Currently (after commit 2600134e3bb781fca25fe77e464f8b875741dc83),
qrexec_agent can request a service (specified by a "exec_index") to be
executed on a different VM or dom0. Access control is enforced in dom0 via
files in /etc/qubes_rpc/policy. File copy, Open in Dispvm, sync appmenus,
upload updates to dom0 - they all have been ported to the new API.
See the quick HOWTO section on how to add a new service. Note we have
qvm-open-in-vm utility practically for free.
CHANGES
Besides flexibility offered by /etc/qubes_rpc/policy, writing a client
is much simpler now. The workflow used to be (using "filecopy" service as
an example):
a) "filecopy_ui" process places job description in some spool directory,
signals qrexec_agent to signal qrexec_daemon
b) qrexec_daemon executes "qrexec_client -d domain filecopy_worker ...."
and "filecopy_worker" process needed to parse spool and retrieve job
description from there. Particularly, "filecopy_ui" had no connection to
remote.
Now, the flow is:
a) qrexec_client_vm process obtains 3 unix socket descriptors from
qrexec_agent, dup stdin/out/err to them; forms "existing_process_handle" from
them
b) qrexec_client_vm signals qrexec_agent to signal qrexec_daemon, with a
"exec_index" (so, type of service) as an argument
c) qrexec_daemon executed "qrexec_client -d domain -c existing_process_handle ...."
d) qrexec_client_vm execve filecopy_program.
Thus, there is only one service program, and it has direct access to remote via
stdin/stdout.
HOWTO
Let's add a new "test.Add" service, that will add two numbers. We need the
following files in the template fs:
==========================
/usr/bin/our_test_add_client:
#!/bin/sh
echo $1 $2
exec cat >&2
# more correct: exec cat >&$SAVED_FD_1, but do not scare the reader
==========================
/usr/bin/our_test_add_server:
#!/bin/sh
read arg1 arg2
echo $(($arg1+$arg2))
==========================
/etc/qubes_rpc/test.Add:
/usr/bin/our_test_add_server
Now, on the client side, we start the client via
/usr/lib/qubes/qrexec_client_vm target_vm test.Add /usr/bin/our_test_add_client 11 22
Because there is no policy yet, dom0 will ask you to create one (of cource you
can do it before the first run of our_test_add_client). So, in dom0, create (by now,
with a file editor) the /etc/qubes_rpc/policy/test.Add file with
anyvm anyvm ask
content. The format of the /etc/qubes_rpc/policy/* files is
srcvm destvm (allow|deny|ask)[,user=user_to_run_as][,target=VM_to_redirect_to]
You can specify srcvm and destvm by name, or by one of "anyvm", "dispvm", "dom0"
reserved keywords.
Then, when you confirm the operation, you will get the result in the client vm.
