[Bug 2091657] [NEW] systemd-localed requires read-only-etc hacks for /etc/vconsole.conf and /etc/locale.conf

[Nick Rosbrook]

Public bug reported:

[Impact]

Ubuntu Core has a read-only /etc, but a writable partition in
/etc/writable. In some versions of Ubuntu, the systemd package ships a
patch to follow symlinks from /etc/ -> /etc/writable, e.g. for files
like /etc/locale.conf.

In Core24, this patch needs to be expanded for /etc/locale.conf and
/etc/vconsole.conf in systemd-localed.

[Test Plan]

TODO

[Where problems could occur]

This hack is designed to be a no-op in non-Ubuntu Core cases. I.e., when
/etc/writable does not exist or does not have a link for the given path
in etc, the original path is used.

As is evident by the ever-expanding nature of this patch, this is not a
complete solution. It's possible that more cases will be found where
this hack needs to be applied.

[Other information]

This patch is not carried in supported releases newer than Noble. While
this patch is far from ideal, expanding this hack has become the go-to
for existing stable releases.

** Affects: systemd (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: Invalid

** Affects: systemd (Ubuntu Noble)
     Importance: Medium
     Assignee: Nick Rosbrook (enr0n)
         Status: Triaged


** Tags: systemd-sru-next

** Also affects: systemd (Ubuntu Noble)
   Importance: Undecided
       Status: New

** Changed in: systemd (Ubuntu)
       Status: New => Invalid

** Changed in: systemd (Ubuntu Noble)
       Status: New => Triaged

** Changed in: systemd (Ubuntu Noble)
   Importance: Undecided => Medium

** Changed in: systemd (Ubuntu Noble)
     Assignee: (unassigned) => Nick Rosbrook (enr0n)

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2091657

Title:
  systemd-localed requires read-only-etc hacks for /etc/vconsole.conf
  and /etc/locale.conf

Status in systemd package in Ubuntu:
  Invalid
Status in systemd source package in Noble:
  Triaged

Bug description:
  [Impact]

  Ubuntu Core has a read-only /etc, but a writable partition in
  /etc/writable. In some versions of Ubuntu, the systemd package ships a
  patch to follow symlinks from /etc/ -> /etc/writable, e.g. for files
  like /etc/locale.conf.

  In Core24, this patch needs to be expanded for /etc/locale.conf and
  /etc/vconsole.conf in systemd-localed.

  [Test Plan]

  TODO

  [Where problems could occur]

  This hack is designed to be a no-op in non-Ubuntu Core cases. I.e.,
  when /etc/writable does not exist or does not have a link for the
  given path in etc, the original path is used.

  As is evident by the ever-expanding nature of this patch, this is not
  a complete solution. It's possible that more cases will be found where
  this hack needs to be applied.

  [Other information]

  This patch is not carried in supported releases newer than Noble.
  While this patch is far from ideal, expanding this hack has become the
  go-to for existing stable releases.

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