Bitcoin core downloading weely slow

[Pocketchange]

Hi everyone my first post here and it isn't anything original. Sorry  
I have a laptop and trying to download the blockchain to run a full node on bitcoin core.
I'm at 14% and its downloading at about 0.02% per hour and estimating a sync time of 28 weeks.

I've read a bunch and tried everything I could within my skill level.
I'm new to linux and running mint on the machine.

The specs are:
i7-8550U quad-core CPU
32GB DDR4 RAM
1 TB SSD

My internet speed is about:
25mbps dl
15mbps ul

I'm downloading through Tor and I've changed the size of dbcache to 4096Mib.
I had not set up my laptop to not go to sleep and it disconnected from downloading during the first day.
Can anyone help me troubleshoot this?

Is abandoning the download and restarting a bad decision?

Thanks in advance!

[1714620916]

1714620916

[LoyceMobile]

I'm guessing Tor is your bottleneck. Any chance you can do the initial block download though a VPN instead?

[Pocketchange]

I'm guessing Tor is your bottleneck. Any chance you can do the initial block download though a VPN instead?

Thank you Loyce! I can definitely try. Is there anything really to be nervous about not using tor or a vpn for the intial blockchain download?
I've been thinking about this quite a bit.

Thank you!

[LoyceMobile]

It depends, if you don't want other nodes to see your IP, a VPN helps. You can use Tor later on to broadcast any transactions you make.

[Pocketchange]

Hi Loyce.

Quick update.

I disabled tor and trying a free vpn (proton) to see if it helps.
I'm guessing that downloading through a vpn will somewhat slow the download.

I'm currently showing 0.05%- estimated time 9 weeks- which is faster than before  
I'll let this run for a bit to see if things get better.

Thank you!

[LoyceMobile]

Doesn't free Proton have a low data limit?
I like Mullvad.net, you can pay anything you want in Bitcoin, and get the hours you paid for. A dollar should get you a few days to try.

Syncing should take about 2 days for your system, only limited by your download speed.

[OgNasty]

As an alternative to trying to download via a VPN or TOR, since you’re on a laptop… Could you try going to a location with free internet and using that to download the blockchain? I didn’t catch the reason why you’re needing to use a VPN or TOR in the first place, but perhaps accessing another internet source might be a reasonable alternative to downloading over a VPN for several weeks.

[Pocketchange]

Doesn't free Proton have a low data limit?
Syncing should take about 2 days for your system, only limited by your download speed.

Your advice about disabling tor seemed to have helped. I'm at roughly 2% per hour with proton vpn. I definitely will look into Mullad for a vpn as they seem to be a pretty solid. THANK YOU!

As an alternative to trying to download via a VPN or TOR, since you’re on a laptop… Could you try going to a location with free internet and using that to download the blockchain? I didn’t catch the reason why you’re needing to use a VPN or TOR in the first place, but perhaps accessing another internet source might be a reasonable alternative to downloading over a VPN for several weeks.

I thought about that and that's a great idea. Isn't it good practice to use TOR or a vpn while running a node?

I may do that if I have some free time. I am little busy atm to hang out at starbucks or other places that offer free internet. I may do that if I get impatient.  THANK YOU!

[LoyceV]

I'm at roughly 2% per hour with proton vpn.

That sounds like your "25mbps dl", so that's as fast as it will get.

Isn't it good practice to use TOR or a vpn while running a node?

Depending on who you're hiding from, it's good practice for anything.

I am little busy atm to hang out at starbucks or other places that offer free internet. I may do that if I get impatient.  THANK YOU!

Somehow I doubt you can easily download 500 GB at Starbucks.

[NotATether]

Doesn't free Proton have a low data limit?

Nope. There's no "limit" to your data usage in free Proton, it will just be slower than the premium servers. Not that I would recommend you front a VPN behind your node. Now why would you do that? You're going to jeopardize your incoming connections. It's like running a node behind CGNAT without port forwarding.

[LoyceMobile]

Not that I would recommend you front a VPN behind your node. Now why would you do that? You're going to jeopardize your incoming connections.

It's only to speed up the initial download.
Once the download is complete, OP can switch to Tor again.

[Pocketchange]

Not that I would recommend you front a VPN behind your node. Now why would you do that? You're going to jeopardize your incoming connections.

It's only to speed up the initial download.
Once the download is complete, OP can switch to Tor again.

When I switch back to TOR I should not have a need to reduce traffic or have upload targets (even if I planned to originally) right?
Tor seemed like it was making data transfer slow.
Thanks again!  

[LoyceV]

When I switch back to TOR I should not have a need to reduce traffic or have upload targets (even if I planned to originally) right?

Just try: if it slows down your internet, set lower upload targets.

[Pocketchange]

Thanks Loyce! Download COMPLETED  
I'm learning all of this as I go. I just figured out how to re sync sparrow wallet onto my node.
I almost lost my mind when it did then it didn't sync in a course of today.

How did you guys not lose your minds figuring out all of this (linux) (node)