There is no good reason for Avahi-daemon to be automatically installed on a server that is setup up with a static ip address. Also, I would like to someone to explain the loqic in having such a service on a server running an Oracle Database.

All of the servers I manage run a bare minimum footprint. Unnecessary services waste server resources and they are potential security risks if not updated.

This is why I want to "absolutely" remove the Avahi-daemon.


=---
Dave Walden
Linux Systems Administrator
CARFAX, INC.

I moved your post to it's own thread since the previous one is almost 2 years old.

I checked on my home openSUSE laptop:
rpm -q --whatrequires avahi
nss-mdns-0.10-46.1.x86_64
mono-zeroconf-provider-avahi-0.9.0-5.1.noarch
avahi-utils-gtk-0.6.25-14.1.x86_64
avahi-utils-0.6.25-14.1.x86_64
libavahi-devel-0.6.25-14.1.x86_64

Perhaps complaints such as yours have been heard and addressed in later distro versions.

Thanks for moving my post to another thread. Unfortunately, the Avahi-daemon is still an unnecessary and forced installation on Red Hat 5 / Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.


Here is an example:

A couple of days ago, I installed Oracle Enterprise Linux 5 update 5 on a server. This is based on Red Hat 5 Update 5. This was a test so I let the system install the default packages.

uname -a
Linux videom01 2.6.18-194.el5 #1 SMP Mon Mar 29 22:10:29 EDT 2010 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU /Linux

cat /etc/issue
Enterprise Linux Enterprise Linux Server release 5.5 (Carthage)
Kernel \r on an \m


After the installation was complete I ran the following commands:

rpm -q --whatrequires avahi
avahi-glib-0.6.16-9.el5_5
avahi-compat-libdns_sd-0.6.16-9.el5_5
avahi-glib-0.6.16-9.el5_5

This shows that three packages are required to install Avahi so that it will run.

In order to remove Avahi, I ran the following command:

yum remove avahi

The following is the output:


