abysshint / tor-control-panel

Windows GUI Client for Tor Expert Bundle
MIT License
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Add support for using NT service #8

Closed DemonikGH closed 8 months ago

DemonikGH commented 8 months ago

I configured Tor expert bundle myself to run as NT service and have been using it for a while but this project doesn't seem to have a way to connect to it. Currently I'm using ipython console to control it but it'd be nice to be able to control it with GUI and this seems to be the only windows GUI project that I found.

abysshint commented 8 months ago

The current model of tor interaction with the graphical interface does not allow you to fully manage tor, which is launched as an NT service.

The NT service is suitable for Tor to work as a server, when configured the torrc file once and forgot. But when you need to monitor circuits and streams in real time, change node lists and quickly synchronize all this with the GUI, the tor NT service will not be enough.

If you need TCP to start when Windows starts, then add the program shortcut to the Startup folder. It is not necessary to install tor as an NT service.

DemonikGH commented 8 months ago

I understand the limitations but I still think it can be useful. Features that are not available when connected via control port instead of managing Tor process itself can be disabled in the UI. "The NT service is suitable for Tor to work as a server, when configured the torrc file once and forgot" - this is mostly how I use it (and I'm also using it from several PCs on the local network as well), but I sometimes need to send commands through control port and the only way to do so on windows that I found so far is using ipython with stem package which is what I'm doing.