autopkgtest-virt-null(1)

📦
version 6.0 · 4 versions
, in debian trixie, ubuntu noble, ubuntu questing, ubuntu resolute, ubuntu stonking

💖 autopkgtest-virt-null(1) 💖

okay bestie, welcome to the Linux Programmer's Manual page for autopkgtest-virt-null, and let me tell you, this one is a vibe. it's giving "virtualisation server that literally does not virtualise anything" and honestly? iconic behaviour. 🫶

✨ NAME ✨

autopkgtest-virt-null — the autopkgtest null virtualisation server, aka the testbed that is not even trying to be a testbed 💅

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

autopkgtest [...] -- null [options]

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

so, autopkgtest-virt-null is a dummy autopkgtest virtualisation server. and when I say dummy I mean it does not actually offer any kind of separation between host and testbed. zero. none. the host IS the testbed. they're the same picture. 😭

normally you won't even call this yourself — autopkgtest-virt-null will be invoked by autopkgtest. it's a backstage queen, not a main character.

and the locking situation? there is no locking, periodt. nothing stops multiple simultaneous programs from invoking autopkgtest-virt-null so they can all reuse the same system as a testbed at the same time. it's a free-for-all, no cap. 💀

🎀 OPTIONS 🎀

  • -d | --debug — turns on debugging output. it's... probably not hugely interesting, ngl. but it's there and it's yours if you want it. ✨
  • --fake-capability CAPABILITY — advertises CAPABILITY in the list of capabilities, regardless of whether that capability is actually implemented. 🫣
bestie, heads up: this is hazardous. tests may malfunction, or even mess up the system. fr fr, be careful.

for context: in autopkgtest 5.47 and earlier, autopkgtest-virt-null falsely advertises isolation-machine. this option can be used to restore that behaviour:

--fake-capability=isolation-machine

so yes, you too can bring back the old chaotic energy. 🙈

  • --retain-tmp — do not delete the temporary directory on exit. when you use this option you should probably set TMPDIR, since that's where the directory gets created. 🍓

⭐ INPUT, OUTPUT AND EXIT STATUS ⭐

the behaviour of autopkgtest-virt-null is exactly as described by the AutomatedTesting virtualisation regime specification. that's the whole vibe check, go read the spec, iykyk. 👑

🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

this manpage is part of autopkgtest, a tool for testing Debian binary packages. autopkgtest is Copyright (C) 2006-2007 Canonical Ltd and others. 🫶

see /usr/share/doc/autopkgtest/CREDITS for the list of contributors and the full copying conditions. 💜

and that's the whole page, bestie!! this lil cutie came from the autopkgtest source, dated 2007, and it lives at autopkgtest-virt-null(1). slay, mwah 💅💖✨

📦 where this page comes from