# Issue: BISQ startup problem on slow networks ("3/4" problem) **URL:** \ **Category:** Support\ **Created:** [March 15, 2019, 9:08am UTC](https://bisq.community/t/issue-bisq-startup-problem-on-slow-networks-3-4-problem/7233 "2019-03-15T09:08:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![grace](https://bisq.community/letter_avatar/grace/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@grace](https://bisq.community/u/grace)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 9:08am UTC](https://bisq.community/t/issue-bisq-startup-problem-on-slow-networks-3-4-problem/7233/1 "2019-03-15T09:08:44Z")
This is a follow-on to the issue discussed in this thread: > [@Stuck on 3/4 Hidden Service Published V9.3](https://bisq.community/t/stuck-on-3-4-hidden-service-published-v9-3/6908/16): > > Having a similar issue with Bisq 0.9.3 on Tails 3.10.1. To enable Bisq to use the platform native Tor 0.3.4.8, I have inserted an iptables rule allowing localhost access to port 9052, copied the Tor authcookie to a readable location and finally, started Bisq with --torControlPort=9052 and --torControlCookie=control.authcookie Everything appears to start up OK initially, but does not progress past step 3/4, specifically: bitcoin peers get connected and wallet gets synchronized with mainnet hi… **Summary** : On slow/congested networks, Bisq never progresses past step 3/4 of the startup sequence, due to a timeout occurring in the initial connection to seed nodes. **Details** : One of the compulsory steps in the Bisq client startup sequence is a special handshake with a seed node, consisting in a two-way exchange of large data packets in the 1.5 MB size range (PreliminaryGetDataRequest in the debug log). On slow networks, specifically when the network _output_ channel is degraded, this handshake fails systematically, resulting in an inability to start up (the “3/4” problem). Bisq versions tested: 0.8.1, 0.9.3, 0.9.4, 0.9.5 Test platform: Tails 3.10, 3.11, 3.12 (Debian 9) To reproduce the bug, use a working Bisq installation and limit the network output bandwidth to a small value (100 kbps in my example) using the Linux TBF qdisc. **Steps to reproduce** : - start with a correctly installed and tested operational copy of Bisq - close the application - in a terminal, execute (replace eth0 with name of default route interface): `sudo tc qdisc add dev eth0 root tbf rate 100kbit burst 1540 latency 50ms` - start the application as usual **Expected result** : Bisq should complete the startup sequence and operate (with some lag due to network bandwidth limitation). **Actual result** : Bisq never progresses past step 3/4 of startup sequence, resulting in complete no-op. The 2 log file fragments in post 22 of the original thread illustrate well the “expected” vs “actual” scenarios. Happy to assist with any debugging information, just let me know. ---
**Author:** ![ManfredKarrer](https://bisq.community/user_avatar/bisq.community/manfredkarrer/32/26_2.png) [@ManfredKarrer](https://bisq.community/u/ManfredKarrer)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2019, 5:22pm UTC](https://bisq.community/t/issue-bisq-startup-problem-on-slow-networks-3-4-problem/7233/2 "2019-03-15T17:22:26Z")
Thanks for the info. I forwarded it to our P2P network dev. ---
**Author:** ![grace](https://bisq.community/letter_avatar/grace/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@grace](https://bisq.community/u/grace)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2019, 9:00am UTC](https://bisq.community/t/issue-bisq-startup-problem-on-slow-networks-3-4-problem/7233/3 "2019-03-16T09:00:56Z")
No problem @ManfredKarrer, it’s my pleasure to help. I have done more testing on this issue and have found another interesting quirk. It seems that a network degradation during program startup can leave the program in a dead-end state, from which it can never recover on its own, even after full network recovery. The only way to recover is restarting the program. Here’s the test sequence: - like above, start with a working installation - close application - degrade network: `tc qdisc add ...` - start application - wait 3 hours, there should be no progress past step 3/4 - remove network degradation: `tc qdisc del ...` - wait indefinitely, there will be no progress past step 3/4, even 12 hours later - close application - restart application without any change to network parameters - full startup sequence occurs as expected Due to time constraints I was only able to do the test once, but it would be interesting to see if other people can reproduce it. If confirmed, then the existence of a dead-end program state might explain some of the other out-of-sync issues reported recently. ---
