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<div align="center">
# 🧅 Tor Guard Relay
[![🚀✨ Build](https://github.com/r3bo0tbx1/tor-guard-relay/actions/workflows/release.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/r3bo0tbx1/tor-guard-relay/actions/workflows/release.yml)
[![Release](https://img.shields.io/github/v/release/r3bo0tbx1/tor-guard-relay?color=blue&label=version&labelColor=0a0a0a)](https://github.com/r3bo0tbx1/tor-guard-relay/releases/latest)
![Platforms](https://img.shields.io/badge/platforms-amd64%20%7C%20arm64-2ea44f?logo=docker&labelColor=0a0a0a)
[![Docker Hub](https://img.shields.io/docker/pulls/r3bo0tbx1/onion-relay?logo=docker&label=Docker%20Hub&labelColor=0a0a0a)](https://hub.docker.com/r/r3bo0tbx1/onion-relay)
[![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-yellow.svg?labelColor=0a0a0a)](LICENSE.txt)
<img src="src/logo.png" alt="Onion Bridge/Middle/Guard/Exit Relay" width="400"/>
**A hardened, production-ready Tor relay with built-in diagnostics and monitoring**
[Quick Start](#-quick-start) • [Features](#-key-features) • [Documentation](#-documentation) • [FAQ](docs/FAQ.md) • [Architecture](docs/ARCHITECTURE.md) • [Tools](#-diagnostic-tools) • [Contributing](#-contributing)
</div>
---
## 🚀 What is This?
**Tor Guard Relay** is a production-ready, self-healing Tor relay container designed for privacy advocates who want to contribute to the Tor network securely and efficiently.
> 🌉 **Multi-Mode:** guard, exit, and bridge with obfs4 transport. Configure via `TOR_RELAY_MODE`.
### Why Choose This Project?
- 🛡️ **Security-First** - Hardened Alpine Linux, non-root operation, and minimized port exposure
- 🪶 **Very light** - Ultra-minimal 16.8 MB image
- 🎯 **Simple** - One command to deploy, minimal configuration needed
- 📊 **Observable** - 6 busybox-only diagnostic tools with JSON health API
- 🌉 **Multi-Mode** - Supports guard, exit, and bridge (obfs4) relays
- 🔄 **Automated** - Weekly security rebuilds, CI/CD ready
- 📚 **Documented** - Comprehensive guides for deployment, monitoring, backup, and more
- 🏗️ **Multi-Arch** - Native support for AMD64 and ARM64 (Raspberry Pi, AWS Graviton, etc.)
---
## 🔒 Security Model
### Port Exposure Policy
- **9001** ORPort, public
- **9030** DirPort, **Disabled (0)** by default
- **9002** obfs4 for bridge mode
### Environment Variables
- `TOR_ORPORT` default 9001
- `TOR_DIRPORT` default 0 (Disabled)
- `TOR_OBFS4_PORT` default 9002
Diagnostics are run only through `docker exec`, with no exposed monitoring ports.
Minimal surface area, roughly 16.8 MB.
---
## ⚡ Quick Start
### System Requirements
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|----------|----------|-------------|
| CPU | 1 core | 2+ cores |
| RAM | 512 MB | 1 GB+ |
| Disk | 10 GB | 20 GB+ SSD |
| Bandwidth | 10 Mbps | 100+ Mbps |
| Uptime | 95 percent | 99 percent |
| Docker | 20.10+ | Latest |
**Supported Architectures:** AMD64, ARM64
### Network Security Notes
⚠️ **Port Exposure:**
- **Guard/Middle/Exit:** Port 9001 (ORPort) should be publicly accessible
- **Bridge:** Ports 9001 (ORPort) and 9002 (obfs4) should be publicly accessible
- **No monitoring ports** - all diagnostics via `docker exec` commands only
- Use `--network host` for best IPv6 support (Tor recommended practice)
### Interactive Quick Start (Recommended for Beginners)
**🚀 Try our interactive setup script:**
```bash
# Download and run the quick-start script
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/r3bo0tbx1/tor-guard-relay/main/scripts/quick-start.sh -o quick-start.sh
chmod +x quick-start.sh
sh ./quick-start.sh
```
The script will:
- ✅ Guide you through relay type selection (guard, exit, bridge)
- ✅ Collect required information with validation
- ✅ Generate deployment commands or docker-compose.yml
- ✅ Provide next steps and monitoring guidance
### Manual Deployment
**Step 1:** Create your relay configuration (or use our [example](examples/relay-guard.conf)):
```bash
mkdir -p ~/tor-relay && cd ~/tor-relay
curl -o relay.conf https://raw.githubusercontent.com/r3bo0tbx1/tor-guard-relay/refs/heads/main/examples/relay-guard.conf
nano relay.conf
```
**Step 2:** Run (Docker Hub)
```bash
docker run -d \
--name tor-relay \
--restart unless-stopped \
--network host \
--security-opt no-new-privileges:true \
-v $(pwd)/relay.conf:/etc/tor/torrc:ro \
-v tor-guard-data:/var/lib/tor \
-v tor-guard-logs:/var/log/tor \
r3bo0tbx1/onion-relay:latest
```
**Step 3:** Verify it's running:
```bash
# Check status
docker exec tor-relay status
# View fingerprint
docker exec tor-relay fingerprint
# Stream logs
docker logs -f tor-relay
```
**That's it!** Your relay will bootstrap in 10-30 minutes and appear on [Tor Metrics](https://metrics.torproject.org/rs.html) within 1-2 hours.
