feat: introduce metal agent mode

Introduce a new operating mode called the metal agent mode.

The mode is activated by the presence of a `/usr/local/etc/is-metal-agent` file under the root FS.

In this mode, Talos will:
- Only run the Initialize sequence, won't follow it up with the install/boot sequences
- Mark STATE partitions as `missing`, so Talos will always be in "not installed" state.
- Block applying configuration via API while in maintenance mode.

This mode can be used, e.g., to collect hardware information from bare-metal servers.

Signed-off-by: Utku Ozdemir <utku.ozdemir@siderolabs.com>

internal/app/machined/pkg/controllers/block/volume_config.go

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/siderolabs/go-blockdevice/v2/encryption"
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
 
+	machinedruntime "github.com/siderolabs/talos/internal/app/machined/pkg/runtime"
 	"github.com/siderolabs/talos/internal/pkg/partition"
 	"github.com/siderolabs/talos/pkg/machinery/cel"
 	"github.com/siderolabs/talos/pkg/machinery/cel/celenv"
@@ -28,8 +29,12 @@ import (
 	"github.com/siderolabs/talos/pkg/machinery/resources/runtime"
 )
 
+var noMatch = cel.MustExpression(cel.ParseBooleanExpression("false", celenv.Empty()))
+
 // VolumeConfigController provides volume configuration based on Talos defaults and machine configuration.
-type VolumeConfigController struct{}
+type VolumeConfigController struct {
+	V1Alpha1Mode machinedruntime.Mode
+}
 
 // Name implements controller.Controller interface.
 func (ctrl *VolumeConfigController) Name() string {
@@ -291,8 +296,14 @@ func (ctrl *VolumeConfigController) manageStateNoConfig(encryptionMeta *runtime.
 			TargetPath: constants.StateMountPoint,
 		}
 
+		match := labelVolumeMatchAndNonEmpty(constants.StatePartitionLabel)
+		if ctrl.V1Alpha1Mode.IsAgent() { // mark as missing
+			match = noMatch
+		}
+
+		// check here - make match false
 		vc.TypedSpec().Locator = block.LocatorSpec{
-			Match: labelVolumeMatchAndNonEmpty(constants.StatePartitionLabel),
+			Match: match,
 		}
 
 		if encryptionMeta != nil {

internal/app/machined/pkg/controllers/runtime/maintenance_service.go

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"google.golang.org/grpc"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc/credentials"
 
+	machinedruntime "github.com/siderolabs/talos/internal/app/machined/pkg/runtime"
 	"github.com/siderolabs/talos/internal/app/maintenance"
 	"github.com/siderolabs/talos/pkg/grpc/factory"
 	"github.com/siderolabs/talos/pkg/grpc/middleware/authz"
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ import (
 // MaintenanceServiceController runs the maintenance service based on the configuration.
 type MaintenanceServiceController struct {
 	SiderolinkPeerCheckFunc authz.SideroLinkPeerCheckFunc
+	V1Alpha1Mode            machinedruntime.Mode
 }
 
 // Name implements controller.Controller interface.
@@ -122,7 +124,7 @@ func (ctrl *MaintenanceServiceController) Run(ctx context.Context, r controller.
 	defer shutdownServer(context.Background())
 
 	cfgCh := make(chan machineryconfig.Provider)
-	srv := maintenance.New(cfgCh)
+	srv := maintenance.New(cfgCh, ctrl.V1Alpha1Mode)
 
 	injector := &authz.Injector{
 		Mode:                    authz.ReadOnlyWithAdminOnSiderolink,
@@ -289,7 +291,7 @@ func (ctrl *MaintenanceServiceController) Run(ctx context.Context, r controller.
 			lastCertificateFingerprint = fingerprint
 		}
 
-		if !usagePrinted && len(reachableAddresses) > 0 && lastCertificateFingerprint != "" {
+		if !usagePrinted && len(reachableAddresses) > 0 && lastCertificateFingerprint != "" && !ctrl.V1Alpha1Mode.IsAgent() {
 			firstIP := reachableAddresses[0]
 
 			logger.Sugar().Info("upload configuration using talosctl:")

internal/app/machined/pkg/runtime/mode.go

@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ const (
 	ModeContainer
 	// ModeMetal is the metal runtime mode.
 	ModeMetal
+	// ModeMetalAgent is the metal agent runtime mode.
+	ModeMetalAgent
 )
 
 const (
@@ -37,14 +39,15 @@ const (
 )
 
 const (
-	cloud     = "cloud"
-	container = "container"
-	metal     = "metal"
+	cloud      = "cloud"
+	container  = "container"
+	metal      = "metal"
+	metalAgent = "metal-agent"
 )
 
 // String returns the string representation of a Mode.
 func (m Mode) String() string {
-	return [...]string{cloud, container, metal}[m]
+	return [...]string{cloud, container, metal, metalAgent}[m]
 }
 
