Auto-connect when installing compatible snaps

[Jamie Strandboge]

On Fri, 2016-05-27 at 15:10 +0200, Alfonso Sanchez-Beato wrote:
> Hi list,
> 
> Which is the current status of the auto-connect story? Currently we are
> working on network-manager and modem-manager snaps, which ideally should
> connect compatible plugs/slots when both are installed in the system (this
> is indeed just one scenario for this feature).
> 
> Otherwise we need to
> 1. Install both
> 2. Connect plugs to slots
> 3. Re-start services (due to apparmor denials when trying to register for
> tracking DBus name for partner before connection is established)
> 

Zyga can correct me here as needed but how it is supposed to work is that the
network-manager interface is supposed to define enough in its PermanentSlot
security policy to allow a snap providing the slot to run upon install (ie,
permanent slot policy can be thought of as auto-connected on install). When
another snap plugs into the network-manager slot, the ConnectedSlot policy is
added to the snap providing the slot and the ConnectedPlug policy is added to
the plugging snap. When that happens, the security policy is reloaded into the
kernel for both sides and the snap providing the slot should not have to be
restarted. If this isn't working for you, please file a bug. Depending on how
your plugging service is written, it may need to be restarted, but it could be
written in such a way as to (politely) keep trying until it is connected.

As for auto-connections in general, decisions to auto-connect or not are made on
a case by case basis between the snappy architects (Gustavo), snappy (zyga) and
security (typically me) teams. This is something we are actively working through
and there will be quite a few improvements in this area. For the moment for
network-manager in particular, you need to install both and do one 'slot
connect' operation.

-- 
Jamie Strandboge             | http://www.canonical.com

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