> 📖 **Need more?** See our comprehensive [Deployment Guide](docs/DEPLOYMENT.md) for Docker Compose, Cosmos Cloud, Portainer, and advanced setups.
---
## 🎯 Choosing a Variant
We offer **two build variants** to match your risk tolerance and requirements:
### Stable Variant (Recommended)
**Base:** Alpine 3.23.3 | **Recommended for:** Production relays
- ✅ Battle-tested Alpine stable release
- ✅ Weekly automated rebuilds with latest security patches
- ✅ Proven stability for long-running relays
- ✅ Available on both **Docker Hub** and **GHCR**
```bash
# Pull from Docker Hub (easiest)
docker pull r3bo0tbx1/onion-relay:latest
docker pull r3bo0tbx1/onion-relay:1.1.7
# Pull from GHCR
docker pull ghcr.io/r3bo0tbx1/onion-relay:latest
docker pull ghcr.io/r3bo0tbx1/onion-relay:1.1.7
```
### Edge Variant (Testing Only)
**Base:** Alpine edge | **Recommended for:** Testing, security research
- ⚡ Bleeding-edge Alpine packages (faster security updates)
- ⚡ Latest Tor and obfs4 versions as soon as available
- ⚡ **More frequent rebuilds** - Every 3 days + weekly (~2-3x faster updates than stable)
- ⚠️ **NOT recommended for production** - less stable, potential breaking changes
- 📦 Available on both Docker Hub and GHCR
```bash
# Pull from Docker Hub
docker pull r3bo0tbx1/onion-relay:edge
# Pull from GHCR
docker pull ghcr.io/r3bo0tbx1/onion-relay:edge
docker pull ghcr.io/r3bo0tbx1/onion-relay:1.1.7-edge
```
**When to use edge:**
- 🔬 Testing new Tor features before stable release
- 🛡️ Security research requiring latest packages
- 🧪 Non-production test environments
- 🚀 Early adopters willing to accept potential breakage
**Stability comparison:**
| Feature | Stable | Edge |
|---------|--------|------|
| Production ready | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Breaking changes | ❌ Rare | ⚠️ Possible |
| Security updates | Weekly | Every 3 days |
| Package versions | 3.23.3 | Bleeding edge |
| Docker Hub | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| GHCR | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
> 💡 **Our recommendation:** Use **stable** for production relays, **edge** only for testing or when you specifically need the latest package versions.
---
## 🏗️ Deployment Methods
Choose the method that fits your workflow.
| Method | Best For | Guide |
|--------|----------|--------|
| 🐳 Docker CLI | Quick testing | [Guide](docs/DEPLOYMENT.md#method-1-docker-cli) |
| 📦 Docker Compose | Production | [Guide](docs/DEPLOYMENT.md#method-2-docker-compose) |
| ☁️ Cosmos Cloud | UI based deployment | [Guide](docs/DEPLOYMENT.md#method-3-cosmos-cloud) |
| 🎛️ Portainer | Web UI | [Guide](docs/DEPLOYMENT.md#method-4-portainer) |
**New to Docker?** Try [Cosmos Cloud](https://cosmos-cloud.io/) by [azukaar](https://github.com/azukaar) - a gorgeous, self-hosted Docker management platform.
### Multi-Relay Setup
Running multiple relays? We have templates for that:
- **Docker Compose:** [docker-compose-multi-relay.yml](templates/docker-compose-multi-relay.yml) - 3 relays setup
- **Cosmos Cloud:** [cosmos-compose-multi-relay.json](templates/cosmos-compose-multi-relay.json) - Multi-relay stack
See [Deployment Guide](docs/DEPLOYMENT.md) for complete instructions.
---
## 🔧 Diagnostic Tools
Six busybox-only diagnostic tools are included.
| Tool | Purpose | Usage |
|------|---------|--------|
| status | Full health report | `docker exec tor-relay status` |
| health | JSON health | `docker exec tor-relay health` |
| fingerprint | Show fingerprint | `docker exec tor-relay fingerprint` |
| bridge-line | obfs4 line | `docker exec tor-relay bridge-line` |
| gen-auth | Credentials for Nyx | `docker exec tor-relay gen-auth` |
| gen-family | Happy Family key gen | `docker exec tor-relay gen-family MyRelays` |
```bash
# Full health report with emojis
docker exec tor-relay status
# JSON output for automation/monitoring
docker exec tor-relay health
```
Example JSON:
```json
{
"status": "up",
"pid": 1,
"uptime": "01:00:00",
"bootstrap": 100,
"reachable": "true",
"errors": 0,
"nickname": "MyRelay",
"fingerprint": "1234567890ABCDEF"
}
```
> 📖 **Complete reference:** See [Tools Documentation](docs/TOOLS.md) for all 6 tools with examples, JSON schema, and integration guides.
---
## 📊 Monitoring and Observability
<br>
<div align="center">
<img src="src/screenshots/nyx.png" alt="Nyx Monitor Interface"/>
</div>
<br>
**Real-time CLI monitoring and external observability** are supported for minimal image size and maximum security.
### Real-Time Monitoring (Nyx)
You can connect Nyx (formerly arm) to your relay securely using the Control Port.
