Since last update using `--conf /dev/null` fails. How do I ignore preexisting config files?

[oddlama]

Describe the bug Since the last major update, invoking dracut with --conf /dev/null fails. If I see correctly, this has been introduced as a response to #1136, where it was considered a bug not to reject /dev/null. I've been using --conf /dev/null --confdir /dev/null to ignore any existing configuration files, but the linked issue suggests this never worked (?). What is the correct way to make dracut ignore any existing configuration files, now that /dev/null is invalid?

Distribution used Latest arch LIVE-USB environment

Dracut version dracut-056

[aafeijoo-suse]

You can pass an empty file to --conf and a directory with no .conf files to --confdir.

[oddlama]

I was hoping for a solution that doesn't require creating a new file and directory. Especially for automated invocation, I need a stateless approach and cannot rely on the state of the user's filesystem.

Is there any rationale behind not allowing /dev/null to disable configuration? It seems like an unnecessary complication from my point of view.

[aafeijoo-suse]

I don't see why calling mktemp would be an issue in this specific use case, as dracut calls it internally during the generation process.

# dracut -f --conf $(mktemp) --confdir $(mktemp -d)

[oddlama]

I don't see why calling mktemp would be an issue in this specific use case, as dracut calls it internally during the generation process.

# dracut -f --conf $(mktemp) --confdir $(mktemp -d)

Not strictly a technical issue of course, but arguably a usability issue. All classical command-line tools can be used with special files from /dev or with command substitution by design (see for example dd if=/dev/zero ... or diff <(echo test) ...). With dracut I cannot use either of those, as those are not files but character devices or fifos.

I hope I could clarify why it seems strange to me, when a tool actively prohibits this type of usage. This is also why I initially expected there to be a technical reason for dracut to disallow it. I'm still not sure if that's the case, but if it isn't, I think it feels like an artificial restriction with no apparent benefit.

Of course this is a very minor thing overall, but I'd like to say that I would be happy if dracut could be used as described. :)

[oddlama]

Excuse my impatience, but I wonder if there has been an update to this issue in the meantime?

[pvalena]

I think this is a behaviour change, as /dev/null is invalid config file and therefore expected to fail.