[libvirt] 'build' on FS pool now unconditionally formats?

[Dave Allan]

On 02/25/2010 08:25 AM, Daniel P. Berrange wrote:
> On Thu, Feb 25, 2010 at 01:19:54PM +0100, Daniel Veillard wrote:
>> On Wed, Feb 24, 2010 at 03:51:45PM -0500, Cole Robinson wrote:
>>> Hi guys,
>>>
>>> Looking at the new FS pool build options and talking with Dave, I see that
>>> calling PoolBuild on an FS pool now unconditionally calls mkfs. This is really
>>> bad when mixed with virt-manager: previously, we assumed the FS build command
>>> was always non destructive (at most it created a directory), so we called it
>>> every time, and didn't even allow users to opt out, since there wasn't a use
>>> case that called for it.
>>>
>>> This new formatting behavior really needs to be opt in, otherwise all
>>> virt-manager versions creating an FS pool can destroy data.
>>>
>>> Just FYI, for disk pools (and certain LVM configurations) where this operation
>>> has always been destructive, we default to build=off, and loudly warn the user
>>> if they choose otherwise. We can do that with this new option as well, but the
>>> previous behavior really needs to be reinstated IMO (and before the new release).
>>>
>>> I fully accept that this could be a bug in virt-manager's assumptions of the
>>> build command, but even consider a virsh user: previously build just created a
>>> directory, now it formats a partition, without any XML change.

>> I was initially reluctant of changing the behaviour, and asked to use a
>> flag to keep the original default semantic. I got convinced that noone
>> could rely on it because the function was basically incomplete. But since
>> virt-manager ships with an expectation on the previous behaviour, I
>> revert my position, we need to add a _FORMAT = 4 flag for this call and
>> only call mkfs if that flag is passed. Fix is trivial we should not
>> push 0.7.7 without it,

I agree, we should not push 0.7.7 with the code the way it is now, but 
what I'm describing below is also trivial, so it wouldn't push back the 
release.

> I really don't want to  add an extra flag, because it makes filesystem
> pool a special case. The 'build' operation is intentionally destructive
> by its very definition, and virt-mnager should never be expecting it to
> be safe to call on specific pool types.

The problem is that what build means has never been defined, and while 
it may have been the intention to implement only destructive operations, 
the backends implement a variety of actions.  For some backends build is 
is easy to reverse; others not.  The only guidance virsh help gives is 
"build a pool" which doesn't indicate any danger at all.  I would define 
build as "make the changes to the media necessary to start the pool" and 
split those changes into destructive and non-destructive actions with a 
flag.  (see below)

> IMHO, we should do two things to address this
>
>   - Fix virt-manager to not call build all the time for any pool
>     type - it must only do it when expkicitly requested
>
>   - Make the 'build' operation check to see if the pool is
>     already constructed (eg  LVM magic check for logical pools,
>     FAT partition check for disk ools&  filesystem magic check
>     for the fs pool). Reject the build operation if any of these
>     show that the pool exists / is alread ybuilt
>   - Add a 'OVERWRITE' flag, to allow apps to forcably reformat,
>      regardless of current state

I propose we add a DESTRUCTIVE flag and require it for destructive 
operations on all the backends.  The downside, obviously, is that it 
changes the behavior of the disk and LVM backends that currently don't 
require a flag for destructive operations.  I'm not too worried about 
that behavioral change, though, because what's in the tree right now 
changes the behavior of the fs backend making a previously 
non-destructive operation into a destructive operation without any 
change on the users part and without warning.

Dave