Capricieux server becomes Stratum 2 Time Server
Disclaimer: if you're interested only in Totentanz itself, feel free to ignore this post. Intermediate changelog for Totentanz is planned be released later this month.
It's been more than eight months since the archive app (Android and iOS versions) was routed to the Capricieux server.
During this time period, as far as i know, there was zero requests for changes from Aniplex.
While i have zero issues with it and my contacts remain open for it to change, i expect the situation to stay the same, and it feels wasteful to maintain it purely as a stub.
That said, starting from May 2026, the Capricieux server obtains a second purpose as a Stratum 2 Time Server and joins the NTP pool project, specifically the Japan zone: https://www.ntppool.org/zone/jp
Yay.
Brief summary of what it means for:
- Archive app users: barely anything, unless something catastrophic happens to the zone and the server gets overloaded. Existing service remains intact.
Judging from the current numbers, the jp zone is starving in terms of client/server ratio. It also reached the critical mass that instakills conntrack on port 123; and in case of a partial outage, it might collapse easily.
- Totentanz users: nothing, as all of its infrastructure is separate from Capricieux.
The infra has barely enough power to cover the server's own needs, so giving it an extra load is out of the question.
- Arbitrary Internet users within Japan: a bit higher time synchronization stability, a bit lower risk of collapse of the zone.
Assuming Aniplex eventually uses their right to steer the server, they may have access to its NTP as well. Hopefully i don't have to explain why it's not a problem.
- Arbitrary Internet users outside of Japan: no changes.
Additional notes:
- Ad hoc watchdog for pool score is implemented in the Capricieux server repo, see https://github.com/Puella-Care/capricieux/actions/workflows/ntp.yml
- Unlike the Totentanz server, Capricieux has no IPv6 support.
- Depending on how it handles the load over time, i might add more use to the Capricieux server, e.g. DoT on port 853 and more stuff. i don't expect anything but HTTPS and NTP to cause any significant load, so these changes are likely not to be announced.
- I apply strict logless policy to all present and future services hosted on Capricieux server since its main purpose is privacy for users. In fact, i am intentionally unable to see if it was accessed by Aniplex as well.
- Any action initiated by Aniplex may be kept not disclosed, unless there is explicit agreement from both sides.