Dependencies Resolved

===================================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
===================================================================================================
Removing:
avahi i386 0.6.16-9.el5_5 installed 706 k
avahi x86_64 0.6.16-9.el5_5 installed 717 k
Removing for dependencies:
ImageMagick i386 6.2.8.0-4.el5_5.2 installed 11 M
ImageMagick x86_64 6.2.8.0-4.el5_5.2 installed 11 M
alacarte noarch 0.10.0-1.fc6 installed 604 k
anaconda x86_64 11.1.2.209-1.0.1 installed 19 M
anaconda-runtime x86_64 11.1.2.209-1.0.1 installed 3.3 M
avahi-compat-libdns_sd x86_64 0.6.16-9.el5_5 installed 32 k
avahi-glib i386 0.6.16-9.el5_5 installed 9.6 k
avahi-glib x86_64 0.6.16-9.el5_5 installed 11 k
control-center i386 1:2.16.0-16.el5 installed 8.1 M
control-center x86_64 1:2.16.0-16.el5 installed 8.3 M
cups x86_64 1:1.3.7-18.el5_5.7 installed 9.1 M
desktop-printing x86_64 0.19-20.2.el5 installed 271 k
eel2 i386 2.16.1-1.el5 installed 1.1 M
eel2 x86_64 2.16.1-1.el5 installed 1.1 M
eog x86_64 2.16.0.1-6.el5 installed 1.9 M
esc x86_64 1.1.0-12.el5 installed 1.2 M
evince x86_64 0.6.0-13.el5 installed 2.7 M
evolution-data-server i386 1.12.3-18.el5 installed 11 M
evolution-data-server x86_64 1.12.3-18.el5 installed 11 M
file-roller x86_64 2.16.0-2.fc6 installed 3.5 M
firefox i386 3.6.7-3.0.2.el5 installed 17 M
firefox x86_64 3.6.7-3.0.2.el5 installed 17 M
firstboot x86_64 1.4.27.8-1.0.2.el5 installed 929 k
gcalctool x86_64 5.8.25-1.el5 installed 4.1 M
gdm x86_64 1:2.16.0-56.el5 installed 11 M
gedit x86_64 1:2.16.0-9.el5 installed 16 M
gnome-applets x86_64 1:2.16.0.1-19.el5 installed 32 M
gnome-desktop i386 2.16.0-1.fc6.0.1 installed 1.9 M
gnome-desktop x86_64 2.16.0-1.fc6.0.1 installed 1.9 M
gnome-media x86_64 2.16.1-3.el5 installed 5.2 M
gnome-mount x86_64 0.5-3.el5 installed 230 k
gnome-netstatus x86_64 2.12.0-5.el5 installed 980 k
gnome-panel i386 2.16.1-7.el5 installed 10 M
gnome-panel x86_64 2.16.1-7.el5 installed 10 M
gnome-power-manager x86_64 2.16.0-10.el5 installed 6.1 M
gnome-python2 x86_64 2.16.0-1.fc6 installed 632 k
gnome-python2-applet x86_64 2.16.0-3.el5 installed 21 k
gnome-python2-bonobo x86_64 2.16.0-1.fc6 installed 207 k
gnome-python2-canvas x86_64 2.16.0-1.fc6 installed 56 k
gnome-python2-desktop x86_64 2.16.0-3.el5 installed 234 k
gnome-python2-extras x86_64 2.14.2-7.el5 installed 62 k
gnome-python2-gconf x86_64 2.16.0-1.fc6 installed 88 k
gnome-python2-gnomeprint x86_64 2.16.0-3.el5 installed 448 k
gnome-python2-gnomevfs x86_64 2.16.0-1.fc6 installed 184 k
gnome-python2-gtkhtml2 x86_64 2.14.2-7.el5 installed 23 k
gnome-python2-gtksourceview x86_64 2.16.0-3.el5 installed 363 k
gnome-python2-libegg x86_64 2.14.2-7.el5 installed 124 k
gnome-screensaver x86_64 2.16.1-8.el5 installed 3.3 M
gnome-session x86_64 2.16.0-7.0.1.el5 installed 1.3 M
gnome-system-monitor x86_64 2.16.0-3.el5 installed 2.9 M
gnome-terminal x86_64 2.16.0-5.3.el5 installed 8.4 M
gnome-utils i386 1:2.16.0-5.el5 installed 8.5 M
gnome-utils x86_64 1:2.16.0-5.el5 installed 8.5 M
gnome-vfs2 i386 2.16.2-6.el5_5.1 installed 4.7 M
gnome-vfs2 x86_64 2.16.2-6.el5_5.1 installed 4.9 M
gnome-vfs2-smb x86_64 2.16.2-6.el5_5.1 installed 35 k
gnome-volume-manager x86_64 2.15.0-5.el5 installed 1.9 M
gok x86_64 1.2.0-2.el5 installed 9.2 M
gstreamer-plugins-base x86_64 0.10.20-3.0.1.el5_3 installed 2.4 M
gstreamer-plugins-good x86_64 0.10.9-1.el5_3.2 installed 2.5 M
gthumb x86_64 2.7.8-8.el5 installed 5.7 M
gtkhtml2 x86_64 2.11.0-3 installed 530 k
gtkhtml3 i386 3.16.3-1.el5 installed 2.9 M
gtkhtml3 x86_64 3.16.3-1.el5 installed 2.9 M
gtksourceview x86_64 1.8.0-1.fc6 installed 1.7 M
gucharmap x86_64 1.8.0-1.fc6 installed 6.0 M
hal-cups-utils x86_64 0.6.2-5.2.el5 installed 61 k
im-chooser x86_64 0.3.3-6.el5 installed 192 k
krb5-auth-dialog x86_64 0.7-1 installed 56 k
libbonoboui i386 2.16.0-1.fc6 installed 1.2 M
libbonoboui x86_64 2.16.0-1.fc6 installed 1.2 M
libgail-gnome x86_64 1.1.3-1.2.1 installed 62 k
libgnome i386 2.16.0-6.el5 installed 3.3 M
libgnome x86_64 2.16.0-6.el5 installed 3.3 M
libgnomecups i386 0.2.2-9 installed 215 k
libgnomecups x86_64 0.2.2-9 installed 217 k
libgnomeprint22 i386 2.12.1-10.el5 installed 1.3 M
libgnomeprint22 x86_64 2.12.1-10.el5 installed 1.4 M
libgnomeprintui22 i386 2.12.1-6 installed 1.0 M
libgnomeprintui22 x86_64 2.12.1-6 installed 1.0 M
libgnomeui i386 2.16.0-5.el5 installed 3.1 M
libgnomeui x86_64 2.16.0-5.el5 installed 3.1 M
libgsf i386 1.14.1-6.1 installed 258 k
libgsf x86_64 1.14.1-6.1 installed 274 k
librsvg2 i386 2.16.1-1.el5 installed 425 k
librsvg2 x86_64 2.16.1-1.el5 installed 437 k
nautilus x86_64 2.16.2-7.el5 installed 12 M
nautilus-cd-burner i386 2.16.0-7.el5 installed 1.7 M
nautilus-cd-burner x86_64 2.16.0-7.el5 installed 1.7 M
nautilus-extensions i386 2.16.2-7.el5 installed 31 k
nautilus-extensions x86_64 2.16.2-7.el5 installed 32 k
nautilus-open-terminal x86_64 0.6-7.el5 installed 62 k
ocfs2-2.6.18-128.0.0.0.2.el5xen x86_64 1.4.7-1.el5 installed 1.3 M
ocfs2-tools x86_64 1.4.4-1.el5 installed 3.2 M
oracle-validated x86_64 1.0.0-22.el5 installed 43 k
orca x86_64 1.0.0-5.el5 installed 3.4 M
pirut noarch 1.3.28-17.0.1.el5 installed 1.4 M
policycoreutils-gui x86_64 1.33.12-14.8.el5 installed 496 k
redhat-lsb i386 3.1-12.3.EL.0.2 installed 22 k
redhat-lsb x86_64 3.1-12.3.EL.0.2 installed 27 k
sabayon x86_64 2.12.4-6.el5 installed 480 k
setroubleshoot noarch 2.0.5-5.0.1.el5 installed 314 k
sound-juicer x86_64 2.16.0-3.el5 installed 2.4 M
system-config-date noarch 1.8.12-4.0.1.el5 installed 3.4 M
system-config-keyboard noarch 1.2.11-1.el5 installed 193 k
system-config-kickstart noarch 2.6.19.8-2.0.1.el5 installed 1.9 M
system-config-lvm noarch 1.1.5-4.el5 installed 2.9 M
system-config-netboot noarch 0.1.45.1-1.0.1.el5 installed 253 k
system-config-network noarch 1.3.99.18-1.0.1.el5 installed 2.2 M
up2date x86_64 5.10.1-41.9.el5 installed 6.5 M
up2date-gnome x86_64 5.10.1-41.9.el5 installed 738 k
vino x86_64 2.13.5-9.el5 installed 1.1 M
xulrunner i386 1.9.2.7-3.0.1.el5 installed 28 M
xulrunner x86_64 1.9.2.7-3.0.1.el5 installed 29 M
yelp x86_64 2.16.0-26.el5 installed 2.0 M

