[qubes-users] QubesIncoming folder in /tmp ??

haaber · June 30, 2023, 10:27am

Hi I was wondering if it would not me preferable (at least in some VM's)
to delocalise the QubesIncoming folder in /tmp to have it "cleaned up"
regularly. It's a pain to do so manually. Is there a problem doing so ?
What would be the cleanest way to do it? A symlink ?? thank you, Bernhard

Ulrich_Windl1 · June 30, 2023, 11:16am

Hi!

I wonder: Couldn't a systemd service do that?

Ulrich

unman · July 1, 2023, 1:18am

I use this in rc.local:

mkdir /home/user/QubesIncoming
chown user:user /home/user/QubesIncoming
mkdir /tmp/QubesIncoming
chown user:user /tmp/QubesIncoming
mount --bind /tmp/QubesIncoming /home/user/QubesIncoming

I dont think the chown calls are needed, but I put them in , and have
not removed them.
Works as you would expect.

adw · July 1, 2023, 1:57am

I thought there was already an open issue for this, but I couldn't find one, so I just opened this:

github.com/QubesOS/qubes-issues

Automatically clean up `QubesIncoming` directory if empty

opened 01:55AM - 01 Jul 23 UTC

andrewdavidwong

T: enhancement C: other P: minor ux

[How to file a helpful issue](https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/issue-tracking/) #…## The problem you're addressing (if any) After copying or moving a file from one qube to another, a `QubesIncoming` directory is created along with suitable subdirectories. Usually, the user moves the file out of this directory structure in order to make use of the file. This often leaves behind an empty `QubesIncoming` directory (often with empty subdirectories). These persist until the user manually cleans them up. ### The solution you'd like Automatically remove the empty `QubesIncoming` directory whenever the qube starts up or shuts down (not sure which is better). For present purposes: - A `QubesIncoming` directory that contains only empty subdirectories still counts as empty. - A `QubesIncoming` directory that contains non-default hidden files does not count as empty. ### The value to a user, and who that user might be Less clutter. Less time and effort spent manually cleaning up after the system.

Sven · July 3, 2023, 5:15am

I like the way the ticket is formulated ... only empty directories should be removed.

I'd be extremely careful with binding QubesIncoming to /tmp ... this might lead to unintended loss if qvm-move is used or the origin is a disposable and the user does not immediately move the file out of QubesIncoming. Also consider the Idle-Shutdown script.

Personally I often treat QubesIncoming as an Inbox of sorts for different domains. Having files vanish without manual interaction would be a disaster in some cases.