Michael Graff writes:
> I know this issue was brought up about 6 months ago, and I have read
> through the logs, but I believe it is time to discuss it again.

> What do people think about an /etc/init.d/ file, either with or
> without run levels?  I think run levels are mostly useless, but others
> will certainly disagree.  I would consider writing an /etc/init.d
> startup method if there was interest.  I really think the
> /etc/rc.local method is just plain archaic, and each package SHOULD
> have its own startup/shutdown script.

Another similar issue - variety of different files to configure your
system.

The current way under netbsd that you have to edit the following files
under /etc/ to modify networking is ludicrious:
	myname, defaultdomain, mygate, netstart, hostname.*

Under ULTRIX we use a file, /etc/rc.conf, which has a lot of environment
variables defined (e.g, DOMAINNAME, HOSTNAME, etc.etc.) The various
rc* files then setup stuff from there. I think that OSF/1 has a
similar system.

For example, you could replace /etc/hostname.*, myname, defaultdomain,
mygate, etc with the following variables in rc.conf:
---
	HOSTNAME=shelob
	DOMAINNAME=lair.werj.com.au
	DEFAULT_ROUTER=192.168.4.1
	INTERFACES="ed0 lo1"
	INTERFACE_ed0="inet shelob 0xffffffc0"
	INTERFACE_lo1="inet 127.0.0.2"
---

Then with something like the following in /etc/rc:
---
	. rc.conf

	if [ "$HOSTNAME" != "" ] ; then
		hostname $HOSTNAME
	fi
	if [ "$DOMAINNAME" != "" ] ; then
		domainname $DOMAINNAME
	fi
	if [ "$INTERFACES" != "" ] ; then
		for i in $INTERFACES ; do
			eval `echo 'j=$INTERFACE_'$i`
			if [ "$j" != "" ] ; then
			    echo "Setting up $i as $j"
			    #
			    # XXX fill in stuff here
			    #
			fi
		done
	fi
	if [ "$DEFAULT_ROUTER" != "" ] ; then
		route add default $DEFAULT_ROUTER
	fi
---

/etc/ifaliases could probably be replaced with a similar method as
INTERFACES && INTERFACE_xxx


How do other people like this concept? I'm willing to go through and
fix up /etc/rc* et. al if this sounds usable by enough people.


Luke.