[Bug 1920827] [NEW] flash-kernel should simply exit on uefi systems

[dann frazier]

Public bug reported:

[Impact]
If flash-kernel has a database entry for a machine, it will attempt to configure the system even if the system is in UEFI mode. This can be an issue for systems that can use multiple firmware implementations. A specific example is the X-Gene Mustang board. In UEFI mode flash-kernel will attempt to generate uImage and uInitrd wrapped files for this system, even though they will never be used. This costs additional cycles on every kernel update, and consumes potentially precious space in /boot.

[Fix]
https://salsa.debian.org/installer-team/flash-kernel/-/commit/8a81a537995a2b98386aea883729ce9960a825bf

[Test Case]
Install flash-kernel on an X-Gene Mustang board in UEFI mode and verify that it successfully exists w/o generating uImage/uInitrd files in /boot. Also regression test on a U-Boot based system X-Gene Mustang system and confirm these files are still generated as expected.

[Where Problems Could Occur]
If there's any UEFI-based systems relying on flash-kernel, or a side-effect of it, then support for those platforms could be hindered.

** Affects: flash-kernel (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
     Assignee: dann frazier (dannf)
         Status: In Progress

** Changed in: flash-kernel (Ubuntu)
       Status: New => In Progress

** Changed in: flash-kernel (Ubuntu)
     Assignee: (unassigned) => dann frazier (dannf)

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1920827

Title:
  flash-kernel should simply exit on uefi systems

Status in flash-kernel package in Ubuntu:
  In Progress

Bug description:
  [Impact]
  If flash-kernel has a database entry for a machine, it will attempt to configure the system even if the system is in UEFI mode. This can be an issue for systems that can use multiple firmware implementations. A specific example is the X-Gene Mustang board. In UEFI mode flash-kernel will attempt to generate uImage and uInitrd wrapped files for this system, even though they will never be used. This costs additional cycles on every kernel update, and consumes potentially precious space in /boot.

  [Fix]
  https://salsa.debian.org/installer-team/flash-kernel/-/commit/8a81a537995a2b98386aea883729ce9960a825bf

  [Test Case]
  Install flash-kernel on an X-Gene Mustang board in UEFI mode and verify that it successfully exists w/o generating uImage/uInitrd files in /boot. Also regression test on a U-Boot based system X-Gene Mustang system and confirm these files are still generated as expected.

  [Where Problems Could Occur]
  If there's any UEFI-based systems relying on flash-kernel, or a side-effect of it, then support for those platforms could be hindered.

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