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# TODO — diskless fleet boot system
Persistent backlog, kept in sync with the working session task tracker. Status:
`[ ]` pending · `[~]` in progress · `[x]` done.
---
## Current build posture (LAB / test) — as of 2026-06-18
The image currently builds in **open-network test mode**. These toggles must be
flipped back for a secure/production build (consolidated as item #8):
- `disable_dot1x=true` / CI `DISABLE_DOT1X="true"` → `rd.dot1x=0` (NO 802.1X /
MACsec; open NVMe-oF). **TEMPORARY.**
- `nvmet_traddr` / CI `NVMET_TRADDR="192.168.50.10"` → hardcoded IP (should be a
per-env DNS name like `nvme.fleet.lab` once DNS-at-boot is trusted).
- Unsigned UKI (`sb_key`/`sb_cert` not passed) → Secure Boot must be OFF on the
test target. Production needs CI/HSM signing.
- `enable_kiosk=false` by default (CI may set true); `enable_stig=true`;
`boot_splash=true`; NTP via DHCP→serving-host chrony.
What's working/verified vs awaiting bench is per-item below. Cross-cutting
bench-verify checklist lives in `CLAUDE.md` → "Known bench-verify items".
---
## [x] 1. Port the dracut module off `network-legacy` → `network-manager`
**DONE — test path VERIFIED ON THE BENCH 2026-06-17** (host stays up past the
DHCP lease time; no more lease-expiry outage). Fixed the confirmed outage:
network-legacy's one-shot DHCP lease was never renewed post-switch-root, so the
address dropped at lease expiry → NVMe/TCP root died ("keep alive timeout" /
"no route to host"). NM hands its initramfs connections to the real-root NM
(`/run/NetworkManager` state), which renews.
REMAINING: the **secure path** (macsec0 DHCP via `nmcli`, physical NIC unmanaged
via `nm-unmanaged.sh`) is only exercised once `disable_dot1x=false` — verify on
the swtpm + hostapd + FreeRADIUS bench when re-enabling security (see #2/cleanup).
Done:
- `90-diskless.conf` `add_dracutmodules`: `network-legacy` → `network-manager`.
- `module-setup.sh` `depends()` → `network-manager`; added `nmcli`; installs the
new cmdline hook.
- NEW `nm-unmanaged.sh` (cmdline hook): secure mode writes
`/run/NetworkManager/conf.d/10-dot1x-unmanaged.conf`
(`unmanaged-devices=interface-name:en*`) **before NM starts**; no-op in test
mode. Replaces the deleted static `99-dot1x-unmanaged.conf` (couldn't be
mode-aware — it wrongly unmanaged `en*` in test mode, blocking renewal).
- `dot1x-macsec-up.sh` secure path: `ifup macsec0` → `nmcli` (managed + DHCP,
poll for IPv4). macsec0 MANAGED so NM renews; physical NIC UNMANAGED.
- `diskless.pkr.hcl`: dropped `dhcp-client`, added explicit `NetworkManager`;
removed the static-config install; lsinitrd now asserts `NetworkManager` +
`nm-unmanaged.sh` present.
- Static lint clean (`bash -n`, `shellcheck`, `packer validate`).
**BENCH-VERIFY before trusting (the gate):**
- Test path (`disable_dot1x=true`): boot, `nmcli device` shows boot NIC MANAGED;
run past the DHCP lease time (drop the lab dnsmasq lease low) — address
persists, lease renews (`journalctl -u NetworkManager`), NVMe + SSH stay up.
- Secure path (swtpm + hostapd + FreeRADIUS, `disable_dot1x=false`): `en*`
UNMANAGED, `macsec0` MANAGED + renewing; MKA survives switch-root; verity root
mapped; NVMe stays connected past lease time; no "Address already assigned".
- **Risk:** ordering of the unmanaged drop-in vs NM start in secure mode. If NM
transiently grabs `en*`, fall back to also baking a static `en*`-unmanaged file
for secure-only builds.
