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== Summary ==
== Summary ==
Currently, the RPM and DNF databases are located in /var. Let's move them to /usr.
Currently, the RPM and DNF databases are located in `/var`. Let's move them to `/usr`.


== Owner ==
== Owner ==
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* Email: chrismurphy@fedoraproject.org
* Email: chrismurphy@fedoraproject.org
* Name: [[User:Salimma|Michel Alexandre Salim]]
* Email: salimma@fedoraproject.org
<!--- UNCOMMENT only for Changes with assigned Shepherd (by FESCo)
<!--- UNCOMMENT only for Changes with assigned Shepherd (by FESCo)
* FESCo shepherd: [[User:FASAccountName| Shehperd name]] <email address>
* FESCo shepherd: [[User:FASAccountName| Shehperd name]] <email address>
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<!-- Select proper category, default is Self Contained Change -->
<!-- Select proper category, default is Self Contained Change -->
[[Category:SelfContainedChange]]
<!-- [[Category:SelfContainedChange]] -->
<!-- [[Category:SystemWideChange]] -->
[[Category:SystemWideChange]]


* Targeted release: [[Releases/36 | Fedora Linux 36 ]]  
* Targeted release: [[Releases/36 | Fedora Linux 36 ]]  
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== Benefit to Fedora ==
== Benefit to Fedora ==


The RPM and DNF databases describe the state of (primarily) `/usr`. Storing these databases in `/usr` will more easily facilitate OS rollback, without affecting `/var`.
* The RPM and DNF databases describe the state of (primarily) `/usr`. Storing these databases in `/usr` will more easily facilitate OS rollback, without affecting `/var`.


* Helps align Fedora variants with each other
** rpm-ostree based systems (including CoreOS, IoT, Silverblue, Kinoite) already use `/usr/lib/sysimage` for rpmdb.
* Consistency with another RPM-based distro, (open)SUSE has made this change


== Scope ==
== Scope ==
* Proposal owners:
* Proposal owners:
** changes in rpm and dnf-data packages
*** create the new path instead of old
*** create symlinks for the old path to new path
<!-- What work do the feature owners have to accomplish to complete the feature in time for release?  Is it a large change affecting many parts of the distribution or is it a very isolated change? What are those changes?-->
<!-- What work do the feature owners have to accomplish to complete the feature in time for release?  Is it a large change affecting many parts of the distribution or is it a very isolated change? What are those changes?-->


* Other developers: <!-- REQUIRED FOR SYSTEM WIDE CHANGES -->
* Other developers: <!-- REQUIRED FOR SYSTEM WIDE CHANGES -->
<!-- What work do other developers have to accomplish to complete the feature in time for release?  Is it a large change affecting many parts of the distribution or is it a very isolated change? What are those changes?-->
<!-- What work do other developers have to accomplish to complete the feature in time for release?  Is it a large change affecting many parts of the distribution or is it a very isolated change? What are those changes?-->
** change in rpm and dnf-data packages
*** create the new path instead of old
*** create symlinks for the old path to new path
** changes in SElinux policy
** changes in SElinux policy


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* Alignment with Objectives:  
* Alignment with Objectives:
** Helps align Fedora variants with each other
*** rpm-ostree based systems already use `/usr/lib/sysimage` for rpm.


== Upgrade/compatibility impact ==
== Upgrade/compatibility impact ==
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-->
-->
* Clean install or upgrade an existing Fedora system
* Clean install or upgrade an existing Fedora system
* Note the changes
* Note the changed database paths (new location) and symlinks in the old location
* Check that `rpm` and `dnf` commands work as expected, e.g.
<pre>dnf history 
rpm -qa</pre>


<!-- REQUIRED FOR SYSTEM WIDE CHANGES -->
<!-- REQUIRED FOR SYSTEM WIDE CHANGES -->


== User Experience ==
== User Experience ==
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* symlinks in the old locations for the databases, pointing to the new locations;
* symlinks in the old locations for the databases, pointing to the new locations;
* paths existing in the new locations.
* paths existing in the new locations.


