File integrity check at boot of install media no longer functional

[Leó Kolbeinsson]

File integrity check at boot no longer visible -

Testing Lubuntu Hirsute Daily ISO 20210302 http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/lubuntu/daily-live/20210302/hirsute-desktop-amd64.iso

When installing from the live media the File Integrity check at boot is no longer visible -
I am filing this as a bug as not sure if this is by design - this is also the case with
Ubuntu / Xubuntu /Kubuntu

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 21.04
Package: casper 1.457
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.10.0-14.15-generic 5.10.11
Uname: Linux 5.10.0-14-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu59
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: unknown
CasperVersion: 1.457
CurrentDesktop: LXQt
Date: Wed Mar 3 08:53:22 2021
LiveMediaBuild: Lubuntu 21.04 "Hirsute Hippo" - Alpha amd64 (20210302)
SourcePackage: casper
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
mtime.conffile..etc.casper.conf: 2021-03-03T08:46:26.394962

[Ubuntu QA Website (ubuntuqa)]

This bug has been reported on the Ubuntu ISO testing tracker.

A list of all reports related to this bug can be found here:
http://iso.qa.ubuntu.com/qatracker/reports/bugs/1917590

[ԜаӀtеr Ⅼарсһуnѕkі (wxl)]

I note here that CasperMD5CheckResult is unknown, which is to say that no skip or fail has been recorded. In that sense, it would seem that the check didn't even run. We certainly can't use it to verify ISO integrity in bugs, and in that sense, I'd call this a pretty problematic regression.

[ԜаӀtеr Ⅼарсһуnѕkі (wxl)]

Also /run/casper-md5check.json is missing in the live system, as is /var/log/installer/casper-md5check.json in the installed system.

Since this is a relatively new problem, I did see this commit, which sounds like it attempts to continue to boot while the check is running. I wonder if the problem doesn't lie here somewhere:
https://git.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/casper/commit/?id=8415b4102e5c59064a5acff878aa2c3c8aa10e96

[Leó Kolbeinsson (leok)]

I can confirm that this is also the case in Ubuntu Hirsute daily 20210303

My test results here : http://iso.qa.ubuntu.com/qatracker/milestones/419/builds/227552/testcases/1303/results

and here: http://iso.qa.ubuntu.com/qatracker/milestones/419/builds/227552/testcases/1300/results

[Rik Mills (rikmills)]

No check on Kubuntu Hirsute ISO from today.

[Michael Hudson-Doyle (mwhudson)]

The intent is that the check is done in the background after boot but it seems the service file that should do that is not being installed.

[Bill (franksmcb) (franksmcb)]

Same on Ubuntu MATE from today

[ԜаӀtеr Ⅼарсһуnѕkі (wxl)]

Michael, I did notice that systemd was complaining in the logs about the lack of a service file so I think you're on to something.

I'll also add I love the idea of this happening transparently. If we can actually get that working, even better. That will reduce the skips significantly.

[ԜаӀtеr Ⅼарсһуnѕkі (wxl)]

It seems that 1.460 got the file check up and running again. However, a failure doesn't result in any feedback to the user. I'm not sure that's by design or not?

[ԜаӀtеr Ⅼарсһуnѕkі (wxl)]

I filed a separate report (bug 1918733) about the lack of feedback.

Technically, I would consider this bug fixed unless I'm missing something.