## [~] 2. Apply RHEL9 STIG hardening to the built image
**IMPLEMENTED 2026-06-18 — awaiting build/bench verification.** OpenSCAP + SSG
remediation in a provisioner (`enable_stig` var, default on), tailored for the
diskless/UKI/kiosk architecture via `files/stig/diskless-tailoring.xml`. STIG
kernel params baked into the UKI cmdline (`extract-artifacts.sh`). Decisions:
**FIPS off**, **audit local-only**, **CI report-only**. Deviations are documented
in **[stig-deviations.md](stig-deviations.md)** (curated register) and reported
per-build by **[../scripts/stig-deviations.sh](../scripts/stig-deviations.sh)**
(non-pass rules tagged intentional vs REVIEW); CI publishes
`stig-report.html` + `stig-arf.xml` + `stig-deviations.md`. Scanner tooling is
removed from the shipped image. **BENCH-VERIFY:** boot/login still work;
reproducible verity hash across two builds; triage REVIEW rows.
**FINDING 2026-06-18 (FIXED) — false-clean scan.** The first hardened build
(branch `hardening`, `ada4aa4`) produced a report reading "0 REVIEW / clean",
but the ARF had **0 pass, 0 fail** — only 462 `notapplicable` + 1068
`notselected`. Root cause: the provisioner selected the datastream with
`ls ssg-rhel9-ds.xml ssg-rl9-ds.xml | head -1`, which picks **rhel9**
alphabetically; the RHEL9 datastream's CPE dictionary has **no Rocky entry**, so
on Rocky 9.8 every selected rule went `notapplicable` and **nothing was actually
evaluated or remediated** — the image was unhardened despite a clean-looking
report. Fixes: (a) provisioner now maps `/etc/os-release $ID` → datastream
(Rocky→`ssg-rl9-ds.xml`); (b) provisioner **aborts the build** if the scan
evaluates 0 rules; (c) `stig-deviations.sh` flags an **INVALID SCAN** and exits
non-zero on 0-evaluated. **Re-run the hardened build** and confirm pass/fail
counts are non-zero before trusting any deviations report.
Remaining (future hardening, currently waived — see the register): FIPS,
firewall, per-host/rotatable admin access. **Remote audit offload — receiver
DONE** (`serving/audit-collector/`, rsyslog over TCP/514, per-source-host files;
DNS name `${AUDIT_HOST}`); the **image-side sender** (audisp-syslog + rsyslog
forward to `audit.fleet.lab`) is still to wire — see that dir's README.
### Original spec (retained for reference)
OpenSCAP + SCAP Security Guide (`xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_profile_stig`), run
as a Packer provisioner after `dnf install` and before the dracut/initramfs build
and cleanup.
- **Tailoring** (`autotailor`): unselect rules this architecture can't satisfy —
separate-partition rules (single erofs root + tmpfs overlay; satisfy intent
with `nodev,nosuid,noexec` tmpfs mounts), GRUB/kernel-cmdline rules (no GRUB),
and AIDE/file-integrity rules (dm-verity is the documented compensating
control).
- **Kernel params → UKI cmdline** in
[../scripts/extract-artifacts.sh](../scripts/extract-artifacts.sh) before
signing: `audit=1 audit_backlog_limit=8192 slub_debug=P page_poison=1
vsyscall=none` (+ `fips=1` if FIPS).
- **Reproducibility guard:** strip non-deterministic remediation output (SSH host
keys → regen at boot into overlay, AIDE db, timestamps, fresh UUIDs) so the
verity hash stays stable.
- **Audit logging:** `audisp-remote`/rsyslog to a central collector addressed by
DNS name (host-generic).
- **Optional FIPS:** `fips=1` cmdline + `01fips` dracut module + FIPS crypto
policy.
- **CI:** run `oscap eval` (no `--remediate`) to publish an ARF+HTML STIG report
as a build artifact; optionally hard-fail below a score threshold.
- **Decisions needed before implementing:** FIPS on/off · remote-audit collector
DNS name (or ephemeral/none for lab) · CI fail-on-score threshold vs
report-only.
- Note: orthogonal to the `rd.dot1x=0` test toggle, but a full STIG production
posture wants 802.1X re-enabled.
- **Credentials (partly done):** root is now **locked** and access is via a
baked sudo-enabled key-only admin user (`var.ssh_authorized_key` /
`var.admin_user`, `wheel` + NOPASSWD sudo), with sshd drop-in
`PermitRootLogin no` / `PasswordAuthentication no`. Two items for STIG to
reconcile: **NOPASSWD sudo** is a finding (acceptable for a key-only account,
but document/deviate), and the admin key/user are **fleet-wide baked** — for
per-host/rotatable access without rebuilds, layer the signed HTTP/SMBIOS
config-agent or an SSH CA (`TrustedUserCAKeys`) discussed in session.