Otherwise, the change should be invisible to users.
Otherwise, the change should be invisible to users.
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== Dependencies ==
== Dependencies ==
<!-- What other packages (RPMs) depend on this package?  Are there changes outside the developers' control on which completion of this change depends?  In other words, completion of another change owned by someone else and might cause you to not be able to finish on time or that you would need to coordinate?  Other upstream projects like the kernel (if this is not a kernel change)? -->
<!-- What other packages (RPMs) depend on this package?  Are there changes outside the developers' control on which completion of this change depends?  In other words, completion of another change owned by someone else and might cause you to not be able to finish on time or that you would need to coordinate?  Other upstream projects like the kernel (if this is not a kernel change)? -->
rpm-ostree probably should make usr/share/rpm` a symlink to `/usr/lib/sysimage/rpm` rather than the reverse, as it is currently.
* `rpm-ostree` probably should make `/usr/share/rpm` a symlink to `/usr/lib/sysimage/rpm`, rather than the reverse as it is currently.
* `PackageKit` might use inotify on `/var/lib/rpm` need to check if it does and whether it should be changed or add the additional path


<!-- REQUIRED FOR SYSTEM WIDE CHANGES -->
<!-- REQUIRED FOR SYSTEM WIDE CHANGES -->
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<!-- REQUIRED FOR SYSTEM WIDE CHANGES -->
<!-- REQUIRED FOR SYSTEM WIDE CHANGES -->
N/A (not a System Wide Change)


== Release Notes ==
== Release Notes ==

Latest revision as of 16:22, 8 December 2021

Relocate RPM/DNF databases to /usr

Summary

Currently, the RPM and DNF databases are located in /var. Let's move them to /usr.

Owner


Current status

  • Targeted release: Fedora Linux 36
  • Last updated: 2021-12-08
  • FESCo issue: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>
  • Tracker bug: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>
  • Release notes tracker: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>

Detailed Description

Current location

/var/lib/rpm 
/var/lib/dnf

New location

/usr/lib/sysimage/rpm 
/usr/lib/sysimage/dnf


Feedback

Benefit to Fedora

  • The RPM and DNF databases describe the state of (primarily) /usr. Storing these databases in /usr will more easily facilitate OS rollback, without affecting /var.
  • Helps align Fedora variants with each other
    • rpm-ostree based systems (including CoreOS, IoT, Silverblue, Kinoite) already use /usr/lib/sysimage for rpmdb.
  • Consistency with another RPM-based distro, (open)SUSE has made this change

Scope

  • Proposal owners:
    • changes in rpm and dnf-data packages
      • create the new path instead of old
      • create symlinks for the old path to new path
  • Other developers:
    • changes in SElinux policy
  • Release engineering: #Releng issue 10441
  • Policies and guidelines: N/A (not needed for this Change)
  • Trademark approval: N/A (not needed for this Change)
  • Alignment with Objectives:

Upgrade/compatibility impact

Change will be applied on upgrades to Fedora 36.


How To Test

  • Clean install or upgrade an existing Fedora system
  • Note the changed database paths (new location) and symlinks in the old location
  • Check that rpm and dnf commands work as expected, e.g.
dnf history  
rpm -qa


User Experience

Users will notice:

  • symlinks in the old locations for the databases, pointing to the new locations;
  • paths existing in the new locations.


Otherwise, the change should be invisible to users.

Dependencies

  • rpm-ostree probably should make /usr/share/rpm a symlink to /usr/lib/sysimage/rpm, rather than the reverse as it is currently.
  • PackageKit might use inotify on /var/lib/rpm need to check if it does and whether it should be changed or add the additional path


Contingency Plan

  • Contingency mechanism: Revert the change, try again the next Fedora release.
  • Contingency deadline: Beta freeze
  • Blocks release? Yes

Documentation

Release Notes

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