[Pkg-systemd-maintainers] Bug#619244: Bug#619244: systemd: unowned files after purge (policy 6.8, 10.8): /etc/machine-id

[Michael Stapelberg]

Hi coldtobi,

coldtobi <tobi at coldtobi.de> writes:
> Maybe new imput:
> On drizzle I had the same issue with database files.
> My solution was to ask the user (debconf) if the files should be removed on
> purge, and defaulted that to yes. This is compliant with the policy and you can
> still explain why this file is needed and why systemd suggests to keep the
> file. 
I don’t think this is a good idea. Users should not be bothered with
technical details such as this just for following the policy to the word.

> BTW, *why* does systemd needs this file to be constant? Google did not have an
> answer for me... Do you have a pointer? I only found a reference that it can be
> regenerated on stateless systems, so out of this I assume things will not break
> if someone purges systemd and later reinstall it.
See https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=619244#45

> (Please note that this bug has a huge impact on piuparts testing, as all
> packages directly and indirectly depending on systemd will not be tested until
> this is fixed policy-like)
Then please work on fixing it…? :)

I think the best option (as discussed in this bug already) is to move
the file to a more central package like base-files.

-- 
Best regards,
Michael