DBUS and HAL permissions for console users

[Rainer Dorsch <rdorsch@web.de>]

Hello,

I found a bug in kde-guidance-powermanager, which seems to be a permission 
problem in the HAL/DBUS area and can be worked around with a code change in 
the powermanager. With the workaround the annoying behavior of the bug goes 
away, but the function is degraded as well.

The bug is documented here (well seem that the mails did not yet make it into 
the BTS web database !?): 
http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=397508

Luka from Kubuntu helped me to track down the issue and provided the patch. He 
would like to find a solution, which works for Debian as well, but needs a 
contact, who can help with debian desktop permissions.

I get on the console this message:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/share/python-support/kde-guidance/guidance-power-manager.py", 
line 411, in poll
    self.powerHasBeenUnplugged()
  File "/usr/share/python-support/kde-guidance/guidance-power-manager.py", 
line 567, in powerHasBeenUnplugged
    dbus_interface="org.freedesktop.Hal.Device.LaptopPanel")
  File "/var/lib/python-support/python2.4/dbus/proxies.py", line 102, in 
__call__
    reply_message = self._connection.send_with_reply_and_block(message, 
timeout)
  File "dbus_bindings.pyx", line 455, in 
dbus_bindings.Connection.send_with_reply_and_block
dbus_bindings.DBusException: A security policy in place prevents this sender 
from sending this message to this recipient, see message bus configuration 
file (rejected message had interface "org.freedesktop.Hal.Device.LaptopPanel" 
member "SetBrightness" error name "(unset)" 
destination "org.freedesktop.Hal")
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/share/python-support/kde-guidance/guidance-power-manager.py", 
line 411, in poll
    self.powerHasBeenUnplugged()
  File "/usr/share/python-support/kde-guidance/guidance-power-manager.py", 
line 567, in powerHasBeenUnplugged
    dbus_interface="org.freedesktop.Hal.Device.LaptopPanel")
  File "/var/lib/python-support/python2.4/dbus/proxies.py", line 102, in 
__call__
    reply_message = self._connection.send_with_reply_and_block(message, 
timeout)
  File "dbus_bindings.pyx", line 455, in 
dbus_bindings.Connection.send_with_reply_and_block
dbus_bindings.DBusException: A security policy in place prevents this sender 
from sending this message to this recipient, see message bus configuration 
file (rejected message had interface "org.freedesktop.Hal.Device.LaptopPanel" 
member "SetBrightness" error name "(unset)" 
destination "org.freedesktop.Hal")


This shows up, although the user is in the powerdev group

This is in /etc/dbus-1/system.d/hal.conf
  <!-- Debian groups policies -->
  <policy group="powerdev">
    <allow send_interface="org.freedesktop.Hal.Device.SystemPowerManagement"/>
    <allow send_interface="org.freedesktop.Hal.Device.LaptopPanel"/>
  </policy>

Ubuntu has an "on_console" concept, which makes ubuntu different here.

I would appreciate any help to make
-> the patch going into the Debian package
-> get rid of the root cause in Debian, which would give the Debian 
powermanager all functions it has in Ubuntu.

Best contact Luca or the Debian package maintainers (which showed not very 
responsive so far) directly.

Thanks,
Rainer

PS: 
On copy, there is Lula and the Debian maintainers of
- kde-guidance-powermanager
- hal
- dbus

-- 
Rainer Dorsch
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07032-919495
jabber: rdorsch@jabber.org
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