[tor-bugs] #17359 [Core Tor/Tor]: __DisablePredictedCircuits causes bootstrap to hang at "Connecting to Tor Network"

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#17359: __DisablePredictedCircuits causes bootstrap to hang at "Connecting to Tor
Network"
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 Reporter:  teor                             |          Owner:  (none)
     Type:  defect                           |         Status:  new
 Priority:  Low                              |      Milestone:  Tor:
                                             |  unspecified
Component:  Core Tor/Tor                     |        Version:
 Severity:  Minor                            |     Resolution:
 Keywords:  tor-hs bootstrap sponsor8-maybe  |  Actual Points:
Parent ID:                                   |         Points:  small
 Reviewer:                                   |        Sponsor:
---------------------------------------------+-----------------------------
Description changed by arma:

Old description:

> When __DisablePredictedCircuits is set in the torrc, bootstrap hangs at
> 80% - "Connecting to Tor Network".
>
> This happens in hidden service configurations, it may happen in other
> client or server configurations as well.
>
> I think this is because:
> * no predicted circuits are being built, and therefore
> * tor never completes an OR connection, and therefore
> * tor never thinks it has bootstrapped, and therefore
> * tor doesn't make any of the OR connections it would make as part of its
> configured function
>
> To fix this, we need to either:
> * assume tor is connected to the network if it gets to "Connecting to Tor
> Network" and __DisablePredictedCircuits is set, or
> * make at least one connection at "Connecting to Tor Network" even if
> __DisablePredictedCircuits is set
>
> The first risks repeatedly making connections if tor isn't connected to
> the network, the second risks making connections the user doesn't want.

New description:

 When {{{__DisablePredictedCircuits}}} is set in the torrc, bootstrap hangs
 at 80% - "Connecting to Tor Network".

 This happens in hidden service configurations, it may happen in other
 client or server configurations as well.

 I think this is because:
 * no predicted circuits are being built, and therefore
 * tor never completes an OR connection, and therefore
 * tor never thinks it has bootstrapped, and therefore
 * tor doesn't make any of the OR connections it would make as part of its
 configured function

 To fix this, we need to either:
 * assume tor is connected to the network if it gets to "Connecting to Tor
 Network" and {{{__DisablePredictedCircuits}}} is set, or
 * make at least one connection at "Connecting to Tor Network" even if
 {{{__DisablePredictedCircuits}}} is set

 The first risks repeatedly making connections if tor isn't connected to
 the network, the second risks making connections the user doesn't want.

--

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Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/17359#comment:17>
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