- **SSH host keys (done):** `extract-artifacts.sh` strips `/etc/ssh/ssh_host_*`
so they're not baked (baked keys = shared fleet identity + the build's
perms/group don't survive the tar→erofs round-trip, so sshd rejected them
"Permissions 640 too open" and refused to start). RHEL's `sshd-keygen@.service`
regenerates them into the overlay before sshd starts. **⚠ Caveat:** the
ephemeral overlay means they regenerate **every boot** → the host key changes
per reboot (clients warn). Follow-up for a stable host identity: persist the
host keys or derive them from the TPM (ties to the hostnqn/identity model).
## [ ] 3. Roll the errata into design doc v3
Once the boot path is validated and item 1 lands, fold
[design-v2-errata.md](design-v2-errata.md) into the source design document and
re-export a **v3** PDF (key change: `rootovl` → `systemd.volatile=overlay` in §3
step 8 and §5). Retire/reset the errata afterward. Needs the design-doc source
(not in this repo).
## [x] 4. Kiosk mode — autologin + fullscreen Chromium loading a URL
**WORKING (display-verified 2026-06-17).** Remaining bits are polish (GPU/mesa
trim, ship via CI `enable_kiosk=true`) and the phone-home/NTP lockdown (done) —
all captured in the sub-notes below. Secure-path render check is folded into #8.
**WORKING / display-verified 2026-06-17** (kiosk renders Chromium fullscreen on
the configured URL). Build-flagged OFF by default for now (`enable_kiosk=false`)
while iterating on boot/network — set `-var enable_kiosk=true` to ship it.
Path to getting here (don't re-discover):
- **cage is NOT packaged for EL9** (`dnf install cage` → "Unable to find a
match"). Tried weston instead.
- **EPEL 9 ships weston 8.0**, which has NEITHER `kiosk-shell.so` NOR the
`[autolaunch]` weston.ini section — both arrived in **weston 9.0**. The first
cut wrongly assumed 8.0 had them; `shell=kiosk-shell.so` failed to load.
`rpm -ql weston` shows only desktop-shell / fullscreen-shell / ivi-shell.
- **Resolution: `desktop-shell.so`** (the only packaged shell Chromium's
xdg-shell works with — fullscreen-shell needs a client protocol Chromium
doesn't speak), stripped bare (`panel-position=none`, black bg, no
animation/lock), and Chromium launched by a **wrapper** (kiosk-session) since
there's no `[autolaunch]`. Chromium `--kiosk` fullscreens over the shell.
- **Seat fix (load-bearing):** weston died with `logind: failed to get session
seat` → `failed to create compositor backend`. logind's auto-derivation
didn't attach a seat; `Environment=XDG_SEAT=seat0` + `XDG_VTNR=1` in the unit
(put into the PAM env before pam_open_session) registers the session on
seat0/vt1. `/dev/dri/card0` was present all along (not the issue).
- Tested live without a rebuild: the whole root is `systemd.volatile=overlay`,
so /etc AND /usr are writable tmpfs at runtime — drop-in the files + restart.
- **`enable_kiosk` Packer var — currently `false` by DEFAULT (set 2026-06-17).**
The whole kiosk provisioner is feature-flagged off while iterating on the
boot/network stack (DHCP-lease/keep-alive work), for faster builds and a
smaller image. **Re-enable with `-var enable_kiosk=true` when returning to
kiosk work** — CI does not pass the var, so CI currently builds lean (no
kiosk) too; add `-var enable_kiosk=true` to the Gitea workflow to ship it.
- `kiosk_url` Packer var (default `http://boot.fleet.lab/kiosk/` — the kiosk
**SPA** (`serving/kiosk-app/`, Svelte 5 + Tailwind v4, a cyber sci-fi
spaceship monitoring/control terminal) served by the boot HTTP server, which
**reverse-proxies** `/kiosk/` to the `kiosk` container; self-contained so a
boot validates without external connectivity. Empty disables the whole
install). Wired in CI as `KIOSK_URL` env.
- **Kiosk SPA (`serving/kiosk-app/`)** — replaced the old single static
`serving/http/kiosk/index.html` (2026-06-18). Top navbar + 5 pages
(Bridge/Reactor/Nav/Life Support/Comms) with dummy telemetry; hash routing;
builds in a 2-stage Docker image (Vite → nginx), reverse-proxied at `/kiosk/`
by the main serving nginx (loopback `127.0.0.1:${KIOSK_APP_PORT:-8088}`).
`npm run build` verified locally; container build untested (no docker here).
