# Middle Relay Only **URL:** https://forum.torproject.org/t/middle-relay-only/5724 **Category:** Relay Operator **Created:** [November 29, 2022, 12:20pm UTC](https://forum.torproject.org/t/middle-relay-only/5724 "2022-11-29T12:20:01Z") **Posts on this page:** 1 **Showing post:** 8
### Author: ![GeKo](https://forum.torproject.org/user_avatar/forum.torproject.org/geko/32/4372_2.png) [@GeKo](https://forum.torproject.org/u/GeKo) #### Post date: [November 30, 2022, 10:13am UTC](https://forum.torproject.org/t/middle-relay-only/5724/8 "2022-11-30T10:13:13Z")
jim via Tor Project Forum: > Hi Gus, > > I am currently running two instances, they currently both run as guards, but what I have noticed is that as soon as a relay gets a guard flag that the number of circuit requests and onion skins gets dropped. I would like the ability to only run one guard, with my other instance to run just as a middle node - as this would reduce the demand on the system resources - and therefore allow me to manage the stability of my host(s). That drop in circuit requests (and onion skins) is probably expected. See the blog post about the lifecycle of a relay, [The lifecycle of a new relay | The Tor Project](https://blog.torproject.org/blog/lifecycle-of-a-new-relay), in particular phase 3 --- _[View the full topic](https://forum.torproject.org/t/middle-relay-only/5724)._