[tor-relays] new relay package for Ubuntu 16.04+

[Chad MILLER]

tl;dr: $ sudo apt install snapd; sudo snap install tor-middle-relay


Hi.

Ubuntu has been working on a new kind of software package* that aims for 
isolation from the rest of the system, so 1) anyone can create packages for 
others without review, 2) security is better, and 3) it can be the basis 
for lots of supposedly single-purpose systems like cars, watches, home 
security systems, etc. The packages work for desktop and server too.

The upshot is that soon, they hope, many devices will run the miniature
Ubuntu plus the single package that makes the device do what it does to act 
like that device. If the mfr doesn't restrict it, we users can add other 
things that they never intended to make our device do more. Your
Wifi Router could also be your print server. Why not?

I made a tor-middle-relay package, so the TVs, Wifi Routers, Toasters, 
Self-driving Cars, Phones... of the world that are running that new kind of 
Ubuntu (or other OS that implements this package system!) can also help the 
Tor network.

The code that enables that new package system is already in Ubuntu 16.04 
LTS, so even existing desktops and servers can already use it.

So, if you use Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, this should get you a Tor relay

$ sudo apt install snapd
$ sudo snap install tor-middle-relay

(The ARMHF architecture has an open bug where the new package security 
rejects the "personality" syscall that Tor calls, so ARMHF doesn't work out 
of the box right now.)

Once you have it installed, try
$ sudo /snap/bin/tor-middle-relay.configure
to bump up your bandwidth limit over the conservative defaults.

There are a few dozen users already.  
https://atlas.torproject.org/#search/UbuntuCore
I'd be happy to have an explosion of devices all over the world.

Please send bug-reports privately, not to this list.

- chad



* https://developer.ubuntu.com/en/snappy/
  http://snapcraft.io/


-- 
Chad Miller
chad.org
c2c3 0e6c a4ce d49e 79cf   06c61 a806 deac 3042 0066
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