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+<a id="srv-spec.txt-1"></a>
+
+# Introduction
+
+<a id="srv-spec.txt-1.1"></a>
+
+## Motivation
+
+For the next generation hidden services project, we need the Tor network to
+produce a fresh random value every day in such a way that it cannot be
+predicted in advance or influenced by an attacker.
+
+Currently we need this random value to make the HSDir hash ring
+unpredictable (#8244), which should resolve a wide class of hidden service
+DoS attacks and should make it harder for people to gauge the popularity
+and activity of target hidden services. Furthermore this random value can
+be used by other systems in need of fresh global randomness like
+Tor-related protocols (e.g. OnioNS) or even non-Tor-related (e.g. warrant
+canaries).
+
+<a id="srv-spec.txt-1.2"></a>
+
+## Previous work
+
+Proposal 225 specifies a commit-and-reveal protocol that can be run as an
+external script and have the results be fed to the directory authorities.
+However, directory authority operators feel unsafe running a third-party
+script that opens TCP ports and accepts connections from the Internet.
+Hence, this proposal aims to embed the commit-and-reveal idea in the Tor
+voting process which should make it smoother to deploy and maintain.