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Explore how to implement unified configuration management patterns across embedded Linux systems in this conference talk from the Linux Plumbers Conference. Learn about layered configuration models already used by systemd, Debian, and Red Hat that utilize /usr defaults, /etc overrides, and /run for ephemeral state to make packaging, updates, and administration safer and more predictable. Discover how systemd implements this approach directly through tools like systemd-confext for versioned, read-only /etc overlays, while Debian and Fedora generalize the concept through conf.d directories for configuration fragments. Examine how embedded, edge, and appliance build systems could adopt these proven patterns by relying on sane defaults in /usr and user-supplied fragments in /etc/conf.d to support read-only root filesystems, easy factory resets, and reliable full-system upgrades. Understand the increasing importance of these capabilities for critical infrastructure deployments and regulatory compliance under frameworks like the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). Investigate how applications beyond systemd could adopt the same layered approach to create more consistent and resilient configuration handling across the entire Linux ecosystem, with the ultimate goal of unifying these established patterns into a comprehensive, ecosystem-wide configuration model for embedded and related Linux use cases.
