[tor-bugs] #21597 [Core Tor/Tor]: ExitRelay configuration option is confusingly named

Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki blackhole at torproject.org
Thu Mar 2 04:26:26 UTC 2017


#21597: ExitRelay configuration option is confusingly named
-------------------------+-------------------------------------------------
     Reporter:           |      Owner:
  cypherpunks            |
         Type:           |     Status:  new
  enhancement            |
     Priority:  Medium   |  Milestone:
    Component:  Core     |    Version:  Tor: 0.2.9.9
  Tor/Tor                |   Keywords:  ExitRelay configuration option
     Severity:  Normal   |  outbound outgoing exit traffic
Actual Points:           |  Parent ID:
       Points:           |   Reviewer:
      Sponsor:           |
-------------------------+-------------------------------------------------
 I imagine this is already well known, and that the option is very unlikely
 to change names, but I wish to identify the issue regardless.  Perhaps the
 consideration of phasing in a new option with a more descriptive name is
 valid.

 As I understand, the ExitRelay config option applies to non-exit relays in
 addition to exit relays.  It is not considered for bridge relays (which
 are by definition non-exit and in a separate classification entirely).

 This is confusing when configuring a non-exit, non-bridge relay.  The
 confusion can be avoided by renaming the option to e.g. "AllowTraffic" or
 "AllowExitingTraffic" (or "AllowOutbound"/"Traffic" ... "...Outgoing...").

 It seems the ExitRelay option is intended to be more of a safety switch to
 accommodate a transition in Tor concepts (the addition of bridge relays, I
 believe) without introducing breaking changes, rather than actually having
 anything to do with establishing a configured relay as an "exit" relay, as
 one might easily misunderstand.

--
Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/21597>
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