 // RequiresInstall implements config.RuntimeMode.
@@ -62,6 +65,11 @@ func (m Mode) Supports(feature ModeCapability) bool {
 	return (m.capabilities() & uint64(feature)) != 0
 }
 
+// IsAgent returns true if the mode is an agent mode (i.e. metal agent mode).
+func (m Mode) IsAgent() bool {
+	return m == ModeMetalAgent
+}
+
 // ParseMode returns a `Mode` that matches the specified string.
 func ParseMode(s string) (mod Mode, err error) {
 	switch s {
@@ -71,6 +79,8 @@ func ParseMode(s string) (mod Mode, err error) {
 		mod = ModeContainer
 	case metal:
 		mod = ModeMetal
+	case metalAgent:
+		mod = ModeMetalAgent
 	default:
 		return mod, fmt.Errorf("unknown runtime mode: %q", s)
 	}

internal/app/machined/pkg/runtime/v1alpha1/platform/metal/metal.go

@@ -43,7 +43,9 @@ const (
 )
 
 // Metal is a discoverer for non-cloud environments.
-type Metal struct{}
+type Metal struct {
+	IsAgent bool
+}
 
 // Name implements the platform.Platform interface.
 func (m *Metal) Name() string {
@@ -118,6 +120,10 @@ func (m *Metal) Configuration(ctx context.Context, r state.State) ([]byte, error
 
 // Mode implements the platform.Platform interface.
 func (m *Metal) Mode() runtime.Mode {
+	if m.IsAgent {
+		return runtime.ModeMetalAgent
+	}
+
 	return runtime.ModeMetal
 }
 

internal/app/machined/pkg/runtime/v1alpha1/platform/platform.go

@@ -113,7 +113,11 @@ func newPlatform(platform string) (p runtime.Platform, err error) {
 	case "hcloud":
 		p = &hcloud.Hcloud{}
 	case constants.PlatformMetal:
-		p = &metal.Metal{}
+		_, metalAgentCheckErr := os.Stat(constants.MetalAgentModeFlagPath)
+
+		p = &metal.Metal{
+			IsAgent: metalAgentCheckErr == nil,
+		}
 	case "opennebula":
 		p = &opennebula.OpenNebula{}
 	case "openstack":

internal/app/machined/pkg/runtime/v1alpha1/v1alpha1_sequencer.go

@@ -65,9 +65,12 @@ func (p PhaseList) AppendList(list PhaseList) PhaseList {
 // Initialize is the initialize sequence. The primary goals of this sequence is
 // to load the config and enforce kernel security requirements.
 func (*Sequencer) Initialize(r runtime.Runtime) []runtime.Phase {
+	mode := r.State().Platform().Mode()
 	phases := PhaseList{}
 
-	switch r.State().Platform().Mode() { //nolint:exhaustive
+	phases = phases.Append("logMode", LogMode)
+
+	switch mode { //nolint:exhaustive
 	case runtime.ModeContainer:
 		phases = phases.Append(
 			"systemRequirements",
@@ -118,6 +121,10 @@ func (*Sequencer) Initialize(r runtime.Runtime) []runtime.Phase {
 			ReloadMeta,
 		).AppendWithDeferredCheck(
 			func() bool {
+				if mode == runtime.ModeMetalAgent {
+					return false
+				}
+
 				disabledStr := procfs.ProcCmdline().Get(constants.KernelParamDashboardDisabled).First()
 				disabled, _ := strconv.ParseBool(pointer.SafeDeref(disabledStr)) //nolint:errcheck
 

internal/app/machined/pkg/runtime/v1alpha1/v1alpha1_sequencer_tasks.go

@@ -120,6 +120,15 @@ func WaitForUSB(runtime.Sequence, any) (runtime.TaskExecutionFunc, string) {
 	}, "waitForUSB"
 }
 
+// LogMode represents the LogMode task.
+func LogMode(runtime.Sequence, any) (runtime.TaskExecutionFunc, string) {
+	return func(ctx context.Context, logger *log.Logger, r runtime.Runtime) error {
+		logger.Printf("running in mode: %s", r.State().Platform().Mode())
+
+		return nil
+	}, "logMode"
+}
+
 // EnforceKSPPRequirements represents the EnforceKSPPRequirements task.
 func EnforceKSPPRequirements(runtime.Sequence, any) (runtime.TaskExecutionFunc, string) {
 	return func(ctx context.Context, logger *log.Logger, r runtime.Runtime) (err error) {

