[Bug 847782] Re: installer writes a permanent ethernet entry in interfaces file

[Clint Byrum]

Excerpts from PeterPall's message of Sat Oct 08 11:16:29 UTC 2011:
> I understand that the first time after installation it makes sense for the system to wait for a network connection before booting. If the installer removes the line in /etc/network/interfaces telling the system about networks most users won't ever find out about this. But -
> What happens if somebody just needs a line in /etc/network/interfaces. Or - as I did - added a static network communication to avoid problems with the router or because it was needed to get the system in a sane state again after one updates from one ubuntu alpha to another?
> 
> Since the user won't know the reason why the  system is waiting for a
> network and other OSes have strange boot delays  that seem to have been
> introduced intentionally chances aren't 100% that he will eventually end
> up here and know what to do to fix the problem.

Its my hope that the user would report this message and those who are
supporting that user would know immediately what the problem is and help
them solve it. Since it only happens once one has deliberately modified
the network configuration of the machine, it seems like a good idea to
direct the user to the machine's network configuration as the source of
the boot up wait.

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/847782

Title:
  installer writes a permanent ethernet entry in interfaces file

Status in “netcfg” package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed
Status in “upstart” package in Ubuntu:
  Fix Released
Status in “netcfg” source package in Oneiric:
  Won't Fix
Status in “upstart” source package in Oneiric:
  Fix Released

Bug description:
  If Ubiquity (the installer) is ran while connected to the internet via
  ethernet, writes an "auto ethX" line in /etc/network/interfaces. This
  means that the boot up process, including bringing up the X system by
  upstart, will be delayed for whatever timeout is defined in
  /etc/init/failsafe.conf (see bug 839595). This is currently 120
  seconds.

  So far, it seems like the best solution would be for the installer to
  give the user the option to choose what to do with the interfaces file
  after finishing installation. This will also be an issue with upgrades
  to Oneiric, so the upgrade tool should probably offer the user to
  "fix" the interfaces file. In all cases, the user should be offered a
  sane default behavior.

  Please see bug #839595 for more information

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