Dummy data lives in `src/lib/data.js` (swap for a fleet API later).
- Provisioner enables EPEL, installs `weston chromium mesa-dri-drivers
mesa-libEGL mesa-libgbm dejavu-sans-fonts`, creates a passwordless
unprivileged `kiosk` user (video/input groups).
- `files/kiosk/kiosk.service` — runs `/usr/local/bin/kiosk-session` as `kiosk`
on tty1 via `PAMName=login`+`TTYPath`+`Environment=XDG_SEAT=seat0`/`XDG_VTNR=1`
(gets seat0 for DRM/input), `Conflicts=getty@tty1`, `WantedBy=graphical.target`;
default target set to graphical.
- `files/kiosk/weston.ini` — `shell=desktop-shell.so`, `idle-time=0`,
`require-input=false`, `xwayland=false`; `[shell] panel-position=none`,
black `background-color`, `animation=none`, `locking=false`.
- `files/kiosk/kiosk-session` — `exec`s `weston --use-pixman --socket=wayland-kiosk`
in the foreground (owns the seat), and launches Chromium (`--kiosk
--ozone-platform=wayland --disable-gpu`, tmpfs profile/cache, URL from
`/etc/kiosk/kiosk.env`) in a background crash-restart loop.
- **Remaining polish (now that it renders):** dropping `--disable-gpu` on real
GPUs, `/dev/dri` present in the VM (weston needs a DRM device — set Display to
VirtIO-GPU/std), and **SELinux AVCs** for the GUI stack (check `ausearch -m
avc`; the kiosk user is unconfined so likely none — but do NOT set permissive
if they appear; add a policy module). Admin SSH (the key user) still works for
debug even if the kiosk fails (it lands at graphical.target either way).
- **Phone-home lockdown (done 2026-06-17/18):** Chromium was dialing Google
(accounts/variations/optimization-guide/component+auto update/safe browsing —
seen in dnsmasq logs). Two layers:
- **Flags** in `kiosk-session` (`--disable-background-networking`,
`--disable-component-update`, `--disable-features=OptimizationHints,...`) —
confirmed killing variations/optimization-guide/update queries.
- **Managed policy** `files/kiosk/chromium-kiosk-policy.json` for the
policy-governed bits (sign-in `accounts.google.com`, sync). FIX 2026-06-18:
the managed-policy dir differs by build, so it's installed to BOTH
`/etc/chromium/policies/managed/` AND `/etc/chromium-browser/policies/managed/`
(a policy in the wrong dir is silently ignored — the reason
`accounts.google.com`/`android.clients.google.com` persisted). Verify via
`chrome://policy` (Status: OK per entry).
- **Serving-side sinkhole** (defense-in-depth, `serving/docker-compose.yml`
dnsmasq `--address=/google.com|googleapis.com|gstatic.com/0.0.0.0`): the
kiosk is local-only, so block egress at the resolver. Stops the *leak*; the
query still logs (answered 0.0.0.0, not forwarded) — eliminating the query
is the browser policy's job. Production: do this at the boot-LAN firewall.
- **NTP egress closed (done 2026-06-18):** the `*.pool.ntp.org` lookups were
the OS (chrony), not Chromium. Now: a `chrony` NTP server in the serving
stack (`serving/chrony/`), dnsmasq hands it via **DHCP option 42**, and the
image's NM dispatcher (`files/etc/NetworkManager/dispatcher.d/10-chrony-dhcp-ntp`)
feeds it into chrony's `sourcedir /run/chrony-dhcp`; the baked public pool is
stripped from `/etc/chrony.conf`. Result: the workstation syncs time only
from the lab server — no external NTP egress. BENCH-VERIFY: on a booted host
`chronyc sources` shows the lab server (the DHCP one), not a public pool.
- **Image size:** Chromium+Mesa add hundreds of MB to the *uncompressed* erofs —
feeds the "shrink the rootfs" concern (and #7); reconsider whether a lighter
browser/render path is viable.
### Original task
Make the diskless workstation boot straight into a locked-down kiosk: a
fullscreen Chromium showing a configured site (default: the boot HTTP server's
`/kiosk/` test page). All
baked at **build time** into the root tree (immutable erofs/verity root; runtime
is the tmpfs overlay), fleet-generic (no per-host state).