1. Generate credentials: `docker exec tor-relay gen-auth`
2. Add the hash to your config
3. Connect via local socket or TCP
> 📖 **Full Setup:** See the [Control Port Guide](docs/CONTROL-PORT.md) for step-by-step Nyx configuration.
### JSON Health API
The `health` tool provides JSON output for monitoring integration:
```bash
# Get health status (raw JSON)
docker exec tor-relay health
# Parse with jq (requires jq installed on HOST machine)
docker exec tor-relay health | jq .
# Example cron-based monitoring
*/5 * * * * docker exec tor-relay health | jq '.status' | grep -q 'healthy' || alert
```
> **Note:** `jq` must be installed on your HOST machine (`apt install jq` / `brew install jq`), NOT in the container.
### Integration Examples
**Prometheus Node Exporter:**
```bash
# Use textfile collector (requires jq on host)
docker exec tor-relay health | jq -r '
"tor_bootstrap_percent \(.bootstrap)",
"tor_reachable \(if .reachable == "true" then 1 else 0 end)"
' > /var/lib/node_exporter/tor.prom
```
**Nagios/Icinga:**
```bash
#!/bin/bash
# Requires jq on host machine
HEALTH=$(docker exec tor-relay health)
STATUS=$(echo "$HEALTH" | jq -r '.status')
[ "$STATUS" = "healthy" ] && exit 0 || exit 2
```
> 📖 **Complete guide:** See [Monitoring Documentation](docs/MONITORING.md) for Prometheus, Grafana, alert integration, and observability setup.
---
## 🎯 Key Features
### Security & Reliability
- ✅ Non-root execution (runs as `tor` user)
- ✅ Ultra-minimal Alpine Linux base (**~16.8 MB**)
- ✅ Busybox-only tools (no bash/python dependencies)
- ✅ Automatic permission healing on startup
- ✅ Configuration validation before start
- ✅ Tini init for proper signal handling
- ✅ Graceful shutdown with cleanup
### Operations & Automation
- ✅ **6 busybox-only diagnostic tools** (status, health, fingerprint, bridge-line, gen-auth, gen-family)
- ✅ **JSON health API** for monitoring integration
- ✅ **Multi-mode support** (guard, exit, bridge with obfs4)
- ✅ **Happy Family support** (Tor 0.4.9+ key-based relay families)
- ✅ **ENV-based config** (TOR_RELAY_MODE, TOR_NICKNAME, TOR_FAMILY_ID, etc.)
- ✅ **Multi-architecture** builds (AMD64, ARM64)
- ✅ **Weekly security rebuilds** via GitHub Actions
- ✅ **Docker Compose templates** for single/multi-relay
- ✅ **Cosmos Cloud support** with one-click deploy
- ✅ **Automated Maintenance:** Keeps last 7 releases in registry
### Developer Experience
- ✅ Comprehensive documentation (8 guides)
- ✅ Example configurations included
- ✅ GitHub issue templates
- ✅ Automated dependency updates (Dependabot)
- ✅ CI/CD validation and testing
- ✅ Multi-arch support (same command, any platform)
---
## 🖼️ Gallery
| Cosmos Cloud Dashboard | Docker Logs (Bootstrapping) |
|:-----------------------:|:---------------------------:|
| ![Cosmos](src/screenshots/cosmos-dashboard.png) | ![Bootstrapping](src/screenshots/bootstrapping.png) |
| Relay Status Tool | Obfs4 Bridge Line |
| ![Relay](src/screenshots/relay-status.png) | ![Obfs4](src/screenshots/bridge-line.png) |
---
## 📚 Documentation
**Comprehensive documentation** organized by topic:
### Getting Started
- **[FAQ](docs/FAQ.md)** - ⭐ **NEW!** Frequently asked questions with factual answers
- **[Quick Start Script](scripts/utilities/quick-start.sh)** - ⭐ **NEW!** Interactive relay deployment wizard
- **[Migration Assistant](scripts/migration/migrate-from-official.sh)** - ⭐ **NEW!** Automated migration from thetorproject/obfs4-bridge
- **[Deployment Guide](docs/DEPLOYMENT.md)** - ✨ **UPDATED!** Complete installation for Docker CLI, Compose, Cosmos Cloud, and Portainer
- **[Migration Guide](docs/MIGRATION-V1.1.X.md)** - Upgrade to latest or migrate from other Tor setups
### Technical Reference
- **[Architecture](docs/ARCHITECTURE.md)** - ⭐ **NEW!** Technical architecture with Mermaid diagrams
- **[Tools Reference](docs/TOOLS.md)** - ✨ **UPDATED!** Complete guide to all 6 diagnostic tools
- **[Monitoring Guide](docs/MONITORING.md)** - ✨ **UPDATED!** External monitoring integration, JSON health API, alerts, and observability
- **[Control Port Guide](docs/CONTROL-PORT.md)** - ⭐ **NEW!** Authentication setup and Nyx integration
- **[Backup Guide](docs/BACKUP.md)** - Data persistence, recovery, and disaster planning
- **[Performance Guide](docs/PERFORMANCE.md)** - Optimization, tuning, and resource management
### Legal & Community
- **[Legal Considerations](docs/LEGAL.md)** - ✨ **UPDATED!** Legal aspects of running a Tor relay
- **[Documentation Index](docs/README.md)** - Complete documentation navigation
### Project Info
- **[Security Policy](SECURITY.md)** - Security practices and vulnerability reporting
- **[Contributing Guide](CONTRIBUTING.md)** - How to contribute to the project
- **[Code of Conduct](CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md)** - Community guidelines
- **[Changelog](CHANGELOG.md)** - Version history and changes
> 💡 **Tip:** Start with the [FAQ](docs/FAQ.md) for quick answers or [Documentation Index](docs/README.md) for complete navigation.
