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How to use bugzilla.kernel.org

Getting bug reports for components

The kernel.org bugzilla uses a mechanism that allows anyone to subscribe/unsubscribe from bug reports for specific components. This is done using virtual default assignees and "watched user" functionality of bugzilla.

Real assignees vs. virtual assignees

People maintaining various kernel modules change routinely and in order to make it easier for people to start/stop receiving bugzilla notices for various components, bugzilla.kernel.org often uses "virtual default assignees" like "drivers_foo@kernel-bugs.osdl.org" or "drivers_bar@kernel-bugs.kernel.org", which are not real deliverable addresses (on purpose). Maintainers then subscribe to bug reports that are assigned to these virtual addresses and are thus able to receive the bug reports without involving bugzilla administrators.

To start getting bug reports for a component

  1. Create an account on bugzilla.kernel.org if you do not yet have one
  2. Find out the default assignee for the component you are interested in:
    1. Click on "Browse" in the top bar
    2. Click on the category you are interested in
    3. Copy the email address of the default assignee for that component
  3. Once you have the default assignee's email address, click on "Preferences" in the top bar
  4. Select the "Email Preferences" tab
  5. Scroll to the bottom, where you will find the "User Watching" section
  6. Add the email address of the default assignee to the field. If you are watching multiple users, the entries are comma-separated.
  7. Submit changes

To stop receiving bug reports for a component

  1. Log in to bugzilla.kernel.org
  2. Click on "Preferences" in the top bar
  3. Select the "Email Preferences" tab
  4. Scroll to the bottom, where you will find the "User Watching" section
  5. Remove the email address you no longer want to shadow
  6. Submit changes

Sending bugmail to mailing lists

There is no One Correct Way to do it, but this is the recommended procedure, which will both allow you to control what kind of bugmail is sent to the mailing list, and will help keep spam down.

  1. Create an email account with a free service that allows you to filter messages both by subject and content, e.g. on Gmail. For the sake of example, let's say you create bugmail-korg-drivers-pci@gmail.com.
  2. Register that account on https://bugzilla.kernel.org and log in.
  3. Use the instructions from the section above to set up user watching for the default component assignee (drivers_pci@kernel-bugs.osdl.org in our example).
  4. Set up action filters in Gmail to control what kind of bugmail is forwarded (new bug reports, comments), and what kind shouldn't be (assignee, cc, subject changes, etc).

Why can't I edit bug component/description/etc?

You need to be added to the special "editbugs" group. Just send a request to support and you will be added to the group, allowing you to edit any aspect of a bug.

userdoc/bugzilla.1484927783.txt.gz · Last modified: 2017-01-20 15:56 by mricon