- **Graphical stack (keep it minimal):** add a Packer provisioner installing a
lightweight kiosk compositor + browser. Preferred: `cage` (Wayland
single-app kiosk compositor) + Mesa (software GL fallback for VMs/no-GPU);
X11 + a minimal WM (matchbox/openbox) as the alternative. Chromium on Rocky 9
is in **EPEL** — enabling EPEL adds a repo/supply-chain surface (decision
below).
- **Autologin + session:** dedicated unprivileged `kiosk` user; launch the
session via a `kiosk.service` running `cage -s -- chromium --kiosk …`
(or `greetd` + cage). Stage units/configs under `files/` like the other
provisioned config.
- **Chromium flags:** `--kiosk --noerrdialogs --disable-infobars --incognito
--no-first-run --disable-session-crashed-bubble <URL>`. Writable profile/cache
land on the `systemd.volatile=overlay` tmpfs (RAM-backed, ephemeral) — fine,
but watch RAM sizing; pin `--user-data-dir`/`--disk-cache-dir` to a tmpfs path
if needed.
- **Kiosk URL = Packer var** (e.g. `kiosk_url`, default the target site), baked
into the launch command; keep it host-generic (per-env via DNS if ever needed).
- **Verify in boot test:** graphical session comes up on real/VM display,
Chromium fullscreen loads the URL over the booted network (works with the
current `rd.dot1x=0` test path / open network).
- **Decisions:** Wayland(cage) vs X11; accept EPEL for Chromium (vs another
source); confirm the target URL.
- **⚠ Conflict with item 2 (STIG):** passwordless autologin and a desktop
browser are STIG findings and enlarge the attack surface/image. Reconcile —
e.g. a tightly-constrained kiosk session + documented deviation — when
hardening lands.
## [x] 5. Deploy & validate the end-to-end boot path (open-network test)
✅ **DONE (2026-06-15).** Full chain validated on QEMU/Proxmox: UEFI HTTP boot →
initramfs → DHCP → `nvmf-connect.service` auto-connects the NVMe/TCP subsystem →
two namespaces (data + verity hash) appear by pinned UUID → `systemd-veritysetup`
maps `/dev/mapper/root` → uncompressed erofs mounts → `systemd.volatile=overlay`
→ multi-user. Booted with `rd.dot1x=0` (open network) and the IP discovery
address. See bench findings below for the full list of fixes. Remaining cleanup
to leave the lab-test posture (now unblocked): revert the hardcoded IP to the
`nvme.fleet.lab` DNS name, and re-enable security (`DISABLE_DOT1X=false`) — the
secure path needs the same connect trigger over macsec0 (see ⚠ note below).
Original task: stand up `serving/` (dnsmasq + nginx + SPDK) per
[serving/README.md](../serving/README.md), rebuild the UKI with
`nvmet_traddr=nvme.fleet.lab` (now a Packer var — older UKIs have the literal
`NVMET_TRADDR` placeholder and won't connect), then boot a UEFI HTTP-boot client
(**Secure Boot OFF**, unsigned UKI; no TPM needed in `rd.dot1x=0` mode) on the
boot LAN.
- **Pass criteria:** UKI fetched over HTTP → initramfs → DHCP on NIC → NVMe/TCP
namespace connected → dm-verity root mapped → `systemd.volatile=overlay`
writable → multi-user.
- This validation **gates** item #1 (network-manager port) and item #3
(errata → design v3).
- **Bench findings (boot debug, 2026-06-14):**
- Initramfs has no resolver (dracut writes `resolv.conf` only via its own
DHCP path, not a manual `dhclient`), so the NVMe discovery address must be
an **IP**, not a DNS name — build with `-var nvmet_traddr=192.168.50.10`.
Old UKIs carrying `nvme.fleet.lab` can't connect early in boot.
- NVMe controller indices are **not stable**: a transient discovery
controller can take `nvme0`, pushing the I/O controller to `nvme1`. The
hardcoded `/dev/nvme0n1` in the cmdline was a latent brick. **Fixed:**
namespace UUID pinned on the target (`spdk-setup.sh` `add_ns -u
f1ee7000-0000-4000-8000-000000000001`) and the cmdline now references
`/dev/disk/by-id/nvme-uuid.<uuid>` (`extract-artifacts.sh`). The two
constants MUST stay in sync; make them version-specific for #6.
- `nvme_tcp`/`nvme_fabrics` must be loaded before `/dev/nvme-fabrics` exists
(dracut's `nvmf` module does this in a normal boot; at `rd.break` modprobe
manually).