---
## 🛠️ Configuration
### Minimal Configuration
```ini
Nickname MyTorRelay
ContactInfo email:your-email[]example.com url:https://example.com proof:uri-rsa ciissversion:2
ORPort 9001
ORPort [::]:9001
DirPort 0
ExitRelay 0
SocksPort 0
DataDirectory /var/lib/tor
Log notice file /var/log/tor/notices.log
```
> 📝 **ContactInfo format:** We recommend the [ContactInfo Information Sharing Specification (CIISS) v2](https://nusenu.github.io/ContactInfo-Information-Sharing-Specification/), a machine-readable format that replaces `@` with `[]` and includes structured fields like `email:`, `url:`, `proof:`, `pgp:`, `hoster:`, and more. Use the [CIISS Generator](https://torcontactinfogenerator.netlify.app/) to create yours.
### Production Configuration
```ini
RelayBandwidthRate 50 MBytes
RelayBandwidthBurst 100 MBytes
NumCPUs 2
MaxMemInQueues 512 MB
ORPort [::]:9001
```
### Example Configurations
Examples are found in the [`examples/`](examples/) directory for complete, annotated configuration files:
- **[relay-guard.conf](examples/relay-guard.conf)** - Recommended production config
- Additional examples for specific use cases
> 📖 **Configuration help:** See [Deployment Guide](docs/DEPLOYMENT.md#configuration) for complete reference.
### Happy Family (Tor 0.4.9+)
Tor 0.4.9 introduces **Happy Families**, a cryptographic key-based replacement for `MyFamily`. Instead of listing every relay fingerprint in every relay's config, all relays in a family share one secret key.
**Why upgrade?**
- Eliminates huge `MyFamily` lists that waste bandwidth and memory
- Simpler to maintain - one key file instead of N×N fingerprint entries
- Required for future Arti Relay compatibility
#### Option A: Generate a new family key in Docker
Use this if you don't already have a family key from another setup.
```bash
# 1. Generate a family key (run on any ONE relay container)
docker exec tor-relay gen-family MyRelays
# 2. Note the FamilyId output - you need it for your torrc
# FamilyId <value>
# 3. Copy the key to all your other relay containers
docker cp tor-relay:/var/lib/tor/keys/MyRelays.secret_family_key .
docker cp MyRelays.secret_family_key other-relay:/var/lib/tor/keys/
# 4. Fix ownership and permissions inside the target container
docker exec -u 0 other-relay chown 100:101 /var/lib/tor/keys/MyRelays.secret_family_key
docker exec -u 0 other-relay chmod 600 /var/lib/tor/keys/MyRelays.secret_family_key
# ⚠️ If you get a permissions error here (common with Docker volumes or bind mounts),
# follow the "Troubleshooting: Family Key Permissions" section below to set permissions on the host instead.
# 5. **Add FamilyId to each relay's torrc, then restart**
docker restart tor-relay other-relay
```
---
#### Option B: Import an existing family key into Docker
Use this if you already generated a family key on a bare-metal or source-built Tor relay and want to use the same key for your Docker relays.
```bash
# 1. Transfer the .secret_family_key file to your Docker host
# (via scp, sftp, or any secure method)
scp user@source-server:/var/lib/tor/keys/MyRelays.secret_family_key ~/tor-keys/
# 2. Copy the key into each running container (no restart needed yet)
docker cp ~/tor-keys/MyRelays.secret_family_key tor-relay:/var/lib/tor/keys/
# 3. Fix ownership and permissions inside the container
# The tor user in the container runs as UID 100, GID 101
docker exec -u 0 tor-relay chown 100:101 /var/lib/tor/keys/MyRelays.secret_family_key
docker exec -u 0 tor-relay chmod 600 /var/lib/tor/keys/MyRelays.secret_family_key
# ⚠️ If you get a permissions error here (common with Docker volumes or bind mounts),
# follow the "Troubleshooting: Family Key Permissions" section below to set permissions on the host instead.
# 4. Verify the key is in place
docker exec tor-relay ls -la /var/lib/tor/keys/MyRelays.secret_family_key
# 5. Add the FamilyId line to your torrc (same value from your source server)
# FamilyId <your-family-id-value>
# Keep your existing MyFamily lines during the transition period
# 6. Restart the container to pick up the config change
docker restart tor-relay
```
Repeat steps 2-6 for each container that should be in the family.
> **This is safe for running containers.** `docker cp` writes directly into the named Docker volume. Your relay identity keys, family key, and all data persist in the volume across container restarts, image updates, and `docker compose up --force-recreate`. Volumes are **only** deleted if you explicitly run `docker volume rm` or `docker compose down -v`.
