Hi Sarah,

On Fri, 31 Jul 2009, Sarah Jelinek wrote:

>>> Issue 2:
>>> --------
>>> 
>>> 3.3 live-fs-root SMF service refactoring
>>> and
>>> 3.4 auto-installer service refactoring
>>>
>>>   Can you please elaborate a bit on what will be done.
>> 
>> The live-fs-root service is currently a dumping ground for
>> all sorts of install media and variety of installers (LiveCD,
>> AI, etc). As we add more installers, it will only become
>> more complex and unwieldy.
>> 
>> I intend to separate out the logic in that service into two
>> services where each of the service does things a little differently based 
>> on the type of install media (network or
>> cdrom/dvd/usb).
>> 
>> As for the auto-installer service, it currently performs the
>> dual function of doing service discovery to locate an install
>> manifest and also invoking the auto-install binary.
>> 
>> With media based boot, the service discovery doesn't need to
>> run. So, while I'm adding more logic to the auto-installer
>> service, it makes sense to separate out the "locating the manifest"
>> part from "invoking auto-install" part. That would provide for
>> better fault tolerance as well as easier extensibility when
>> derived manifests get added to AI.
>
> I am concerned about each service doing something different based on the type 
> of install media. Why would the services have to know about the install 
> media? Can you give examples of what you are planning with regard to this.
>
> Seems to me we have two services as you note:
>
> ai client
> service discovery(which is really manifest discovery).
>
> Those things must happen regardless of installation media, correct? The

Correct.

> service discovery part doesn't strictly have to run since we haven't setup a 
> service, but making this more generic and utilizing the plans in the 
> transport project for a NULL transport mechanism, it seems to me we could 
> abstract the manifest discovery out in a way that the install media type 
> doesn't matter.
>
> My concern about having the services know how they are booted(which is what I 
> assume you are referring to), really makes extending these to add new 
> features possibly less than ideal.
>
> Can you clarify you plans in this regard?

Ethan had a similar concern. He and I talked yesterday, I
now understand the need to have the "manifest locater" service
be boot media agnostic.

As I start working on the code, I'll have more details on
how exactly the service will work and we can then talk about
whether it is extensible.

Alok

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