Bug#353923: kdm modifies /etc/kde3/kdm/backgroundrc

[Bob Billson <reb@nodot.org>]

Package: kdm
Version: 4:3.5.1-1
Severity: normal

Hi - Allow KDM to change the background image under the login window
using /etc/kde3/kdm/backgroundrc options 'WallpaperList' and
'ChangeInterval', e.g.:

  ChangeInterval=number_of_minutes
  WallpaperList=/path/to/some/pix.jpg,/path/to/some/otherpix.jpg [...]

Every ChangeInterval the background image changes as it should.
However, two lines in backgroundrc are updated:

  CurrentWallpaper=number_representing_the_image_file
  LastChange=number_representing_the_time

This behavior seems wrong. If / is mounted read-only, it causes
unexpected behavior.

Isn't this behavior a violation of the Linux FHS (and Debian) policy?
The FHS says /etc should contain only static config files (exception
made for /etc/mtab). Non-static files should be under /var.

I noticed this problem after installing the samhain package. It
complained about 'backgroundrc' changing though I had not touched it.
Yes, samhain can be told to ignore the change. However, this treats the
symptom not the cause.

Thanks for looking into it.

       bob

-- System Information:
Debian Release: testing
  APT prefers testing
  APT policy: (500, 'testing')
Architecture: i386 (i686)
Shell:  /bin/sh linked to /bin/bash
Kernel: Linux 2.6.16-rc4
Locale: LANG=en_US, LC_CTYPE=en_US (charmap=ISO-8859-1)

Versions of packages kdm depends on:
ii  debconf [debconf-2.0]     1.4.70         Debian configuration management sy
ii  kdebase-bin               4:3.5.1-1      core binaries for the KDE base mod
ii  kdebase-data              4:3.5.1-1      shared data files for the KDE base
ii  kdelibs4c2a               4:3.5.1-2      core libraries for all KDE applica
ii  libc6                     2.3.5-13       GNU C Library: Shared libraries an
ii  libgcc1                   1:4.0.2-8      GCC support library
ii  libpam-runtime            0.79-3.1       Runtime support for the PAM librar
ii  libpam0g                  0.79-3.1       Pluggable Authentication Modules l
ii  libqt3-mt                 3:3.3.5-3      Qt GUI Library (Threaded runtime v
ii  libstdc++6                4.0.2-8        The GNU Standard C++ Library v3
ii  libx11-6                  6.9.0.dfsg.1-4 X Window System protocol client li
ii  libxau6                   6.9.0.dfsg.1-4 X Authentication library
ii  libxdmcp6                 6.9.0.dfsg.1-4 X Display Manager Control Protocol
ii  libxtst6                  6.9.0.dfsg.1-4 X Window System event recording an
ii  xbase-clients             6.9.0.dfsg.1-4 miscellaneous X clients

Versions of packages kdm recommends:
ii  logrotate                     3.7.1-2    Log rotation utility

-- debconf information:
  kdm/stop_running_server_with_children: false
* shared/default-x-display-manager: kdm
  kdm/daemon_name: /usr/bin/kdm