[Bug 595648] Re: Remote unlocking not possible if plymouth is active (Bug or Feature?)

[AllenS]

The following solution is simple and works for me. My configuration is
the default encrypted LVM setup created by the Precise alternative
installer.

ssh to the remote machine and run the following commands:

kill $(pidof plymouthd)
# Wait a few seconds for '/scripts/local-top/cryptroot' to timeout and retry using 'askpass' instead of plymouth
echo -ne password > /lib/cryptsetup/passfifo

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/595648

Title:
  Remote unlocking not possible if plymouth is active (Bug or Feature?)

Status in “cryptsetup” package in Ubuntu:
  Triaged
Status in “plymouth” package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  Binary package hint: cryptsetup

  If plymouth is active, it is no longer possible in an easy way to remotely unlock the disc(s).
  Which means that with a standard Ubuntu setup the README.remote is wrong or incomplete.

  Reason: Plymouth is "stealing" the password prompt because the
  cryptroot script checks if plymouth is active:

  if [ -z "$cryptkeyscript" ]; then
  			cryptkey="Unlocking the disk $cryptsource ($crypttarget)\nEnter passphrase: "
  			if [ -x /bin/plymouth ] && plymouth --ping; then
  				cryptkeyscript="plymouth ask-for-password --prompt"
  				cryptkey=$(echo -e "$cryptkey")
  			else
  				cryptkeyscript="/lib/cryptsetup/askpass"
  			fi
  		fi

  but only askpass has a feature which is checking for a file with a
  password in it.

  Because I am not so good in writing startup fixes, I am proposing this as a bug.
  Possible solutions:
  1. Include a new script, which doesn't use plymouth at all.
  2. Use command line switches to use askpass instead of plymouth.
  3. Patch plymouth, e.g. to include a "pass-as-password" option, which is passing the password along to a running plymouth(d?).

  My knowledge about the inner workings of the startup process is limited, I would prefer solution no. 3.
  Any suggestions?

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