Transaction Summary
===================================================================================================
Remove 117 Package(s)
Reinstall 0 Package(s)
Downgrade 0 Package(s)


So, Avahi has 117 packages that are listed as Dependencies.... and in order to safely remove it without --force --nodeps I have to remove them all? Seriously? I think not.

Yes, I know I can run...

chkconfig --level 2345 avahi-daemon off

followed up with

service avahi-daemon stop

that still leaves me with software installed that has to be patched... and has the potential to be a security risk.

Again, my point is this. There is no reason for Avahi to be installed as a default package on a server (laptops/desktops are not my concern). At best it should be a package that can be installed if the Linux Administrator wants/needs it. The servers I install have static IP addresses and do not need unnecessary services wasting system resources.


=---
Dave Walden
Linux Systems Administrator
CARFAX, INC.

That many dependencies in avahi is just insane. Most of those packages should be able to live without what Avahi does.

In Ubuntu I see a lot of "libavahi" files. I presume those are linked by programs that need to do lookups. I can see some need for a dependency on a library. But even this is a good example of why programmers should learn to use run-time dynamic linking (e.g. dlopen() and friends).

I ran into something like this with a library I wrote. It needs libc, of course. A few functions need libm. Most functions don't. I didn't like the idea of linking a library that most programs would never need because they never call the functions that cause a need for libm. Yet if my library linked it, it would be there for all programs that link to my library. One option was to use dlopen() and link dynamically. But I used another trick. Each of my functions that needed libm needed just one specific function in libm. So I wrapped those functions in a macro that passed a pointer to that function as an additional argument defined for the function but not the macro. So a program that used a function that needed libm would have the macro expand to code that caused libm to be linked, instead of my library doing it.

It really would not have been a big deal on libm, as lots of programs do need it, anyway, even if it is not so obvious everywhere. But if we are talking about more obscure libraries like those that are for Avahi, then it makes more sense.

Edit: that should have said "... depedencies ON avahi ...".

Okay. I'll lift this old thread to say i fully agree with Dave.

The only situation i have been in where avahi potentially could do something useful is when installing networked printers. But it has never helped in any way with that either. Rather being an obstruction on the way to properly configure the printers.

I have added avahi to my personal fud-list, among with all the other useless and dangerous "coding efforts" like systemd, nepomuk, akonadi...

Some day people will say enough is enough, and stop supporting the current linux distros that are fud-infested and prone to failure and security flaws, and instead regress to the point when linux actually worked and was reliable, configurable and powerful, and continue the effort in a fruitful direction.

Avahi is a band aid function that should not have been implemented to start with. Its use case is based on ignorance. Why should it be automatically installed when 99.99% of the systems don't ever need it? Make it an option, and let it complete it's life cycle, like Cobol and punchcard readers.

I guess now that i have lifted the thread that had previously lifted another thread concerning the useless, annoying security risk called avahi, this post will probably be moved to it's own thread too?