[pkg-dhcp-devel] Bug#815319: After update dhcpd server don't start

[Peter Palúch]

Greetings,

I would like to confirm that this bug also affected my systems with 
running 4.3.4-1, and it was an unpleasant experience finding out why the 
init script in /etc/init.d seems to start dhcpd happily, only to find 
out that no dhcpd process is running and there is no message logged to 
narrow down the problem.

I would also like to confirm findings of Tim and Lucas that the 
/etc/init.d/isc-dhcp-server script decides to start v4 or v6 dhcpd based 
on the non-zero content length of the INTERFACESv4/v6 variables. This 
is, however, a poor criterion because it is perfectly legit to run dhcpd 
without a list of interfaces to listen on; after all, even the package 
installation script says during the installation: "The interfaces will 
be automatically detected if this field is left blank." The current init 
script therefore breaks all systems that do not specify a list of 
interfaces to listen on, hoping that dhcpd will find out about 
interfaces itself.

What I suggest:

1.) Instead of using INTERFACESv4 and INTERFACESv6 variables to find out 
what dhcpd to run, have /etc/init.d/isc-dhcp-server and 
/etc/default/isc-dhcp-server use dedicated variables, such as RUNv4 and 
RUNv6, or DHCPDv4 and DHCPDv6. The configuration MUST allow running 
dhcpd in either version without specifying a list of interfaces.

2.) Have /etc/init.d/isc-dhcp-server always print out a message about 
starting or not-starting v4 and v6 dhcpd. This way, it will be at least 
clear that it is the init script itself that decides not to start a 
particular dhcpd proces.

I can provide a patch against the init script if it would help but at 
this point, both these suggestions seem to be a rather trivial scripting 
effort.

In any case, please, with all due respect and understanding for the 
maintainer's other duties and responsibilities, would it be possible to 
move the solution of this bug forward? I honestly believe this can be 
done and over with in an hour of concerted effort.

Thank you!

Best regards,
Peter