Quick question on dynamic loading of authn_spacewalk

[Partha Aji]

I am a bit puzzled on why authn_spacewalk is part of the cobbler 
upstream. Shouldn't it be part of spacewalk project upstream ? Is the 
problem just that there is no way to tell cobbler to dynamically load 
modules outside its realm ?? I am just concerned that every time we find 
a bug in authn_spacewalk.py its just going to take a lot of time to 
submit to cobbler and have them review it. This also requires cobbler 
reviewer to be aware of how authentication is done on spacewalk and 
looks unnecessary to me.. Ideally I 'd like to be as follows. In 
modules.conf

[authentication]
module = authn_spacewalk

or

[authentication]
module = foo.authn_spacewalk

The cobbler project should just assume authn_spacewalk.py exists 
somewhere in the python path and move on..

If this functionality is  there already in cobbler I think spacewalk 
should be taking advantage of that.

Partha

[Michael DeHaan]

Partha Aji wrote:
> I am a bit puzzled on why authn_spacewalk is part of the cobbler 
> upstream. Shouldn't it be part of spacewalk project upstream ?

In a multi-server setup, we would want this installed on the cobbler 
machine (there may likely be more cobbler installs than Spacewalk 
servers at a given site), not the Spacewalk machine, and it's easier 
than maintaining a "spacewalk-cobbler" RPM for one 10-or-so line python 
file.
> Is the problem just that there is no way to tell cobbler to 
> dynamically load modules outside its realm ??

You can do this today.  If another RPM (such as Spacewalk) wanted to 
install a Cobbler module, all it has to do is install the .py in the 
correct path and then reference that in the config file.
> I am just concerned that every time we find a bug in 
> authn_spacewalk.py its just going to take a lot of time to submit to 
> cobbler and have them review it.

I am pretty sure we can turn out a Cobbler release as quickly as 
needed.   Cobbler is a pretty simple app by comparison, and we are also 
talking about a very small  module that should not be changing 
frequently.   Just send a patch to the list, and cross-post it to 
Spacewalk-list if necessary.
> This also requires cobbler reviewer to be aware of how authentication 
> is done on spacewalk and looks unnecessary to me.. Ideally I 'd like 
> to be as follows. In modules.conf

It's a pretty simple module, I think folks can understand it.

--Michael