[Kea-users] Question about a custom configuration file

[Michael De Roover]

On Thursday, February 13, 2025 7:20:16 PM CET Scott LaCroix via Kea-users 
wrote:
> Hello all,
> 
> We're trying to create a custom configuration file for the kea-dhcp4-server
> in our deployment. Currently what I've tried is a simple systemd dropin:
> 
> $ cat /etc/systemd/system/kea-dhcp4-server.service.d/override.conf
> [Service]
> ExecStart=
> ExecStart=/usr/sbin/kea-dhcp4 -c /etc/kea/kea-dhcp4-gw.conf
> 
> When I try using that, I get failure to create the PID file:
> 
> $ sudo systemctl daemon-reload
> $ sudo systemctl restart kea-dhcp4-server
> $ sudo systemctl status kea-dhcp4-server
> × kea-dhcp4-server.service - Kea IPv4 DHCP daemon
>      Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/kea-dhcp4-server.service;
> enabled; preset: enabled) Drop-In:
> /etc/systemd/system/kea-dhcp4-server.service.d
>              └─override.conf
>      Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Thu 2025-02-13 18:13:21 GMT;
> 7s ago Duration: 25ms
>        Docs: man:kea-dhcp4(8)
>     Process: 448823 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/kea-dhcp4 -c
> /etc/kea/kea-dhcp4-gw.conf (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE) Main PID: 448823
> (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)
>         CPU: 24ms
> 
> Feb 13 18:13:21 71077345 systemd[1]: Started kea-dhcp4-server.service - Kea
> IPv4 DHCP daemon. Feb 13 18:13:21 71077345 kea-dhcp4[448823]: 2025-02-13
> 18:13:21.928 INFO  [kea-dhcp4.dhcp4/448823.134556786268608] DHCP4_STARTING
> Kea DHCPv4 server version 2.4.1 (stable) starting Feb 13 18:13:21 71077345
> kea-dhcp4[448823]: kea-dhcp4: Fatal error during start up: Unable to open
> PID file '/run/kea/kea-dhcp4-gw.kea-dhcp4.pid' for write Feb 13 18:13:21
> 71077345 kea-dhcp4[448823]: 2025-02-13 18:13:21.928 FATAL
> [kea-dhcp4.dhcp4/448823.134556786268608] DHCP4_SERVER_FAILED server failed:
> Unable to open PID file '/run/kea/kea-dhcp4-gw.kea-dhcp4.pid' for write Feb
> 13 18:13:21 71077345 systemd[1]: kea-dhcp4-server.service: Main process
> exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE Feb 13 18:13:21 71077345 systemd[1]:
> kea-dhcp4-server.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
> 
> 
> Everything I've tried in an effort to switch the server to a custom config
> file has failed in similar ways. Clearly I'm missing something in the
> systemd service config... any help here is appreciated.

If memory serves me right, Kea runs under its own user (_kea ?) and it may not 
have access to that directory. See with systemctl edit --full kea-dhcp4-server 
what it uses for defaults. Your current service file is an adjustment against 
that.

... Granted, I have only passing experience with Kea so far. YMMV.

-- 
Met vriendelijke groet,
Michael De Roover

Mail: isc at nixmagic.com
Web: michael.de.roover.eu.org