**Author:** ![ManfredKarrer](https://bisq.community/user_avatar/bisq.community/manfredkarrer/32/26_2.png) [@ManfredKarrer](https://bisq.community/u/ManfredKarrer)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2019, 4:02pm UTC](https://bisq.community/t/issue-bisq-startup-problem-on-slow-networks-3-4-problem/7233/4 "2019-03-16T16:02:45Z")
Thanks for the report and testing! That behaviour is expected, in the startup procedure we don’t have any recovery mechanism built in. Only after you are connected you would recover in case you lose network connection. But would be definitely good to get those issues solved. Best to get in touch with Florian as I don’t have time atm to focus on that. I think Florian is not active here on the Forum so better to use Github. ---
**Author:** ![grace](https://bisq.community/letter_avatar/grace/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@grace](https://bisq.community/u/grace)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 12:16am UTC](https://bisq.community/t/issue-bisq-startup-problem-on-slow-networks-3-4-problem/7233/5 "2019-03-17T00:16:25Z")
Thanks, will do. ---
**Author:** ![elysian586](https://bisq.community/letter_avatar/elysian586/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@elysian586](https://bisq.community/u/elysian586)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 6:05am UTC](https://bisq.community/t/issue-bisq-startup-problem-on-slow-networks-3-4-problem/7233/6 "2020-03-13T06:05:20Z")
Can confirm this is very much STILL an issue one year later. Currently traveling in an area where only connection is ~100 kb/s like @grace . Over 2 weeks, I was only able to fully load Bisq once and for a few moments. Very disappointing missing out on ability to access the market at this time. I just spent the last 3 hours opening and closing the application, only to get stuck at the 3/4 stage repeatedly. ---
**Author:** ![rodox17](https://bisq.community/letter_avatar/rodox17/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@rodox17](https://bisq.community/u/rodox17)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 4:58pm UTC](https://bisq.community/t/issue-bisq-startup-problem-on-slow-networks-3-4-problem/7233/7 "2020-03-18T16:58:10Z")
same here… stuck at 3/4 for 3 days… can’t believe it’s still a problem ---
**Author:** ![lquessenberry](https://bisq.community/user_avatar/bisq.community/lquessenberry/32/3118_2.png) [@lquessenberry](https://bisq.community/u/lquessenberry)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2021, 7:22pm UTC](https://bisq.community/t/issue-bisq-startup-problem-on-slow-networks-3-4-problem/7233/8 "2021-11-09T19:22:50Z")
Mine is stuck here. I am on MacOS Exchange, Decentralized Synced with Bitcoin Mainnet (via Tor) at block 708966 (3/4) Hidden Service published / Bitcoin network peers: 7 / Bisq network peers: 2 ---
**Author:** ![Pazza](https://bisq.community/user_avatar/bisq.community/pazza/32/2703_2.png) [@Pazza](https://bisq.community/u/Pazza)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 10:29pm UTC](https://bisq.community/t/issue-bisq-startup-problem-on-slow-networks-3-4-problem/7233/9 "2021-11-12T22:29:23Z")
Try connecting using another internet connection such as your phones hot spot ---
**Author:** ![cesarpim](https://bisq.community/letter_avatar/cesarpim/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@cesarpim](https://bisq.community/u/cesarpim)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 3:10pm UTC](https://bisq.community/t/issue-bisq-startup-problem-on-slow-networks-3-4-problem/7233/10 "2024-05-16T15:10:30Z")
Hey, having the same issue 🙁 Anyone found out how to fix it?