---
### Troubleshooting: Family Key Permissions (Docker Volumes & Bind Mounts)
If you see a permissions error when running the in-container `chmod` or `chown` commands, set the permissions directly on the host:
How to fix:
1. **Find your volume name**
Replace `<relay>` with part of your relay/container name:
```bash
docker volume ls | grep -i <relay>
```
2. **Get the volume name for `/var/lib/tor`**
Replace `<container>` with your container name:
```bash
docker inspect <container> --format '{{range .Mounts}}{{if eq .Destination "/var/lib/tor"}}{{.Name}}{{end}}{{end}}'
```
3. **Set permissions on the host**
Replace `<volume>` and `<keyfile>` with your actual values:
```bash
sudo chmod 600 "$(docker volume inspect <volume> --format '{{.Mountpoint}}')/keys/<keyfile>"
```
4. **Verify inside the container**
```bash
docker exec <container> ls -la /var/lib/tor/keys/<keyfile>
```
You should see:
```
-rw------- 1 tor tor
```
**Why is this needed?**
Docker containers may not be able to change file permissions on mounted volumes, depending on your host OS or Docker setup. Setting permissions on the host ensures Tor can read the key securely.
> **Tip:** Always replace `<relay>`, `<container>`, `<volume>`, and `<keyfile>` with your actual names.
---
#### Torrc configuration
During the transition period, configure **both** `FamilyId` and `MyFamily` in your torrc:
```ini
# Happy Family (Tor 0.4.9+)
FamilyId wweKJrJxUDs1EdtFFHCDtvVgTKftOC/crUl1mYJv830
# MyFamily (legacy - keep during transition)
MyFamily 9A2B5C7D8E1F3A4B6C8D0E2F4A6B8C0D2E4F6A8B
MyFamily 1F3E5D7C9B0A2F4E6D8C0B2A4F6E8D0C2B4A6F8E
```
The Tor Project will announce when `MyFamily` can be removed.
#### ENV-based config (alternative to mounted torrc)
```yaml
environment:
TOR_FAMILY_ID: "wweKJrJxUDs1EdtFFHCDtvVgTKftOC/crUl1mYJv830"
TOR_MY_FAMILY: "FINGERPRINT1,FINGERPRINT2,FINGERPRINT3"
```
#### Key persistence
The `.secret_family_key` file lives in `/var/lib/tor/keys/` inside your data volume. It persists across container restarts and image updates automatically.
| Scenario | Identity preserved? | Family key preserved? |
|----------|:---:|:---:|
| `docker restart` | ✅ | ✅ |
| `docker compose up --force-recreate` | ✅ | ✅ |
| `docker compose down` then `up` | ✅ | ✅ |
| `docker compose down -v` | ❌ | ❌ |
| `docker volume rm <volume>` | ❌ | ❌ |
> ⚠️ **Treat the `.secret_family_key` like a private key.** Anyone with this file can claim their relay belongs to your family. Back it up securely - losing it means regenerating for all relays.
> 📖 **Official docs:** [Tor Happy Family Guide](https://community.torproject.org/relay/setup/post-install/family-ids/)
---
## 🔍 Monitoring Your Relay
### Check Bootstrap Status
```bash
# Quick status
docker exec tor-relay status
# JSON output for automation (raw)
docker exec tor-relay health
# Parse specific field with jq (requires jq on host)
docker exec tor-relay health | jq .bootstrap
```
### View on Tor Metrics
After 1-2 hours, find your relay:
🔗 **[Tor Metrics Relay Search](https://metrics.torproject.org/rs.html)**
Search by:
- Nickname (e.g., "MyTorRelay")
- Fingerprint (get with `docker exec tor-relay fingerprint`)
- IP address
### Expected Timeline
| Milestone | Time | What to Expect |
|-----------|------|----------------|
| Bootstrap Complete | 10-30 min | Logs show "Bootstrapped 100%" |
| Appears in Consensus | 1-3 hours | Relay visible in Tor Metrics search |
| Bandwidth Cap Lifted | ~3 days | bwauths measure you; 20 KB/s cap removed, traffic ramps up |
| First Statistics | 24-48 hours | Bandwidth graphs appear on Tor Metrics |
| Guard Flag | **8+ days** | Eligible for entry guard selection by clients |
> 🗳️ **How relay flags work:** Tor has **9 Directory Authorities (DAs)** that vote every hour to update the consensus. A consensus document is valid if more than half of the authorities signed it, meaning **5 of 9** must agree for a flag to appear. This is why flags take time: your relay must prove itself to a majority of independent, geographically distributed authorities.
>
> **To receive the Guard flag**, three criteria must all be met:
> - **Bandwidth** - must have a sufficient consensus weight as measured by bandwidth authorities
> - **Weighted Fractional Uptime (WFU)** - must demonstrate consistent, reliable uptime
> - **Time Known** - you're first eligible for the Guard flag on day eight
>
> The **Stable** flag is a prerequisite for Guard. Only stable and reliable relays can be used as guards.
>
> ⚠️ **Expect a traffic dip after getting Guard:** Once you get the Guard flag, all the rest of the clients back off from using you for middle hops, because when they see the Guard flag, they assume you already have plenty of load from clients using you as their first hop. This is normal, traffic will recover as clients rotate you in as their guard node.
> 📖 **Detailed monitoring:** See [Monitoring Guide](docs/MONITORING.md) for complete observability setup with Prometheus and Grafana.
