[Pkg-libvirt-maintainers] Bug#1002893: libguestfs0: uninstallable on amd64 UEFI systems, should probably depend on grub-pc-bin instead of grub-pc

[Simon McVittie]

Package: libguestfs0
Version: 1:1.46.2-3
Severity: grave
Justification: renders package unusable on many systems

libguestfs0 depends on grub-pc on amd64 and i386, but grub-pc cannot be
co-installed with grub-efi-amd64: each of those packages represents
setting x86 BIOS grub or x86_64 EFI grub, respectively, as the active
bootloader.

When I try to upgrade libguestfs0 using aptitude, it suggests removing
grub-efi-amd64 and installing grub-pc instead, which is likely to break
previously-working UEFI systems, particularly if using Secure Boot.
Hopefully apt won't suggest that, though.

It would be better if libguestfs0 could use grub-pc-bin for the appliance:
grub-pc-bin contains the actual binaries from grub-pc (x86 BIOS grub)
without needing to set it as the active bootloader for the host system.
The build scripts for the appliance could still set grub-pc-bin as the
active bootloader in its chroot by using the same techniques as the
grub-cloud package.

Alternatively, if guestfs/supermin support it, the appliance could use
systemd-boot (bootctl) or something from the extlinux/syslinux family,
which might be a little easier than grub to insert into the appliance's
rootfs?

    smcv