commit aa4e1bbb909c502cad7c824912d18282f9e35ae9 Author: Damian Johnson atagar@torproject.org Date: Fri May 15 09:59:00 2015 -0700

Descriptor tutorial section for 'Where do descriptors come from?'

Jordan Wright's recent article gives a great excuse to add a little section on this. :P

https://jordan-wright.github.io/blog/2015/05/14/how-tor-works-part-three-the... https://jordan-wright.github.io/images/blog/how_tor_works/consensus.png --- docs/tutorials/mirror_mirror_on_the_wall.rst | 26 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ stem/__init__.py | 2 +- 2 files changed, 27 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/docs/tutorials/mirror_mirror_on_the_wall.rst b/docs/tutorials/mirror_mirror_on_the_wall.rst index bec30a7..9ef620f 100644 --- a/docs/tutorials/mirror_mirror_on_the_wall.rst +++ b/docs/tutorials/mirror_mirror_on_the_wall.rst @@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ The following is an overview of **Tor descriptors**. If you're already familiar with what they are and where to get them then you may want to skip to the end.

* :ref:`what-is-a-descriptor` +* :ref:`where-do-descriptors-come-from` * :ref:`where-can-i-get-the-current-descriptors` * :ref:`where-can-i-get-past-descriptors` * :ref:`can-i-get-descriptors-from-the-tor-process` @@ -34,6 +35,31 @@ Descriptor Type `Hidden Service Descriptor <../api/descriptor/hidden_service_descriptor.html>`_ Information pertaining to a `Hidden Service https://www.torproject.org/docs/hidden-services.html.en`_. These can only be `queried through the tor process <over_the_river.html#hidden-service-descriptors>`_. ================================================================================ ===========

+.. _where-do-descriptors-come-from: + +Where do descriptors come from? +------------------------------- + +Descriptors fall into two camps: + +* **Server**, **extra-info**, and **hidden service** descriptors are + **self-published documents**. Relays and hidden services publish these about + themselves, and so naturally can indicate anything they'd like in them (true + or not). + + These are **self contained documents**, bundling within themselves a + signiture Stem can `optionally check + <./mirror_mirror_on_the_wall.html#validating-the-descriptors-content>`_. + +* **Network status documents** (aka **votes**, the **consensus**, and **router + status entries** they contain) are created by the **directory authorities**. + For a great overview on how this works see `Jordan Wright's article on how + the consensus is made + https://jordan-wright.github.io/blog/2015/05/14/how-tor-works-part-three-the-consensus/`_. + +**Microdescriptors** are merely a distilled copy of a **server descriptor**, +and so belong to the first camp. + .. _where-can-i-get-the-current-descriptors:

Where can I get the current descriptors? diff --git a/stem/__init__.py b/stem/__init__.py index 5134c2f..7229453 100644 --- a/stem/__init__.py +++ b/stem/__init__.py @@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ Library for working with the tor process. ================= =========== """

-__version__ = '1.4.0' +__version__ = '1.4.0-dev' __author__ = 'Damian Johnson' __contact__ = 'atagar@torproject.org' __url__ = 'https://stem.torproject.org/'