- **Don't double-configure the NIC in test mode.** With `ip=dhcp` on the
cmdline, dracut's network module brings the NIC up AND emits the "online"
event that the `nvmf` module's `initqueue/online` hook waits on to run
`nvme connect-all`. The `rd.dot1x=0` bypass used to *also* `ifup $NIC`,
which (a) raced dracut → `Error: ipv4: Address already assigned`, and (b)
didn't fire the nvmf online hook, so the namespace never auto-connected and
boot spun on `/dev/mapper/root` forever (manual `connect-all` worked, which
is what masked it). **Fixed:** the bypass branch no longer touches the NIC;
`ip=dhcp` owns networking. (The secure path still addresses macsec0 itself —
dracut doesn't know about that interface.)
- **dracut's `nvmf` module never auto-connects on this distro.** Its cmdline
hook (`92-parse-nvmf-boot-connections.sh`) parses `rd.nvmf.discover` into
`/etc/nvme/discovery.conf` correctly, but `initqueue/online/` is **empty** —
no autoconnect hook is registered, so `nvme connect-all` is never run (no
attempt in dmesg) and the namespace never appears. Drivers load and
`/dev/nvme-fabrics` exists; only the connect trigger is missing. A job
placed on the *main* initqueue from a settled hook gets registered but is
**never re-executed** once the loop blocks on udev events (verified: job
present, manual `connect-all` works, namespace stays absent). An
`initqueue/online` hook also does NOT work: this initramfs is **systemd-
driven** ("A start job is running for /dev/mapper/root") and never sources
dracut online hooks on link-up (verified: hook installs as
`90-nvmf-connect.sh` but never fires — no log, no stamp). **Fixed:** the
connect is now a **systemd unit** (`nvmf-connect.service`,
`ConditionKernelCommandLine=rd.dot1x=0`, `Before=initrd-root-device.target`)
whose ExecStart (`/usr/sbin/nvmf-connect`) polls for the network then runs
`nvme connect-all` until the namespace appears. The dracut module installs
the unit + script and enables it via an `initrd-root-device.target.wants`
symlink; `diskless.pkr.hcl` hard-asserts the unit is in the initramfs.
Gotcha: `$systemdsystemunitdir` is **empty** in this dracut's module-setup
context — `inst_simple` then silently drops the unit (empty dest dir). Use a
`${systemdsystemunitdir:-/usr/lib/systemd/system}` fallback and `return 1`
if the unit didn't land, so the build fails loudly instead of shipping a UKI
that can't connect its root.
Second gotcha: the build assertion `lsinitrd … | grep -q 'nvmf-connect.service'`
was a **false negative** — `grep -q` exits on first match, closes the pipe,
`lsinitrd` dies of SIGPIPE, and under `pipefail` the pipeline reports failure
even though the unit IS present. This masked the fact that the systemd unit
install was working all along. Fix: `lsinitrd > file; grep -q … file` (no
pipe). Never `lsinitrd | grep -q` under pipefail.
Bonus: the survivor listing confirmed nvme-cli's native autoconnect bits ARE
in the initramfs (`/usr/sbin/nvmf-autoconnect.sh`,
`/etc/udev/rules.d/95-nvmf-initqueue.rules`) — so the fully-native
`rd.nvmf.discover` autoconnect path is available as a fallback if the unit
doesn't fire on boot.
- **dm-verity: `hash-offset` is unsupported → two namespaces.** With NVMe
connecting and the right by-id device present, verity still failed:
`systemd-veritysetup` logged `unknown option 'hash-offset=…'` then `Failed
to load verity superblock` — exactly the CLAUDE.md bench-verify item. The
in-file (data+hash in one namespace, split by offset) layout is not
supported by Rocky 9.8 systemd. **Fixed** via the documented fallback:
`extract-artifacts.sh` now emits `rootfs.erofs` (data) + `rootfs.hash` (hash
tree) as separate files, served as **two NVMe namespaces** with distinct
pinned UUIDs (`f1ee7000-…-01` data, `…-02` hash); the cmdline uses
`systemd.verity_root_data=`/`systemd.verity_root_hash=` by-id devices with no
offset. Touches `extract-artifacts.sh`, `build-oci.sh` (artifact list +
SHA256SUMS), `serving/spdk-setup.sh` (2nd bdev/namespace), and invariant #9.
