[Bug 1046405] [NEW] hostname.conf should prefer kernel cmdline 'hostname=' to contents of /etc/hostname

[Scott Moser]

Public bug reported:

It would be nice if /etc/init/hostname.conf allowed the kernel cmdline
to override the value in /etc/hostname.  This is useful in the netboot
case where the kernel cmdline can be controlled on a per MAC basis, but
the filesystem is read-only.

At this point I'm looking for input on possible fallout of a change like
this.

Here is the suggested /etc/init/hostname.conf:
#
# This task is run on startup to set the system hostname from /etc/hostname,
# falling back to "localhost" if that file is not readable or is empty and
# no hostname has yet been set.

description     "set system hostname"

start on startup

task
script
  { read cmdline < /proc/cmdline || : } >/dev/null 2>&1
  if hn="${cmdline#*hostname=}" && [ "$hn" != "${cmdline}" ]; then
     hn="${hn%% *}"
     echo "setting hostname ${hn}" >/dev/console
     exec hostname "${hn}"
  fi
  exec hostname -b -F /etc/hostname
end script

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.10
Package: hostname 3.11ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.5.0-13.14-generic 3.5.3
Uname: Linux 3.5.0-13-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.5.1-0ubuntu4
Architecture: amd64
Date: Wed Sep  5 11:53:36 2012
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release amd64 (20111012)
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: hostname
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to quantal on 2011-11-07 (303 days ago)

** Affects: hostname (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New


** Tags: amd64 apport-bug quantal running-unity

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1046405

Title:
  hostname.conf should prefer kernel cmdline 'hostname=' to contents of
  /etc/hostname

Status in “hostname” package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  It would be nice if /etc/init/hostname.conf allowed the kernel cmdline
  to override the value in /etc/hostname.  This is useful in the netboot
  case where the kernel cmdline can be controlled on a per MAC basis,
  but the filesystem is read-only.

  At this point I'm looking for input on possible fallout of a change
  like this.

  Here is the suggested /etc/init/hostname.conf:
  #
  # This task is run on startup to set the system hostname from /etc/hostname,
  # falling back to "localhost" if that file is not readable or is empty and
  # no hostname has yet been set.

  description     "set system hostname"

  start on startup

  task
  script
    { read cmdline < /proc/cmdline || : } >/dev/null 2>&1
    if hn="${cmdline#*hostname=}" && [ "$hn" != "${cmdline}" ]; then
       hn="${hn%% *}"
       echo "setting hostname ${hn}" >/dev/console
       exec hostname "${hn}"
    fi
    exec hostname -b -F /etc/hostname
  end script

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.10
  Package: hostname 3.11ubuntu1
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.5.0-13.14-generic 3.5.3
  Uname: Linux 3.5.0-13-generic x86_64
  ApportVersion: 2.5.1-0ubuntu4
  Architecture: amd64
  Date: Wed Sep  5 11:53:36 2012
  EcryptfsInUse: Yes
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release amd64 (20111012)
  ProcEnviron:
   TERM=xterm
   PATH=(custom, user)
   LANG=en_US.UTF-8
   SHELL=/bin/bash
  SourcePackage: hostname
  UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to quantal on 2011-11-07 (303 days ago)

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