---
## 🐛 Troubleshooting
### Quick Diagnostics
```bash
# Check overall status
docker exec tor-relay status
# Check JSON health (raw)
docker exec tor-relay health
# View fingerprint
docker exec tor-relay fingerprint
# For bridge mode: Get bridge line
docker exec tor-relay bridge-line
# Generate Control Port hash
docker exec tor-relay gen-auth
# Generate/view Happy Family key
docker exec tor-relay gen-family MyRelays
docker exec tor-relay gen-family --show
```
### Common Issues
| Problem | Quick Fix |
|---------|-----------|
| Container won't start | Check logs: `docker logs tor-relay` |
| Permission / ownership errors | See **Bind Mount Ownership** below |
| ORPort not reachable | Verify firewall: `sudo ufw allow 9001/tcp` |
| Not on Tor Metrics | Wait 24h, verify bootstrap complete |
| Low/no traffic | Normal for new relays (2-8 weeks to build reputation) |
### Bind Mount Ownership
If you use **host bind mounts** (e.g. `-v /my/path:/var/lib/tor`) instead of named Docker volumes, the mounted directories must be owned by the container's `tor` user (**UID 100, GID 101**). Tor will refuse to start if directories have incorrect ownership.
**Symptoms:**
```
[warn] /var/lib/tor//keys is not owned by this user (tor, 100) but by <unknown> (99)
[warn] Failed to parse/validate config: Couldn't access private data directory "/var/lib/tor//keys"
```
**Fix - set correct ownership on the host:**
```bash
chown -R 100:101 /path/to/your/tor-data
chown -R 100:101 /path/to/your/tor-keys # if mounted separately
```
> 💡 **Tip:** Named Docker volumes (e.g. `-v tor-guard-data:/var/lib/tor`) handle ownership automatically and avoid this issue entirely. We recommend using named volumes unless you have a specific reason to use bind mounts.
> 📖 **Full troubleshooting:** See [Tools Documentation](docs/TOOLS.md#troubleshooting) for detailed diagnostic procedures.
---
## 🏢 Architecture and Design
> 📐 **NEW:** See the complete [Architecture Documentation](docs/ARCHITECTURE.md) for detailed technical design with Mermaid diagrams covering:
> - Container lifecycle and initialization flow (6 phases)
> - ENV compatibility layer and configuration priority
> - Config generation for guard/exit/bridge modes with Happy Family support
> - OBFS4V security validation
> - Diagnostic tools architecture
> - Signal handling and graceful shutdown
### Flowchart
```mermaid
flowchart TB
Start([🐳 docker run]) --> Init
subgraph Init["⚙️ INITIALIZATION"]
direction TB
Check{"📄 Config File
at /etc/tor/torrc?"}
Check -->|✅ Mounted| Mount["📁 Use Mounted Config
Full Tor Control"]
Check -->|❌ No File| Env{"🌐 ENV Variables?
NICKNAME + CONTACT_INFO"}
Env -->|✅ Set| Generate["⚙️ Auto-Generate torrc
from ENV Variables"]
Env -->|❌ Missing| Error["❌ ERROR
No Configuration Found"]
Mount --> Validate
Generate --> Validate
Validate["🧪 Validate Config
tor --verify-config"]
Validate -->|❌ Invalid| Error
end
Init -->|✅ Valid Config| ModeSelect
subgraph ModeSelect["🎯 RELAY MODE SELECTION"]
direction LR
Mode{TOR_RELAY_MODE}
Mode -->|guard| Guard["🛡️ GUARD/MIDDLE
━━━━━━━━━━
Routes Traffic
ExitRelay 0
DirPort Disabled"]
Mode -->|exit| Exit["🚪 EXIT RELAY
━━━━━━━━━━
Last Hop to Internet
ExitRelay 1
Custom Exit Policy"]
Mode -->|bridge| Bridge["🌉 BRIDGE + obfs4
━━━━━━━━━━
Censorship Resistant
BridgeRelay 1
Lyrebird Transport"]
end
Guard --> Running
Exit --> Running
Bridge --> Running
Running(["🟢 TOR RELAY RUNNING"])
Running --> Ops
subgraph Ops["🛠️ OPERATIONS"]
direction TB
Tools["🔧 Diagnostic Tools
via docker exec"]
Tools --> Status["📊 status
━━━━━━━━━━
Full Health Report
Bootstrap Progress
Reachability Status"]
Tools --> Health["💚 health
━━━━━━━━━━
JSON Health API
For Monitoring Systems"]
Tools --> Finger["🆔 fingerprint
━━━━━━━━━━
Show Relay Identity
Tor Metrics URL"]
Tools --> BLine["🌉 bridge-line
━━━━━━━━━━
Get obfs4 Bridge Line
Share with Users"]
Tools --> GenAuth["🔑 gen-auth
━━━━━━━━━━
Generate Control
Port Auth Data"]
Tools --> GenFamily["👨‍👩‍👧 gen-family
━━━━━━━━━━
Happy Family Key
Generation & Import"]
end
Running -->|docker stop SIGTERM| Shutdown
subgraph Shutdown["🧹 GRACEFUL SHUTDOWN"]
direction TB
Graceful["Close Circuits Cleanly
Notify Directory Authorities
Save State to Disk
Exit Gracefully"]
end
Error --> End([⛔ Container Exits])
Graceful --> End2([✅ Clean Stop])
style Start fill:#4FC3F7,stroke:#0288D1,stroke-width:3px,color:#000
style Running fill:#66BB6A,stroke:#388E3C,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff
style Mount fill:#81C784,stroke:#388E3C,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
style Generate fill:#81C784,stroke:#388E3C,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
style Validate fill:#FFD54F,stroke:#F57C00,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
style Error fill:#E57373,stroke:#C62828,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff
style Guard fill:#64B5F6,stroke:#1976D2,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
style Exit fill:#F06292,stroke:#C2185B,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style Bridge fill:#BA68C8,stroke:#7B1FA2,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style Status fill:#4DD0E1,stroke:#0097A7,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
style Health fill:#4DD0E1,stroke:#0097A7,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
style Finger fill:#4DD0E1,stroke:#0097A7,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
style BLine fill:#4DD0E1,stroke:#0097A7,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
style GenAuth fill:#4DD0E1,stroke:#0097A7,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
style GenFamily fill:#4DD0E1,stroke:#0097A7,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
style Graceful fill:#FFB74D,stroke:#F57C00,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
style End fill:#E57373,stroke:#C62828,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style End2 fill:#66BB6A,stroke:#388E3C,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style Init fill:#FFF9C4,stroke:#F9A825,stroke-width:2px