- **SELinux labels must survive into the erofs.** It booted to multi-user but
`root`/`packer-build-only` login was accepted then the session was killed
instantly. Cause: kickstart sets `selinux --enforcing`, but the build dropped
`security.selinux` xattrs (`virt-tar-out` + plain `tar -xpf` don't carry
them), so the enforcing target denied the login session on an unlabeled root
— and a read-only erofs can't autorelabel. Confirmed by booting with
`enforcing=0` (SMBIOS-injected) → login worked. **Fixed:** export via
`guestfish tar-out … selinux:true xattrs:true acls:true`, restore with
`tar --xattrs --xattrs-include='*' --acls --selinux`, and a `getfattr`
build-time assertion that `/usr/bin/bash` is labeled before `mkfs.erofs`
(mkfs.erofs preserves xattrs). Needs `attr` on the build host. The image now
boots **enforcing**.
- **`mkfs.erofs --all-root` was flattening all ownership to root:root.** Mode
bits + (now) xattrs survive the export, but `--all-root` forced every inode
to uid/gid 0 — discarding group ownership (`ssh_keys` on host keys →
sshd "permissions 640 too open" → refused; `tty`/`crontab` setgid groups)
and user ownership (home dirs). **Fixed:** dropped `--all-root` so real
ownership is preserved from the tree. That now requires `extract-artifacts.sh`
to run as **root** (added an `id -u` guard; `tar -x` needs CAP_CHOWN to
restore ownership) — the post-processor runs it via `sudo` and `chown`s the
output files back to the build user so `build-oci.sh` (rootless buildah +
its own login) still works. Combined with the host-key strip above, sshd
starts cleanly.
**⚠ The secure path has the same dependency on the
(absent) nvmf autoconnect** — when 802.1X is re-enabled, the macsec0 path
must likewise drive `connect-all` (or the network-manager port #1 must wire
a working autoconnect). Currently only the test path is fixed.
- The target Rocky 9 kernel's erofs is built **without
`CONFIG_EROFS_FS_ZIP`** — mounting a compressed image fails `erofs: lz4
algorithm isn't enabled`, which silently blocks the root mount. **Fixed:**
`extract-artifacts.sh` now builds the erofs **uncompressed** (`mkfs.erofs`
without `-z`). Tradeoff: larger rootfs namespace + more NVMe/TCP bandwidth
per read. Re-enable compression only against a kernel verified to have
`EROFS_FS_ZIP` (`grep CONFIG_EROFS /boot/config-$(uname -r)`). This is the
CLAUDE.md bench-verify item ("erofs module availability on the target RHEL
kernel"). Larger image size also feeds the "shrink the rootfs" angle of #7.
- SPDK: add the listener to the discovery subsystem explicitly
(`nqn.2014-08.org.nvmexpress.discovery`) to silence the deprecation warning.
## [ ] 6. Rolling fleet updates (multi-version serve → cohort reboots)
Image-based, reboot-to-update across many live workstations. Hosts are immutable
(read-only erofs/verity root over NVMe/TCP, ephemeral overlay), so updates are
**atomic A/B reboots**, never in-place. The released OCI artifact + digest-pinned
manifest + roothash coupling already give the atomic unit and instant rollback;
this item builds the rollout machinery around it.
- **Serve versions side-by-side** (must not overwrite a live rootfs): extend
`serving/` so SPDK/nvmet exposes each release as its **own subsystem/NQN**
(`nqn…:rootfs-<ver>`) and nginx serves multiple `fleet-<ver>.efi` (keep
current + previous). Make the UKI's NQN version-specific so each signed UKI
connects only its matching namespace (constant discovery DNS name).
- **Version selection at boot**: dnsmasq **cohort tagging** (MAC / vendor class /
assigned tag) hands each cohort a different option-67 UKI URL. Moving a
cohort's URL = assigning the release.
- **Control plane + in-image reboot agent**: a baked-in systemd timer polls a
"desired version" endpoint and reboots **when idle / in a maintenance window**
(or out-of-band via Redfish/BMC). Stagger + jitter reboots to avoid UKI-fetch
/ NVMe-connect storms.
- **Staged rollout**: canary → waves (10/50/100%) with health gates
(multi-user reached, NVMe connected, dm-verity mapped, kiosk URL rendered,
prod: MACsec/802.1X up); auto-halt on threshold.
- **Rollback**: repoint cohort URL to previous UKI + reboot (current+previous
stay served); security rollback via dbx-revoke / TPM monotonic counter
(design §6).
- **Drain & retire** an old version only when SPDK/nvmet reports zero connected
controllers on it.
