[tor-bugs] #20499 [Core Tor/Tor]: A running Tor won't update the microdesc consensus

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#20499: A running Tor won't update the microdesc consensus
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 Reporter:  rubiate       |          Owner:
     Type:  defect        |         Status:  new
 Priority:  High          |      Milestone:  Tor: 0.2.9.x-final
Component:  Core Tor/Tor  |        Version:  Tor: 0.2.9.4-alpha
 Severity:  Normal        |     Resolution:
 Keywords:  regression    |  Actual Points:
Parent ID:                |         Points:
 Reviewer:                |        Sponsor:
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Comment (by teor):

 Replying to [comment:21 arma]:
 > Replying to [comment:17 teor]:
 > > But at some exponent, the wait time becomes indistinguishable from
 failure.
 > > (Which is why we need to make sure requests trigger a new attempt.)
 >
 > It is good that we have the belt-and-suspenders fix in place where new
 client requests trigger a new attempt -- but that trick only works for
 clients. We should make sure that directory mirrors also have some way to
 reliably keep trying, and same for exit relays because of the
 should_refuse_unknown_exits() thing. Basically all of the reasons in
 directory_fetches_from_authorities().
 >
 > > I guess this essentially implements hibernate mode then?
 > >
 > > And we could just put the failure count up to something quite high,
 let's say, at most, the failure number at which tor is waiting for the
 average time between tor stable releases?
 >
 > It seems to me that any design that effectively has a "now you won't ask
 for the consensus anymore" possible outcome is a scary one here. Speaking
 of which. is there a place I should look to read about our current
 download design? I only know the one I wrote some years ago, and it looks
 like it's changed since then.

 I logged #20534 for this. There are existing cases where we give up
 forever. We should tune them to do what we think we want.

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Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/20499#comment:23>
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