Bug#363347: [pkg-wpa-devel] Bug#363347: ifdown doesn't work correctly when using wpacli-action-dhclient script

[Kel Modderman]

Reinhard Tartler wrote:
> On Wed, Apr 19, 2006 at 12:06:47AM +0200, Felix Homann wrote:
>   
>>>> Since the radio is off, this attempt to bring the interface up will fail
>>>> but afterwards the inet line from the /bin/ip output will be gone.
>>>>         
>>> Err, isn't this expected behavior?
>>>       
>> Sure, but it doesn't work with the wpacli-action-dhclient setup. I'm gonna 
>> have the old IP until eventually a new one will be supplied. The interface 
>> will be brought up even if the radio is off.
>>
>> See the attached log (all with wpacli-action-dhclient setup).
>>     
>
> aah, after reading your transscript (thanks for that!) I think I
> understand now what's going on. When we terminate wpa_supplicant in
> ifupdown.sh (with wpa_cli terminate), then wpa_supplicant brings the
> interface down (but does not 'flush' the existing ip addresses from the
> interface). This behavior confuses ifupdown, so that it doesn't flush
> the ip addresses either, which it would do otherwise.
>
> I can think of 4 possibilities how to solve this:
>
> - make wpasupplicant 'flush' the interface when going down. This might
>   be not portable on other system wpa_supplicant supports (e.g. windows
>   or bsd)
> - make ifupdown 'flush' the the interface even if the interface isn't
>   'up'
> - do a 'ip addr flush $iface' in ifupdown.sh 
> - make wpa_supplicant to not bring the interface down on exit.
>
> #3 could be a temporary workaround.
>
> Do you agree with this analysis?
>
>   

As soon as one consciously decides to use the manual inet method of 
configuring the iface, they become responsible for configuring *and* 
de-configuring the iface too. Therefore, if your require the iface to be 
flushed, please add the required command to the provided example action 
script in the DISCONNECTED part.

I cannot see that an important bug be brought up against a example only 
script, also we cannot introduce the added depends of iproute, 
especially if it is only required for an example only script, imo.

Should the method describing the use of action scripts no longer be 
suggested as a mode of operation?

Thanks, Kel.