BTCD (not bitcoind) initial block download - ibd - will take two weeks

[pkuvz]

I'm currently at block 480xxx and it's been about 6 days. DL 24 hours a day. 4 blocks every 16 seconds.
I hope it doesn't slow and become asymptotic as I reach block 710xxx.
The bitcoind ibd took only a day or two.

1. why does the btcd ibd take so long?
2. Are there any work-arounds?

[vv181]

BTCD is known to be far slower than bitcoind.

Try to ramp up the --sigcachemaxsize config, I don't know what is the number you should choose, but here's what people picked:

Code:

# https://github.com/btcsuite/btcd/issues/1339#issuecomment-858775969
To anyone having performance issues when syncing you could try to set: (if you have enough memory that is)
sigcachemaxsize=8000000

# https://blog.lopp.net/2020-bitcoin-node-performance-tests/
My btcd.conf:
nocheckpoints=1
sigcachemaxsize=1000000

Also, you should move this thread to Bitcoin Technical Support board and also make sure you stated your hardware specifications.

[jackg]

I think you're going to find out how slow it'll get when you reach the end of 2017 in blocktime.

Whatever you're using to do the download on also, you could try killing as many background tasks as you can if you don't need them (you could also boot the machine in safe mode with networking for Windows to make it faster or kill the desktop for Linux if you don't need a gui).

But if you currently use HDD, but have SSD on your device, you could try make symbolic link on directory which store UTXO.

It's also possible to move the files back from an ssd after the sync has completed so you don't have to worry about doing too many writes on it.