- **Availability**: run NVMe/TCP target replicas behind distinct discovery
entries (design §7) — never serve the whole fleet from one unreplicated node,
especially mid-rollout (N versions + reboot bursts).
- Note: kiosk *content* changes are server-side (the website) and need no fleet
update — only OS/UKI/rootfs changes require a reboot.
## [ ] 7. Harden / evaluate the NVMe-oF target (serving-node resilience)
There is **no production-grade memory-safe NVMe-oF target** — the Rust NVMe work
is all driver/initiator-side (vroom, RedLeaf, Rust-for-Linux); the only
production targets are C (Linux kernel `nvmet`, SPDK). So this is **serving-node
hardening, not a language swap**. dm-verity already removes the target from the
clients' integrity TCB (verify-on-read rejects tampered blocks), so the risk is
RCE/DoS on the node that holds the fleet's disk, not client integrity. The
export is read-only + single-namespace = inherently small attack surface.
- **Evaluate kernel `nvmet` vs SPDK** for the target: kernel `nvmet` keeps the
data path in the hardened/fuzzed kernel with a tiny userspace footprint
(arguably a better attack-surface story); SPDK is a userspace C daemon
(current choice, needs hugepages + caps). Decide per environment.
- **Confine the target** (whichever): unprivileged, drop caps, seccomp +
SELinux/AppArmor profile, read-only container, minimal mounts; minimal
immutable serving image, digest-pinned.
- **Slim the SPDK image (multi-stage build)**: the current single-stage
from-source image is ~600 MB (it keeps the whole toolchain — gcc, meson/ninja,
kernel headers, the python venv — plus the SPDK/DPDK source and build trees).
Convert `serving/spdk/Dockerfile` to a builder stage + a minimal runtime stage
that copies only `nvmf_tgt` + its `ldd` shared libs (libnuma, libssl/crypto,
libuuid, libaio…) + `rpc.py`/`python3`. Expect ~150–250 MB (debian-slim base
or a static SPDK link trims further). Smaller attack surface + faster pulls,
and it pairs with the confinement above.
- **Network-isolate :4420** so only the boot VLAN reaches the target (compose
with 802.1X/MACsec segmentation in prod).
- **Replicas** behind distinct discovery entries (availability is the real risk
— it's the fleet's disk). Ties into #6 (rolling updates) availability.
- Revisit a memory-safe target only if/when an off-the-shelf one matures
(e.g. a future Rust-for-Linux `nvmet`).
## [ ] 8. Return to secure / production posture (un-toggle the lab flags)
Consolidates the cleanup of the temporary lab toggles (see "Current build
posture" at the top) and the secure-path bench-verifies deferred while testing
the open-network path. Do these together, then run the full secure boot-chain
smoke test.
- **Re-enable 802.1X/MACsec:** `disable_dot1x=false` (CI `DISABLE_DOT1X="false"`).
Removes `rd.dot1x=0`/`ip=dhcp`; the hook owns the link (macsec0).
- **NVMe discovery by DNS:** `nvmet_traddr=nvme.fleet.lab` (CI), resolved at boot
by the serving dnsmasq — drop the hardcoded `192.168.50.10`.
- **Signing:** wire `sb_key`/`sb_cert` (CI/HSM secrets) for a signed UKI; enable
Secure Boot on targets. Until then the loud unsigned warning must stay.
- **Bench-verify on the secure path** (swtpm + hostapd + FreeRADIUS,
`disable_dot1x=false`) — the items deferred this session:
- NM port secure path: `en*` UNMANAGED + `macsec0` MANAGED/renewing, MKA
survives switch-root, NVMe stays up past lease (item #1 risk).
- NTP via DHCP option 42 reaches chrony over macsec0 (`chronyc sources`).
- Plymouth `fleet` theme: test-path render VERIFIED 2026-06-18; still confirm
the auth→macsec rows reach `done` live on the secure path.
- STIG remediation didn't break the secure path; reproducible verity hash;
triage the generated `stig-deviations.md` REVIEW rows (item #2).
- **Secure-path NVMe connect trigger:** the test path uses
`nvmf-connect.service` (gated `rd.dot1x=0`); confirm the secure path's
connect (dracut nvmf over macsec0) actually fires, or give it an equivalent
trigger. Apply the same `-k 30 -l -1 -c 10` keep-alive/reconnect flags to the
secure `nvme connect` as the test path has.
- **Future hardening waived for now** (from the STIG register): FIPS, firewall,
remote audit offload, per-host/rotatable admin (SSH CA / config-agent).