diff --git a/en/full-node.md b/en/full-node.md index e779a817..f30e1973 100644 --- a/en/full-node.md +++ b/en/full-node.md @@ -1437,5 +1437,52 @@ If you have any questions about configuring Bitcoin Core, please stop by one of our [forums](/en/bitcoin-core/help#forums) or [live chatrooms](/en/bitcoin-core/help#live). +### Reduce Traffic + +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 +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: + +#### Maximum Upload Targets + +{% highlight text %} +-maxuploadtarget= +{% endhighlight %} + +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; 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)** + +#### Disable listening + +{% highlight text %} +-listen=0 +{% endhighlight %} + +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. + +#### Reduce maximum connections + +{% highlight text %} +-maxconnections= +{% endhighlight %} + +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. +