[tor-bugs] #20761 [Applications/Tor Launcher]: Tor Browser 6.5a4 is ignoring additional SocksPorts

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#20761: Tor Browser 6.5a4 is ignoring additional SocksPorts
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 Reporter:  gk                         |          Owner:  brade
     Type:  defect                     |         Status:  needs_information
 Priority:  Medium                     |      Milestone:
Component:  Applications/Tor Launcher  |        Version:
 Severity:  Normal                     |     Resolution:
 Keywords:  TorBrowserTeam201612       |  Actual Points:
Parent ID:                             |         Points:
 Reviewer:                             |        Sponsor:
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Comment (by gk):

 Replying to [comment:4 arthuredelstein]:
 > Replying to [comment:3 mcs]:
 > > On the other hand, if we change Tor Launcher to always '''add''' a
 SocksPort (by changing Tor Launcher to pass `+SocksPort ...` on the tor
 command line) then we will run into two problems: (1) another SocksPort
 will be added each time the browser is started and (2) when the user
 toggles `extensions.torlauncher.socks_port_use_ipc` the previous SocksPort
 set by Tor Launcher will not be removed.
 >
 > As far as I know, the `+SocksPort ...` command-line argument doesn't
 write anything permanent to the torrc file, but just temporarily adds a
 SocksPort for the lifetime of the tor process being launched. So I don't
 think you will be accumulating more than two SocksPorts at a time.
 >
 > I wonder if you like the following approach:
 > * When socks_port_use_ipc = false, omit passing a SocksPort argument
 altogether and just use the 9150 port created by the defaults_torrc file.
 Both torbirdy and Tor Browser will use the same socket at port 9150.

 Or whatever got specified in the defaults-torrc file (see ticket
 description)

 > * When socks_port_use_ipc = true, pass `+SocksPort
 /path/to/domain/socket`. In this case, you have two SocksPorts open (one
 domain socket for Tor Browser and one socket at port 9150 for torbirdy or
 other apps).
 >
 > Hopefully then we don't have to add any additional prefs.

 Sounds good to me.

 > > Also, do we need to allow users to have more than one ControlPort too?
 My guess is that we do.
 >
 > If there are third-party apps that use the ControlPort, then it seems
 likely.

 Yes.

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Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/20761#comment:5>
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