[tor-bugs] #23863 [Core Tor/Tor]: When our directory guards don't have each others' microdescs, we should mark some dead

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#23863: When our directory guards don't have each others' microdescs, we should
mark some dead
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 Reporter:  teor                               |          Owner:  (none)
     Type:  defect                             |         Status:  new
 Priority:  Medium                             |      Milestone:  Tor:
                                               |  0.3.2.x-final
Component:  Core Tor/Tor                       |        Version:  Tor:
                                               |  0.3.0.6
 Severity:  Normal                             |     Resolution:
 Keywords:  tor-guard, tor-bridge, tor-client  |  Actual Points:
Parent ID:  #21969                             |         Points:  1
 Reviewer:                                     |        Sponsor:
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Comment (by asn):

 Replying to [comment:8 teor]:
 > I think we should implement an authority md fetch for clients that run
 out of microdesc attempts. And I think they can easily handle the load of
 a few mds, because they are handling a similar consensus load from clients
 and relays already.
 >
 > I also don't think removing fallbacks from the list will help much,
 because bootstrapping clients try authorities anyway.
 >

 I'm continuing the discussion here altho it's worth mentioning that teor
 also added some more calculations in #24113.

 I think I can get behind doing an authority md fetch for clients that have
 failed too many microdesc attempts. To further reduce the load on
 dirauths, perhaps we should do this only if we are missing descriptors for
 some of our primary guards (i.e. only if we are missing very crucial mds),
 since clients can/should usually tolerate missing a few random mds.

 If we agree on the general concept here, I will come up with an
 implementation plan early next week.

--
Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/23863#comment:9>
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