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Replace the Anaconda product configuration files with profiles

Summary

In Anaconda, we would like to introduce profile configuration files and remove the support for product configuration files.

Owner

Current status

  • Targeted release: Fedora Linux 35
  • Last updated: 2021-06-01
  • FESCo issue: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>
  • Tracker bug: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>
  • Release notes tracker: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>

Detailed Description

Anaconda allows to change its configuration based on a detected product using the product configuration files. The configuration is chosen based on:

  1. the inst.product and inst.variant boot options,
  2. or the Product and Variant options of the .buildstamp file,
  3. or the NAME option in the os-release files.

This solution has several flaws:

  • The detection based on the os-release files will no longer work because of a Fedora 35 change.
  • The .buildstamp file is generated by lorax when it creates is a boot.iso. Therefore, we have to rely on other solutions during the live, dir and image installations.
  • The inst.product and inst.variant boot options are misleading. Anaconda will run with a different configuration. That doesn't mean it will install a different product.
  • The configuration has to use a fake product name for its identification if it is not tied to a real product.

We would like to redesign the product configuration files to solve these issues. The idea is to replace them with more general profile configuration files:

  • The profile will be identified by a unique id.
  • The profile can specify additional options for the automated profile detection.
  • The profile will be chosen based on the inst.profile boot option, or based on the ID and VARIANT_ID options of the os-release files.

For example, Fedora Server uses a configuration from /etc/anaconda/product.d/fedora-server.conf. The configuration can be enforced with the inst.product=Fedora inst.variant=Server boot options. The file contains the following sections: 

[Product]
product_name = Fedora
variant_name = Server

[Base Product]
product_name = Fedora

After this change, Fedora Server will use a configuration from /etc/anaconda/profile.d/fedora-server.conf. The configuration can be enforced with the inst.profile=fedora-server boot option. The file will contain the following sections: 

[Profile]
profile_id = fedora-server
base_profile = fedora

[Profile Detection]
product_id = fedora
variant_id = server

The full draft of the profile configuration files is provided at: https://github.com/rhinstaller/anaconda/pull/3388

Feedback

Benefit to Fedora

  • The installer will use ids instead of names. That will solve the problem with the Fedora 35 change and prevent similar issues in the future.
  • All types of installation will use os-release values to identify the product. We can remove workarounds for boot.iso and Live ISO.
  • The inst.profile option makes more sense, because it allows to choose a different installation profile.
  • A configuration, that is not tied to a product, doesn't have to provide a fake product name or id.

Scope

  • Proposal owners: Will submit a pull request for the anaconda package.
  • Other developers: Should be no impact. Anaconda provides configuration files for all Fedora products and the products rely on the automated detection of configuration files.
  • Policies and guidelines: N/A (not needed for this Change)
  • Trademark approval: N/A (not needed for this Change)
  • Alignment with Objectives:

Upgrade/compatibility impact

How To Test

Test the automated profile detection:

  1. Download and boot the Fedora Server ISO.
  2. The installation is started with the Fedora Server configuration.

Test the inst.profile boot option:

  1. Download and boot the Fedora Everything ISO.
  2. Add the inst.profile=fedora-server boot option.
  3. The installation is started with the Fedora Server configuration.

User Experience

  • Users will have to use the inst.profile boot option instead of inst.product and inst.variant.
  • Maintainers of custom product configuration files will have to change their files.
  • Otherwise, this change shouldn't impact the user experience.

Dependencies

None.

Contingency Plan

  • Contingency mechanism: (What to do? Who will do it?) N/A (not a System Wide Change)
  • Contingency deadline: N/A (not a System Wide Change)
  • Blocks release? N/A (not a System Wide Change), Yes/No

Documentation

N/A (not a System Wide Change)

Release Notes

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