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alknet/docs/architecture/decisions/009-default-iroh-relay.md
glm-5.1 596c89ce24 refactor!: rebrand wraith to alknet
Rename all crates, CLI commands, constants, type names, doc comments,
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2026-06-05 10:04:32 +00:00

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ADR-009: Default iroh Relay with Override

Status

Accepted

Context

iroh requires a relay server for NAT traversal and initial connection establishment. The n0 project provides free relay servers (https://relay.iroh.network/) that work out of the box. However, relying on a third-party service creates a dependency:

  • n0's relay could change terms, rate-limit, or go down
  • Production deployments may want self-hosted relays for reliability and privacy
  • The relay URL is a configuration point that should be explicit

Conversely, requiring users to set up a relay server before they can use iroh transport is a significant friction point for testing and quick starts.

Decision

Default to n0's relay servers. Allow override via --iroh-relay <url> CLI flag. Document self-hosted relay setup in project documentation.

This matches iroh's own defaults — n0's relay is the standard starting point. Users who need production reliability self-host.

Consequences

  • Positive: Zero-config iroh transport for testing and development. alknet serve --transport iroh just works.
  • Positive: Self-hosting is a single flag override, not a complex setup requirement.
  • Negative: Default depends on n0's infrastructure. If n0's relay is down, default iroh connections fail (but this is the same experience as every iroh user).
  • Negative: Privacy-conscious users must remember to --iroh-relay to avoid n0. Mitigated by documentation.

References