style ModeSelect fill:#E1BEE7,stroke:#8E24AA,stroke-width:2px
style Ops fill:#B2EBF2,stroke:#00ACC1,stroke-width:2px
style Shutdown fill:#FFCCBC,stroke:#E64A19,stroke-width:2px
```
### Why Host Network Mode?
This project uses `--network host` for important reasons:
- ✅ **IPv6 Support** - Direct access to host's IPv6 stack
- ✅ **No NAT** - Tor binds directly to ports without translation
- ✅ **Better Performance** - Eliminates network overhead
- ✅ **Tor Recommended** - Follows Tor Project best practices
**Security:** The container still runs as non-root with restricted permissions. Host networking is standard for Tor relays.
### Multi-Architecture Support
Docker automatically pulls the correct architecture:
```bash
# Same command works on:
# - x86_64 servers (pulls amd64)
# - Raspberry Pi (pulls arm64)
# - AWS Graviton (pulls arm64)
docker pull r3bo0tbx1/onion-relay:latest
```
Verify what you got:
```bash
docker exec tor-relay cat /build-info.txt | grep Architecture
```
---
## 🤝 Contributing
Contributions are welcome.
- 🐛 **Report bugs** via [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/r3bo0tbx1/tor-guard-relay/issues)
- 💡 **Suggest features** or improvements
- 📖 **Improve documentation** (typos, clarity, examples)
- 🔧 **Submit pull requests** (code, configs, workflows)
- ⭐ **Star the repository** to show support
- 🧅 **Run a relay** and strengthen the network!
### Development Setup
```bash
# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/r3bo0tbx1/tor-guard-relay.git
cd tor-guard-relay
# Build locally
docker build -t tor-relay:dev .
# Test
docker run --rm tor-relay:dev status
```
See [Contributing Guide](CONTRIBUTING.md) for detailed instructions.
---
## 📦 Templates and Examples
All templates are in the [`templates/`](templates/) directory:
### Docker Compose
- [docker-compose.yml](templates/docker-compose/docker-compose.yml) - Single relay
- [docker-compose-multi-relay.yml](templates/docker-compose/docker-compose-multi-relay.yml) - 3 relays + monitoring
### Cosmos Cloud
- [cosmos-compose.json](templates/cosmos-compose/cosmos-compose.json) - Single relay
- [cosmos-compose-multi-relay.json](templates/cosmos-compose/cosmos-compose-multi-relay.json) - Multi-relay stack
### Tor Exit Notice
You can find them in [`templates/tor-exit-notice`](templates/tor-exit-notice) directory
### Monitoring
See [Monitoring Guide](docs/MONITORING.md) for external monitoring integration examples with Prometheus, Nagios, and other tools
### Configuration Examples
See [`examples/`](examples/) directory for relay configurations.
---
## 🔐 Security
### ⚠️ Version Deprecation Notice
> **All versions prior to v1.1.5 have been deprecated and removed from registries.** These versions were affected by **CVE-2025-15467** (OpenSSL, CVSS 9.8), a critical vulnerability in the OpenSSL library bundled through the Alpine base image. v1.1.5 patched this by upgrading to Alpine 3.23.3 (OpenSSL 3.5.5+). **If you are running any version older than v1.1.5, upgrade immediately:**
>
> ```bash
> docker pull r3bo0tbx1/onion-relay:latest
> ```
### Best Practices
✅ Store `relay.conf` with restricted permissions (`chmod 600`)
✅ Never commit configs with sensitive info to Git
✅ Use [CIISS v2](https://nusenu.github.io/ContactInfo-Information-Sharing-Specification/) format in ContactInfo for verification
✅ Regularly update Docker image for security patches
✅ Monitor logs for suspicious activity
✅ Configure firewall properly
### Security Policy
Found a vulnerability? See our [Security Policy](SECURITY.md) for responsible disclosure.
