[Bug 1915829] [NEW] FQDN / hostname recorded in OVSDB is unreliable

[Frode Nordahl]

Public bug reported:

The Open vSwitch init script `ovs-ctl` determines the system hostname
and records it in the `external-ids:hostname` field of the `Open-
vSwitch` table in the local OVSDB.

This value may be consumed by downstream software and having it unset or
set to a incorrect value could lead to erratic behavior of a system.

In recent Ubuntu development we have also made it possible to configure
Open vSwitch with netplan.io, which allows for a Open vSwitch controlled
data path to be the only external network connection on a system.

As such the current startup sequence of Open vSwitch is insufficient to
allow for reliable recording of FQDN / hostname at system boot-up time.

A possible solution to this would be to extend the upstream `ovs-ctl`
script to allow controlling when the hostname is recorded and adding a
new Systemd service file to the package that calls the `record-hostname`
function at a more appropriate time, i.e. after or as part of the
`network-online.target`.

** Affects: openvswitch (Ubuntu)
     Importance: High
     Assignee: Frode Nordahl (fnordahl)
         Status: In Progress

** Changed in: openvswitch (Ubuntu)
     Assignee: (unassigned) => Frode Nordahl (fnordahl)

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

** Changed in: openvswitch (Ubuntu)
       Status: Triaged => In Progress

** Changed in: openvswitch (Ubuntu)
   Importance: Undecided => High

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1915829

Title:
  FQDN / hostname recorded in OVSDB is unreliable

Status in openvswitch package in Ubuntu:
  In Progress

Bug description:
  The Open vSwitch init script `ovs-ctl` determines the system hostname
  and records it in the `external-ids:hostname` field of the `Open-
  vSwitch` table in the local OVSDB.

  This value may be consumed by downstream software and having it unset
  or set to a incorrect value could lead to erratic behavior of a
  system.

  In recent Ubuntu development we have also made it possible to
  configure Open vSwitch with netplan.io, which allows for a Open
  vSwitch controlled data path to be the only external network
  connection on a system.

  As such the current startup sequence of Open vSwitch is insufficient
  to allow for reliable recording of FQDN / hostname at system boot-up
  time.

  A possible solution to this would be to extend the upstream `ovs-ctl`
  script to allow controlling when the hostname is recorded and adding a
  new Systemd service file to the package that calls the `record-
  hostname` function at a more appropriate time, i.e. after or as part
  of the `network-online.target`.

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