Changelog entries for post-release updates

[Scott Kitterman]

On Tuesday, January 31, 2012 10:14:25 PM Stéphane Graber wrote:
> On 01/31/2012 10:04 PM, Scott Kitterman wrote:
> > When I install non-security post-release updates, I generally read
> > the changelog entries so I have an idea what's changed on my
> > system.  It would be nice if there could be some text that actually
> > explains what's going on.  I don't find this very helpful:
> > 
> > ifupdown (0.7~alpha5.1ubuntu5.1) oneiric-proposed; urgency=low
> > 
> > * Cherry pick fixes for label handling from upstream git (LP:
> > #876829): -
> > http://anonscm.debian.org/hg/collab-maint/ifupdown/rev/100d6f75b985
> 
> - http://anonscm.debian.org/hg/collab-maint/ifupdown/rev/2d171c8da8e5
> 
> > -
> > http://anonscm.debian.org/hg/collab-maint/ifupdown/rev/f9cef973859e
> 
> - http://anonscm.debian.org/hg/collab-maint/ifupdown/rev/80a68bbbd45d
> 
> > * Update test suite accordingly.
> > 
> > I'm sure there are others, but this one I just hit, so I'm
> > mentioning it as an example of what I think is a problem that's not
> > very rare.  I don't mean to call out any individuals.
> > 
> > Scott K
> 
> Hi Scott,
> 
> Sorry for the cryptic changelog. I probably should have explained what
> a "label" is at least so that the changelog entry would make more sense.
> 
> In this specific example, the issue was ifupdown completely failing to
> set the labels on the addresses added to an interface.
> 
> auto eth0:0
> iface eth0:0 inet static
>     address 192.168.254.100
>     netmask 255.255.255.0
> 
> Where ":0" is the label wouldn't create "eth0:0" in Oneiric but
> instead add "192.168.254.100" to the current "eth0" interface. When
> bringing down that "label" (so eth0:0), it'd unconfigure the whole
> "eth0" interface breaking networking.
> 
> The commits cherry-picked form upstream make sure every call to "ip"
> have the "label" option set and also fixes "ifdown eth0:0" bringing
> "eth0" down.

Thanks.  I think this is something we all need to be more mindful of when 
preparing post-release updates.  I know I've been guilty as well.

Scott K