[tor-relays] Opt-In Trial: Fallback Directory Mirrors

[Nick Mathewson]

TL;DR: Stable non-exit relays can help tor clients use the Tor
network. Please opt-in!

We want to run a trial of fallback directory mirrors (fallbacks) in
Tor. Tor clients contact fallbacks to download the consensus during
initial bootstrap, before they contact the directory authorities.

Fallbacks allow Tor to bootstrap in networks that block the Tor
directory authorities. This allows people to use Tor without manually
configuring bridges or pluggable transports.

For more information about fallbacks, see:
https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/wiki/doc/FallbackDirectoryMirrors

For this trial, we want to find around 100 stable non-exit relays, as
exits currently experience high load.

We want relays that expect to be stable for the next 2 years, with:

good uptime,
the same IP address(es) and port,
the same relay identity key,
good bandwidth and network connectivity.

In December 2015, we created a list of ~400 candidate fallbacks.
https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/attachment/ticket/15775/fallback_dirs.inc

If your relay is on this list, and you expect it to be on the same IP
address(es) and port for at least 2 years, please consider opting-in
for this trial. (Relays that aren't on the list are welcome to opt-in.
They will be considered in future releases, or if the selection
criteria change.)

For the initial fallback release, we will only add your relay if you
opt in. Please reply on the tor-relays mailing list, if you are able.
(Opt-ins, opt-outs, and fallbacks chosen for inclusion in tor, will be
managed using lists in the publicly available tor git repository.)

all best wishes, & thanks for running Tor!