New experimental autopkgtest backend uses pconr for faster containment
Key Takeaway
A new experimental backend for autopkgtest, autopkgtest-virt-pconr, provides lightweight containment with an initsystem using the erofs format.
Summary
Freexian collaborators have introduced autopkgtest-virt-pconr, an experimental backend for the Debian testing framework. It occupies a middle ground between unshare-based testing and full containers like Incus or LXC. By utilizing the erofs base image format, it enables rapid booting and reverting during automated tests.
Technical details of autopkgtest-virt-pconr
- Provides a containment layer that runs an initsystem without requiring heavy infrastructure like Incus or LXC.
- Uses erofs as the base image format to ensure fast boot and revert cycles.
- Built upon the pconr module, which serves as a foundation for unschroot and enhanced mmdebstrap security.
- Development of this backend led to fixes for concurrency issues in asyncvarlink and a bug fix in systemd upstream.
Why it matters
This provides Debian developers with a more efficient way to run automated package tests with higher fidelity than unshare, but with less overhead than full virtualization.
Original reference: www.freexian.com →