Re: tcp_wrappers deprecation

[James Hogarth]

On 24 August 2017 at 10:33, Peter Robinson  wrote:
> > On Tue, 2017-08-15 at 13:58 +0200, Jakub Jelen wrote:
> > > Hello Fedora devels and users,
> > >
> > > more than three years ago, the same topic started discussion if we
> > > want
> > > this package in Fedora or not and how [1]. The discussion resulted
> > > mostly in flames and in the removal of the dependency on tcp_wrappers
> > > from systemd. But it was quite agreed that it is considered as a
> > > security layer for some users, if they use it correctly, or something
> > > that is or should be replaced by firewalls.
> > >
> > > So can we discuss it now once more without the affiliation to
> > > systemd?
> > > The fact is that we still do not have any other replacement except
> > > firewalls. But do we need one?
> > >
> > > The complete removal of the package is probably not a wise step, even
> > > though we can not find tcp_wrappers in recent SuSE anymore [2]. It is
> > > still available in Arch [3] without other tools depending on it. To
> > > be
> > > fair, Debian [4] is still building tools (for example openssh) with a
> > > build-time support for it.
> > >
> > > My primary concern is OpenSSH, which upstream dropped support for
> > > tcp_wrappers three years ago (late 2014) [5] and since then we are
> > > maintaining one more downstream patch. But this effort should be
> > > coordinated among other components to simplify the transition for
> > > users
> > > who insist on using it (using tcpd).
> > >
> > > Removing the dependency will also allow us to trim the default
> > > install for few more Kb.
> > >
> > > If there will be no significant drawbacks, I will progress with
> > > filling
> > > a system wide change for Fedora 28 and I will pull the maintainers of
> > > other tolls using libwrap into the round and discussion.
> >
> > Hello,
> > In Fedora 26, there is over 50 packages using tcp_wrappers as a build-
> > time dependency:
> >
> > Since I'm listed twice in there...
> >
> > With my packages and the situation with build time options I take the
> > position of enable as much as possible since our users don't get to pick
> > their compilation options.
> >
> > However tcp_wrappers is a legacy thing that no longer belongs in today's
> > world.
> >
> > I have no objection to a flag day in F28 development and dropping the
>
> build
> > option at some point, preferably before the thing that is no longer an
>
> alpha
> > ;) ... ie way before beta.
>
> With F-27 now branched off this can happen in F-28/rawhide now
> _______________________________________________

Indeed ... it's a great time to do so ... but let's carry it out under the
auspices of a System Wide Change for F28 :)