internal/app/machined/pkg/runtime/v1alpha2/v1alpha2_controller.go

@@ -96,7 +96,9 @@ func (ctrl *Controller) Run(ctx context.Context, drainer *runtime.Drainer) error
 		&block.LVMActivationController{},
 		&block.SystemDiskController{},
 		&block.UserDiskConfigController{},
-		&block.VolumeConfigController{},
+		&block.VolumeConfigController{
+			V1Alpha1Mode: ctrl.v1alpha1Runtime.State().Platform().Mode(),
+		},
 		&block.VolumeManagerController{},
 		&cluster.AffiliateMergeController{},
 		cluster.NewConfigController(),
@@ -314,7 +316,9 @@ func (ctrl *Controller) Run(ctx context.Context, drainer *runtime.Drainer) error
 			Drainer: drainer,
 		},
 		&runtimecontrollers.MaintenanceConfigController{},
-		&runtimecontrollers.MaintenanceServiceController{},
+		&runtimecontrollers.MaintenanceServiceController{
+			V1Alpha1Mode: ctrl.v1alpha1Runtime.State().Platform().Mode(),
+		},
 		&runtimecontrollers.MachineStatusController{
 			V1Alpha1Events: ctrl.v1alpha1Runtime.Events(),
 		},

internal/app/maintenance/server.go

@@ -44,17 +44,20 @@ type Server struct {
 	controller runtime.Controller
 	cfgCh      chan<- config.Provider
 	server     *grpc.Server
+
+	mode runtime.Mode
 }
 
 // New initializes and returns a [Server].
-func New(cfgCh chan<- config.Provider) *Server {
+func New(cfgCh chan<- config.Provider, mode runtime.Mode) *Server {
 	if runtimeController == nil {
 		panic("runtime controller is not set")
 	}
 
 	return &Server{
 		controller: runtimeController,
 		cfgCh:      cfgCh,
+		mode:       mode,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -73,6 +76,10 @@ func (s *Server) Register(obj *grpc.Server) {
 
 // ApplyConfiguration implements [machine.MachineServiceServer].
 func (s *Server) ApplyConfiguration(_ context.Context, in *machine.ApplyConfigurationRequest) (*machine.ApplyConfigurationResponse, error) {
+	if s.mode.IsAgent() {
+		return nil, status.Error(codes.Unimplemented, "API is not implemented in agent mode")
+	}
+
 	//nolint:exhaustive
 	switch in.Mode {
 	case machine.ApplyConfigurationRequest_TRY:
@@ -117,6 +124,10 @@ Node is running in maintenance mode and does not have a config yet.`
 
 // GenerateConfiguration implements the [machine.MachineServiceServer] interface.
 func (s *Server) GenerateConfiguration(ctx context.Context, in *machine.GenerateConfigurationRequest) (*machine.GenerateConfigurationResponse, error) {
+	if s.mode.IsAgent() {
+		return nil, status.Error(codes.Unimplemented, "API is not implemented in agent mode")
+	}
+
 	if in.MachineConfig == nil {
 		return nil, errors.New("invalid generate request")
 	}
@@ -162,6 +173,10 @@ func (s *Server) Version(ctx context.Context, _ *emptypb.Empty) (*machine.Versio
 
 // Upgrade initiates an upgrade.
 func (s *Server) Upgrade(ctx context.Context, in *machine.UpgradeRequest) (reply *machine.UpgradeResponse, err error) {
+	if s.mode.IsAgent() {
+		return nil, status.Error(codes.Unimplemented, "API is not implemented in agent mode")
+	}
+
 	if err = s.assertAdminRole(ctx); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -211,6 +226,10 @@ func (s *Server) Upgrade(ctx context.Context, in *machine.UpgradeRequest) (reply
 //
 //nolint:gocyclo
 func (s *Server) Reset(ctx context.Context, in *machine.ResetRequest) (*machine.ResetResponse, error) {
+	if s.mode.IsAgent() {
+		return nil, status.Error(codes.Unimplemented, "API is not implemented in agent mode")
+	}
+
 	if err := s.assertAdminRole(ctx); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}

pkg/machinery/cel/celenv/celenv.go

@@ -16,6 +16,16 @@ import (
 	"github.com/siderolabs/talos/pkg/machinery/api/resource/definitions/block"
 )
 
+// Empty is an empty CEL environment.
+var Empty = sync.OnceValue(func() *cel.Env {
+	env, err := cel.NewEnv()
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+
+	return env
+})
+
 // DiskLocator is a disk locator CEL environment.
 var DiskLocator = sync.OnceValue(func() *cel.Env {
 	var diskSpec block.DiskSpec

pkg/machinery/constants/constants.go

@@ -1094,6 +1094,9 @@ const (
 	//
 	// Note: 116 = 't' and 108 = 'l' in ASCII.
 	HostDNSAddress = "169.254.116.108"
+
+	// MetalAgentModeFlagPath is the path to the file indicating if the node is running in Metal Agent mode.
+	MetalAgentModeFlagPath = "/usr/local/etc/is-metal-agent"
 )
 
 // See https://linux.die.net/man/3/klogctl