Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2026 04:35:38 +0000 From: bugzilla-noreply@freebsd.org To: ports-bugs@FreeBSD.org Subject: [Bug 297015] sysutils/py-google-compute-engine: Introduce new GCE Guest Agent and deprecate sysutils/py-google-compute-engine Message-ID: <bug-297015-7788@https.bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/>
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https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=297015 Bug ID: 297015 Summary: sysutils/py-google-compute-engine: Introduce new GCE Guest Agent and deprecate sysutils/py-google-compute-engine Product: Ports & Packages Version: Latest Hardware: Any OS: Any Status: New Severity: Affects Some People Priority: --- Component: Individual Port(s) Assignee: ports-bugs@FreeBSD.org Reporter: yagehu@google.com # Summary Google Cloud Platform (GCP) intends to modernize the Guest Agent running on FreeBSD instances. We propose adding `sysutils/google-guest-agent` (written in Go) to the Ports Tree, deprecating `sysutils/py-google-compute-engine`, and eventually updating the official FreeBSD GCE image build scripts to include the new agent by default. # Background & Motivation 1. End of Life for Legacy Agent: The legacy Python agent (`sysutils/py-google-compute-engine`) has not received upstream releases in 8 years and is formally unsupported by Google Cloud. 2. Feature Parity & Reliability: The Go-based `google-guest-agent` is the active, officially supported agent across all primary OS platforms on GCP. Porting it to FreeBSD ensures FreeBSD instances benefit from modern GCE features, ongoing security patches, performance improvements, and active maintenance directly from Google. 3. Working Diff: We have a working diff against the ports tree for `sysutils/google-guest-agent` (currently staged here: https://github.com/freebsd/freebsd-ports/pull/569). # Proposed Phased Migration Plan - Phase 1: Port Landing Land `sysutils/google-guest-agent` in the FreeBSD ports tree as a new port. - Phase 2: Deprecation Marking Mark `sysutils/py-google-compute-engine` as `DEPRECATED` in the ports tree, setting an `EXPIRATION_DATE` (e.g., 6–12 months out) while pointing users to `sysutils/google-guest-agent`. - Phase 3: Base Image Defaults Coordinate with the FreeBSD cloud team to update the official FreeBSD Google Compute Engine image creation tools/scripts (e.g., `release/tools/gce.conf`) to pre-install `sysutils/google-guest-agent` instead of the Python package. - Phase 4: Port Removal Remove `sysutils/py-google-compute-engine` from the ports tree upon reaching its expiration date. --- # Feedback Requested from the FreeBSD Community We would appreciate input from the FreeBSD Ports committers and Cloud team on: 1. **Transition Timeline:** Is a 6-month deprecation window for `py-google-compute-engine` appropriate for FreeBSD release cycles? 2. **Image Defaults:** Guidance on the preferred workflow for updating official FreeBSD GCE build release scripts. Best regards, Yage Hu, Saswat Padhi Google Cloud Platform Guest OS Team --- Comment #1 from Bugzilla Automation <bugzilla@FreeBSD.org> --- Maintainer informed via mail -- You are receiving this mail because: You are the assignee for the bug.home | help
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