SecureDrop updater does not automatically appear in Tails 3.9~rc1

[emkll]

Description

After an upgrade to tails 3.9~rc1, the SecureDrop updater GUI does not appear on screen after a reboot when an update is required.

Steps to Reproduce

Update Tails device or vm to 3.9~rc1
git checkout 0.7.0 any other non-release branch/tag that is not 0.8.0

Expected Behavior

The SecureDrop Updater GUI should appear on screen

Actual Behavior

The SecureDrop Updater GUI does not appear on screen

Comments

I've tried both clean install and update

[kushaldas]

I will try to reproduce it now.

[kushaldas]

Environment Tails3.9~rc1

After setting up a new Tails device, make sure that you enable Additional software installation in the Persistence volume

./securedrop-admin setup step

While doing the ./securedrop-admin setup step, after the installation of all of the Debian packages, Tails will ask the following question (as in the screenshot). Make sure you click on the Install Every Time.

Move to an older release and reboot

git checkout 0.7.0
sudo poweroff

And restart the box, after enabling the persistence volume and adding one administrative password, the AutoUpdater GUI will show up.

@emkll Please verify the same steps and tell if you see something different.

[redshiftzero]

Does this just need a docs update? @emkll @kushaldas

[emkll]

Packages installed in the tails workstation are as follows: python-virtualenv, python-yaml, python-pip, ccontrol, virtualenv, libffi-dev, libssl-dev, libpython2.7-dev, and appear to be only used to setup the virtualenv.

In Tails < 3.9, the behavior was consistent with Install Only Once. Install Every Time might speed up ./securedrop-admin setup, but be otherwise be functionally identical, provided the workstation has internet access. I propose we update the docs and recommend Install Only Once, to minimize changes.

[redshiftzero]

Prior to closing, can you confirm @emkll that the initial report was due to some other issue?

[emkll]

Just tested this again twice, and both times the updater appears. Since I cannot reproduce, and based on reports in this ticket, I will close.

Note that as a result of discussion in this ticket , #3757 / #3759 were opened to clarify securedrop-admin setup behavior in Tails 3.9, as Tails 3.9 introduces apt persistence and a new notification appears at the top of the screen.