### Updates
Images are automatically rebuilt on separate schedules to include security patches:
**Stable Variant** (`:latest`)
- **Schedule:** Every Sunday at 18:30 UTC
- **Includes:** Latest Tor + Alpine 3.23.3 updates
- **Strategy:** Overwrites last release version (e.g., `:1.1.7`) with updated packages
- **Tags Updated:** `:latest` and version tags (e.g., `:1.1.7`)
**Edge Variant** (`:edge`)
- **Schedule:** Every 3 days at 12:00 UTC (independent schedule)
- **Includes:** Latest Tor + Alpine edge (bleeding-edge) updates
- **Strategy:** Overwrites last release version (e.g., `:1.1.7-edge`) with updated packages
- **Tags Updated:** `:edge` and version tags (e.g., `:1.1.7-edge`)
- **Frequency:** ~2-3x more frequent updates than stable
All images auto-published to Docker Hub and GitHub Container Registry
---
## 🌐 Resources
### Container Registries
- 🐳 [Docker Hub Repository](https://hub.docker.com/r/r3bo0tbx1/onion-relay)
- 📦 [GitHub Container Registry](https://github.com/r3bo0tbx1/tor-guard-relay/pkgs/container/onion-relay)
### Official Tor Project
- 📚 [Relay Setup Guide](https://community.torproject.org/relay/setup/)
- 💬 [Relay Operators Forum](https://forum.torproject.org/c/relay-operators)
- 📧 [Mailing List](https://lists.torproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/tor-relays)
- 📊 [Tor Metrics](https://metrics.torproject.org/)
### This Project
- 📖 [Documentation](docs/README.md)
- 🐛 [Issue Tracker](https://github.com/r3bo0tbx1/tor-guard-relay/issues)
- 💬 [Discussions](https://github.com/r3bo0tbx1/tor-guard-relay/discussions)
- 📦 [Container Registry](https://github.com/r3bo0tbx1/tor-guard-relay/pkgs/container/onion-relay)
---
## 📊 Project Status
<div align="center">
![Docker Hub Pulls](https://img.shields.io/docker/pulls/r3bo0tbx1/onion-relay?style=for-the-badge&logo=docker)
![GitHub Repo stars](https://img.shields.io/github/stars/r3bo0tbx1/tor-guard-relay?style=for-the-badge)
![GitHub Issues](https://img.shields.io/github/issues/r3bo0tbx1/tor-guard-relay?style=for-the-badge)
**Current Version:** v1.1.7 • **Status:** Production Ready
**Image Size:** 16.8 MB • **Retention:** Last 7 Releases
**Registries:** Docker Hub • GHCR
</div>
---
## 📄 License
Project is licensed under the MIT License.
See [License](LICENSE.txt) for full details.
---
## 🙏 Acknowledgments
- **The Tor Project** for maintaining the global privacy network
- **Alpine Linux** for a minimal and secure base image
- **azukaar** for Cosmos Cloud
- **All relay operators** supporting privacy and anti-censorship worldwide
---
## 💖 Support the Project
This project is open source. Your support helps sustainability and improvements.
### Bitcoin (BTC)
```
bc1qltkajaswmzx9jwets8hfz43nkvred5w92syyq4
```
Or via **[AnonPay](https://trocador.app/anonpay?ticker_to=btc&network_to=Mainnet&address=bc1qltkajaswmzx9jwets8hfz43nkvred5w92syyq4&ref=sqKNYGZbRl&direct=True&name=rE-Bo0tbx1+%28r3bo0tbx1%29&description=Support+FOSS+Development&email=r3bo0tbx1%40brokenbotnet.com)** (convert any crypto)
### Monero (XMR)
```
45mNg5cG1S2B2C5dndJP65SSEXseHFVqFdv1N6paAraD1Jk9kQxQQArVcjfQmgCcmthrUF3jbNs74c5AbWqMwAAgAjDYzrZ
```
Or via **[AnonPay](https://trocador.app/anonpay?ticker_to=xmr&network_to=Mainnet&address=85ft7ehMfcKSSp8Ve92Y9oARmqvDjYvEiKQkzdp3qiyzP9dpLeJXFahgHcoXUPeE9TacqDCUXWppNffE3YDC1Wu1NnQ71rT&ref=sqKNYGZbRl&direct=True&name=rE-Bo0tbx1+%28r3bo0tbx1%29&description=Support+FOSS+Development&email=r3bo0tbx1%40brokenbotnet.com)** (convert any crypto)
### Other Ways to Support
- ⭐ Star the repo
- 🐛 Report bugs
- 💡 Suggest features
- 📖 Improve documentation
- 🤝 Submit patches
- 🧅 Run a relay
---
## ⭐ Star History
<div align="center">
<a href="https://www.star-history.com/#r3bo0tbx1/tor-guard-relay&type=date&legend=top-left">
<picture>
<source media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)" srcset="https://api.star-history.com/svg?repos=r3bo0tbx1/tor-guard-relay&type=date&theme=dark&legend=top-left" />
<source media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)" srcset="https://api.star-history.com/svg?repos=r3bo0tbx1/tor-guard-relay&type=date&legend=top-left" />
<img alt="Star History Chart" src="https://api.star-history.com/svg?repos=r3bo0tbx1/tor-guard-relay&type=date&legend=top-left" />
</picture>
</a>
</div>
---
<div align="center">
### Made with 💜 for a freer, uncensored internet
*Protecting privacy, one relay at a time* 🔁🧅✨
⭐ Star this repo if you find it useful!
🌍 [Support Internet Freedom](https://donate.torproject.org/)
📚 [Documentation](docs/README.md)
⬆ [Back to top](#readme-top)
</div>
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