i2pd_docs_en/docs/tutorials/floodfill-bootstrap.md

Bootstrapping without Reseed Servers

In some cases i2p's default reseed servers (servers used to fill i2p router's netdb with initial peers) are blocked.

I2PD has a unique feature that allows it to bootstrap off of any i2p router that is participating in the DHT, they are called floodfill routers and have the router capacity f in their router info.

How To

• obtain a router.info file of a floodfill router out of band, save to /tmp/floodfill.router.info or some other path
• run i2pd --reseed.floodfill=/tmp/floodfill.router.info and if that router is online you'll be able to bootstrap into the network from just that routers

Caviets

• The floodfill must be trustworthy, it could give you all colluding peers if it's a baddie.
• DO NOT use a random floodfill unless you don't care about high security and just want to test out this feature.
• Java I2P routers seem to dislike this feature (sometimes) and may back off exponentially