Single nodes (was same first hops)

[Geoff Down]

On 10 Oct 2008, at 07:25, Geoff Down wrote:

>
> On 10 Oct 2008, at 03:40, Scott Bennett wrote:
>
>>      On Thu, 9 Oct 2008 19:23:48 +0100 Geoff Down 
>> <downie at castlecops.net>
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Interestingly, I had about 6 single nodes showing on the Vidalia
>>> network map yesterday, whilst my traffic was going via a normal 
>>> 3-node
>>> circuit and another 3-node circuit was in preparation.
>>> The single nodes disappeared after 20 minutes or so.
>>>
>>      Were those nodes your entry guards by any chance?  Although tor 
>> initially
>> tries to build a few (3?) circuits, once they have expired and no 
>> longer have
>> any active streams in them, they get torn down *except* for the links 
>> between
>> your client and the entry guard nodes.  This not only improves 
>> security, but
>> also means that a new circuit already has the first hop connected 
>> when tor
>> goes to build that new circuit.
>>      Of course, that doesn't explain why those links disappeared 
>> after about
>> 20 minutes, and right offhand, no other explanation comes to mind.
>>
>
> They weren't my usual entry nodes, no. It's a mystery.
>
>
It's just happened again - 12 single nodes as well as my 3 normal entry 
nodes and their circuits.
Is there some level of logging I should have on to capture what's going 
on?
GD