This makes all containers (except mautrix-telegram and
mautrix-whatsapp), start as a non-root user.
We do this, because we don't trust some of the images.
In any case, we'd rather not trust ALL images and avoid giving
`root` access at all. We can't be sure they would drop privileges
or what they might do before they do it.
Because Postfix doesn't support running as non-root,
it had to be replaced by an Exim mail server.
The matrix-nginx-proxy nginx container image is patched up
(by replacing its main configuration) so that it can work as non-root.
It seems like there's no other good image that we can use and that is up-to-date
(https://hub.docker.com/r/nginxinc/nginx-unprivileged is outdated).
Likewise for riot-web (https://hub.docker.com/r/bubuntux/riot-web/),
we patch it up ourselves when starting (replacing the main nginx
configuration).
Ideally, it would be fixed upstream so we can simplify.
The matrix-nginx-proxy role can now be used independently.
This makes it consistent with all other roles, with
the `matrix-base` role remaining as their only dependency.
Separating matrix-nginx-proxy was relatively straightforward, with
the exception of the Mautrix Telegram reverse-proxying configuration.
Mautrix Telegram, being an extension/bridge, does not feel important enough
to justify its own special handling in matrix-nginx-proxy.
Thus, we've introduced the concept of "additional configuration blocks"
(`matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_additional_server_configuration_blocks`),
where any module can register its own custom nginx server blocks.
For such dynamic registration to work, the order of role execution
becomes important. To make it possible for each module participating
in dynamic registration to verify that the order of execution is
correct, we've also introduced a `matrix_nginx_proxy_role_executed`
variable.
It should be noted that this doesn't make the matrix-synapse role
dependent on matrix-nginx-proxy. It's optional runtime detection
and registration, and it only happens in the matrix-synapse role
when `matrix_mautrix_telegram_enabled: true`.
With this change, the following roles are now only dependent
on the minimal `matrix-base` role:
- `matrix-corporal`
- `matrix-coturn`
- `matrix-mailer`
- `matrix-mxisd`
- `matrix-postgres`
- `matrix-riot-web`
- `matrix-synapse`
The `matrix-nginx-proxy` role still does too much and remains
dependent on the others.
Wiring up the various (now-independent) roles happens
via a glue variables file (`group_vars/matrix-servers`).
It's triggered for all hosts in the `matrix-servers` group.
According to Ansible's rules of priority, we have the following
chain of inclusion/overriding now:
- role defaults (mostly empty or good for independent usage)
- playbook glue variables (`group_vars/matrix-servers`)
- inventory host variables (`inventory/host_vars/matrix.<your-domain>`)
All roles default to enabling their main component
(e.g. `matrix_mxisd_enabled: true`, `matrix_riot_web_enabled: true`).
Reasoning: if a role is included in a playbook (especially separately,
in another playbook), it should "work" by default.
Our playbook disables some of those if they are not generally useful
(e.g. `matrix_corporal_enabled: false`).
Aaron Raimist
dhose
Plailect
Slavi Pantaleev