[tor-bugs] #23508 [Core Tor/Tor]: large clock skews cause numerous bootstrap UX issues

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#23508: large clock skews cause numerous bootstrap UX issues
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     Reporter:  catalyst      |      Owner:  (none)
         Type:  defect        |     Status:  new
     Priority:  High          |  Milestone:  Tor: 0.3.2.x-final
    Component:  Core Tor/Tor  |    Version:
     Severity:  Major         |   Keywords:  bootstrap usability ux
Actual Points:                |  Parent ID:
       Points:                |   Reviewer:
      Sponsor:                |
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 Setting the system clock several hours ahead or behind real time can cause
 many different bootstrapping problems.  Often bootstrapping will get stuck
 with no obvious way to make progress, and no visible indication of what
 might actually be wrong.  These seem to be lead to a disproportionate
 number of support requests.

 Some examples are:

 clock in past:
 * stuck at 40% (Loading authority key certs)
 clock in future:
 * stuck at 80% (Connecting to the Tor network)
 * stuck at 85% (Finishing handshake with first hop)

 More details and child tickets as I investigate further.

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Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/23508>
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