable if traffic +limits are tiny. Keep in mind that bitcoin's trustless model works best if you are +connected to a handful of nodes.