I don't see how this is FHS compliant, which in turn would make it non-compliant with Fedora Packaging Guidelines, namely: https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/packaging-guidelines/#_filesystem_layout The FHS describes /usr here: https://refspecs.linuxfoundation.org/FHS_3.0/fhs/ch04.html#purpose18 as "/usr is shareable, read-only data" which clearly does not apply to a database that changes. While /var is described here: https://refspecs.linuxfoundation.org/FHS_3.0/fhs/ch05.html#purpose31 as "/var contains variable data files" which appears to exactly describe the RPM database. At this point somebody will no doubt argue that /usr changes on a package update and that the RPM database is a static definition of the currently installed OS files, but evidence says otherwise: % ls -l /var/lib/rpm total 378M -rw-r--r--. 1 root root 378M Dec 28 16:08 rpmdb.sqlite -rw-r--r--. 1 root root 32K Dec 29 09:27 rpmdb.sqlite-shm -rw-r--r--. 1 root root 0 Dec 28 16:08 rpmdb.sqlite-wal While "Dec 28 16:08" is indeed the last time I updated that machine it seems one of the files has changed more recently - no idea what triggered that but clearly the files are not static between updates. Tom On 29/12/2021 15:01, Ben Cotton wrote:
https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Changes/RelocateRPMToUsr == Summary == Currently, the RPM databases is located in `/var`. Let's move it to `/usr`. The move is already under way in rpm-ostree-based installations, and in (open)SUSE. == Owner == * Name: [[User:chrismurphy| Chris Murphy]], [[User:Salimma|Michel Alexandre Salim]], [[User:Ngompa|Neal Gompa]] * Email: bugzilla@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, michel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, ngompa13@xxxxxxxxx == Detailed Description == === Current location === <pre>/var/lib/rpm</pre> === New location === <pre>/usr/lib/sysimage/rpm</pre> <code>/var/lib/rpm</code> will be a symlink pointing to <code>/usr/lib/sysimage/rpm</code> Changing the file system layout to accommodate a snapshot+rollback regime is implied, but not required by this proposal. For example, Fedora has long placed `/home` on a separate subvolume (or file system) so it can be isolated from system root. Likewise, it makes sense to isolate `/var/log` and possibly `/var/lib/libvirt/images` so these locations continue to carry forward in time, even if the system root does a rollback. == Feedback == There will be no change to DNF as part of this change proposal. DNF's history will remain in `/var` until DNF 5. Discussion continues about the effect of a snapshot+rollback regime on DNF history. [http://lists.rpm.org/pipermail/rpm-ecosystem/2021-December/000769.html Relocate DNF history to /usr.] Upstream RPM accept the change, but institutionally don't like the loss or weakening of a [http://lists.rpm.org/pipermail/rpm-ecosystem/2021-December/000781.html very well known location] for the database, and [http://lists.rpm.org/pipermail/rpm-ecosystem/2021-December/000781.html anticipate complaints]. == Benefit to Fedora == * The RPM database primarily describes the state of `/usr`. Storing the databases in `/usr` will more easily facilitate OS rollback, without affecting `/var`. * Helps align Fedora variants with each other ** rpm-ostree based systems (including CoreOS, IoT, Silverblue, Kinoite) already use `/usr/lib/sysimage` for rpmdb. * Consistency with another RPM-based distro, (open)SUSE has made this change * Accounts for various snapshot+rollback regimes, i.e. it's a beneficial change whether Btrfs or device-mapper based regimes. == Scope == * Proposal owners: ** changes in rpm package *** create the new path *** create a symlink for the old path pointing to new path * Other developers: ** changes in SElinux policy * Release engineering: [https://pagure.io/releng/issue/10441 #Releng issue 10441] * Policies and guidelines: N/A (not needed for this Change) * Trademark approval: N/A (not needed for this Change) * Alignment with Objectives: == Upgrade/compatibility impact == Change will be applied to offline upgrades, similar to the RPM sqlite database change. A systemd service will move the rpmdb from /var to /usr, then create a symlink pointing to /usr from /var. # Create `/usr/lib/sysimage/rpm` (rpm package will do this at preinst) # Create symlinks in `/usr/lib/sysimage/rpm/` pointing to files in `/var/lib/rpm/` (rpm package will do this at preinst) # Change the dbpath in `/usr/lib/rpm/macros` to `/usr/lib/sysimage/rpm` (rpm package will be patched to do this on F36+) # Request rpm rebuild the database (done via systemd service) # Remove `/var/lib/rpm` and create a symlink `/var/lib/rpm` -> `/usr/lib/sysimage/rpm` (done via systemd service) == How To Test == # Perform a new clean install, or upgrade a system # Check that `/var/lib/rpm` is a symlink to `/usr/lib/sysimage/rpm` # Check that `/usr/lib/sysimage/rpm` is populated with at least `rpmdb.sqlite`, possibly also `rpmdb.sqlite-shm` and `rpmdb.sqlite-wal` # Confirm `rpm -q <package>` and/or `rpm -qa` still work == User Experience == * symlink `/var/lib/rpm` -> `/usr/lib/sysimage/rpm` Otherwise, the change should be invisible to users. == Dependencies == * `rpm-ostree` probably should make `/usr/share/rpm` a symlink to `/usr/lib/sysimage/rpm`, rather than the reverse as it is currently. * `PackageKit` might use inotify on `/var/lib/rpm` need to check if it does and whether it should be changed or add the additional path == Contingency Plan == * Contingency mechanism: Revert the change, try again the next Fedora release. * Contingency deadline: Beta freeze * Blocks release? Yes
-- Tom Hughes (tom@xxxxxxxxxx) http://compton.nu/ _______________________________________________ devel mailing list -- devel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe send an email to devel-leave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Fedora Code of Conduct: https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/ List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines List Archives: https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/devel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Do not reply to spam on the list, report it: https://pagure.io/fedora-infrastructure
