Configurable Hostids for Non-Global Zones [PSARC/2008/647 FastTrack timeout 10/30/2008]

[Darren J Moffat]

First let me say I fully support what this case is providing and the way 
it is providing it.  Particularly the fact that the hostid is "in the 
clear"!

However this directly conflicts with PSARC/2007/078, in particular the 
long discussion that was had in that case the resulted in the (in my 
opinion) total pointless obfuscation of the hostid in the /etc/hostid 
file, after all one just needs to run "hostid" to see what it is, and 
the "obfuscation" code is open source.

I'm actually glad that this case doesn't attempt to do any pointless 
obfuscation of the hostid.  However it makes this case inconsistent with 
  2007/078.

Given that 2007/078 stores the hostid in /etc/hostid (for x86 only) was 
any consideration given to just using the same mechanism for zones 
rather than having a different one ?

I don't actually feel that strongly one way or the other (/etc/hostid or 
zonecfg file), and if anything and leaning slightly towards what the 
case proposes.

I'm also leaning slightly towards having this case, if approved as 
specified, revoke the approval of 2007/078 and requiring it put the 
hostid in the clear in /etc/hostid.  Though we don't quite have ARC 
words for that, so I guess it would really be that this case updates 
2007/078 and this cases' spec is extended.   The consistency is important.

--
Darren J Moffat