Submitting Improperly Formatted Launchpad Keys For Reservations Fails Silently.

Understanding the Issue

When it comes to submitting jobs with a reservation phase on Launchpad, it's easy to make a mistake that can lead to a failed reservation without any clear indication of what went wrong. One common issue is providing the SSH keys in the wrong format, specifically using lp: user instead of the correct format lp:user. This mistake can be frustrating to identify and resolve, especially when the error message doesn't provide any clear clues.

The Problem with Improperly Formatted SSH Keys

The issue arises when a user submits a job with a reservation phase and provides the SSH keys in the incorrect format. This can happen when the user accidentally includes a space between the lp: prefix and the username, resulting in lp: user instead of the correct lp:user. This mistake can lead to a failed reservation, but the error message may not provide any clear indication of what went wrong.

Detecting the Problem using testflinger show

Fortunately, it's possible to detect this problem using the testflinger show command. When you run this command, it will display the ssh_keys as a list of dictionaries, which can help identify the issue. Specifically, if the ssh_keys are displayed as a list of dictionaries, it may indicate that the keys were provided in the incorrect format.

Example Output of testflinger show

Here's an example of what the output of testflinger show might look like when the SSH keys are provided in the incorrect format:

"ssh_keys": [
    {
        "lp": "user"
    }
]

In contrast, the correct output would display the SSH keys as a list of strings:

"ssh_keys": [
    "lp:user"
]

Improving the Error Handling

To improve the error handling and make it easier to identify and resolve this issue, it would be beneficial for testflinger to return an appropriate error code when the job is submitted with improperly formatted SSH keys. This would provide a clear indication of what went wrong and make it easier for users to correct the issue.

Automatically Correcting the Problem

Alternatively, it would be even better if testflinger could automatically correct the problem by removing the space from the SSH keys. This would eliminate the need for users to manually correct the issue and make the process of submitting jobs with a reservation phase much smoother.

Conclusion

In conclusion, submitting improperly formatted Launchpad keys for reservations can fail silently, making it difficult to identify and resolve the issue. However, by using testflinger show and detecting the problem through the output of the command, users can identify the issue and take corrective action. To improve the error handling and make the process of submitting jobs with a reservation phase smoother, it would be beneficial for testflinger to return an appropriate error code or automatically correct the problem.

Recommendations

Based on the analysis of the issue, here are some recommendations to improve the error handling and make the process of submitting jobs with a reservation phase smoother:

1. Return an appropriate error code: When the job is submitted with improperly formatted SSH keys, testflinger should return an error code that indicates what went wrong.
2. Automatically correct the problem: testflinger should automatically correct the problem by removing the space from the SSH keys, eliminating the need for users to manually correct the issue.
3. Improve the output of testflinger show: The output of testflinger show should be improved to clearly indicate when the SSH keys are provided in the incorrect format.

Q: What is the issue with submitting improperly formatted Launchpad keys for reservations?

A: The issue arises when a user submits a job with a reservation phase and provides the SSH keys in the incorrect format, specifically using lp: user instead of the correct format lp:user. This mistake can lead to a failed reservation without any clear indication of what went wrong.

Q: How can I detect if I have submitted improperly formatted Launchpad keys for reservations?

A: You can detect this problem by using the testflinger show command. When you run this command, it will display the ssh_keys as a list of dictionaries, which can help identify the issue. Specifically, if the ssh_keys are displayed as a list of dictionaries, it may indicate that the keys were provided in the incorrect format.

Q: What is the expected output of testflinger show when the SSH keys are provided in the correct format?

A: When the SSH keys are provided in the correct format, the output of testflinger show should display the ssh_keys as a list of strings, like this:

"ssh_keys": [
    "lp:user"
]

Q: What is the expected output of testflinger show when the SSH keys are provided in the incorrect format?

A: When the SSH keys are provided in the incorrect format, the output of testflinger show should display the ssh_keys as a list of dictionaries, like this:

"ssh_keys": [
    {
        "lp": "user"
    }
]

Q: Why is it important to provide the SSH keys in the correct format?

A: Providing the SSH keys in the correct format is important because it ensures that the reservation phase can be executed successfully. If the SSH keys are provided in the incorrect format, the reservation phase may fail without any clear indication of what went wrong.

Q: Can I use testflinger show to correct the problem automatically?

A: Unfortunately, testflinger show is only used to detect the problem, not to correct it automatically. However, you can use the output of testflinger show to manually correct the problem by removing the space from the SSH keys.

Q: How can I prevent submitting improperly formatted Launchpad keys for reservations in the future?

A: To prevent submitting improperly formatted Launchpad keys for reservations in the future, make sure to double-check the format of the SSH keys before submitting the job. You can also use a script or a tool to automatically correct the problem.

Q: What is the recommended solution to improve the error handling and make the process of submitting jobs with a reservation phase smoother?

A: The recommended solution is to return an appropriate error code when the job is submitted with improperly formatted SSH keys, or to automatically correct the problem by removing the space from the SSH keys. This will eliminate the need for users to manually correct the issue and make the process of submitting jobs with a reservation phase much smoother.

Q: Can I submit a bug report or a feature request to improve the error handling and make the process of submitting jobs with a reservation phase smoother?

A: Yes, you can submit a bug report or a feature request to improve the error handling and make the process of submitting jobs with a reservation phase smoother. This will help the developers to identify the issue and implement a solution to improve the user experience.