Issue about selection of Tor relays when using the default torrc configuration

[Roger Dingledine]

On Sun, May 31, 2009 at 02:59:01AM -0400, Sambuddho Chakravarty wrote:
> Thanks for you help. However , is there no way that I can cause tor 
> client to reload a new set of entry guard nodes  ?  I have tried both 
> NEWNYM and HUP signals through *nc* to communicate to tor controller . 
> However , in both cases only a small set of (infact 3) entry guards are 
> selected.

Yes, that's a feature. Otherwise you'll open yourself up to a variety
of attacks:
https://wiki.torproject.org/noreply/TheOnionRouter/TorFAQ#EntryGuards

If you want to turn off that defense, set "UseEntryGuards 0" in your
torrc.

Or you can delete them from your $datadir/state file while Tor is off,
but that's probably more likely to cause problems.

> Also , in continuation to my previous email , where can I download the
> torctl python libraries from ?

You can get it from SVN:
https://svn.torproject.org/svn/torctl/trunk/python/

> Do I need the library or I can just make
> do by sending text command to the tor controller to play around and test
> with ?

Playing around and testing with telnet or nc is a fine start. You only
need the torctl library if you find that playing around by hand is
insufficient for your needs.

--Roger