Merge "Deprecate PReP partition support?"

ironic_python_agent/disk_utils.py

@@ -296,6 +296,9 @@ def make_partitions(dev, root_mb, swap_mb, ephemeral_mb,
     # here.
     if (cpu_arch.startswith("ppc64") and boot_mode == "bios"
             and boot_option == "local"):
+        LOG.warning("PReP partition support is deprecated and will be "
+                    "removed in a future release. PowerPC (ppc64*) hardware "
+                    "support is being phased out.")
         LOG.debug("Add PReP boot partition (8 MB) to device: "
                   "%(dev)s for node %(node)s",
                   {'dev': dev, 'node': node_uuid})

ironic_python_agent/extensions/image.py

@@ -203,6 +203,9 @@ def _install_grub2(device, root_uuid, efi_system_part_uuid=None,
 
         # For power we want to install grub directly onto the PreP partition
         if prep_boot_part_uuid:
+            LOG.warning("PReP partition support is deprecated and will be "
+                        "removed in a future release. PowerPC (ppc64*) "
+                        "hardware support is being phased out.")
             device = partition_utils.get_partition(
                 device, uuid=prep_boot_part_uuid)
 
@@ -700,6 +703,11 @@ class ImageExtension(base.BaseAgentExtension):
         else:
             ignore_failure = ignore_bootloader_failure
 
+        if prep_boot_part_uuid:
+            LOG.warning("PReP partition support is deprecated and will be "
+                        "removed in a future release. PowerPC (ppc64*) "
+                        "hardware support is being phased out.")
+
         try:
             if _efi_boot_setup(device, efi_system_part_uuid, target_boot_mode):
                 return

ironic_python_agent/partition_utils.py

@@ -332,6 +332,9 @@ def work_on_disk(dev, root_mb, swap_mb, ephemeral_mb, ephemeral_format,
     }
 
     if cpu_arch.startswith('ppc'):
+        LOG.warning("PReP partition support is deprecated and will be "
+                    "removed in a future release. PowerPC (ppc64*) "
+                    "hardware support is being phased out.")
         uuids_to_return[
             'PReP Boot partition uuid'
         ] = part_dict.get('PReP Boot partition')

ironic_python_agent/raid_utils.py

@@ -320,7 +320,8 @@ def get_volume_name_of_raid_device(raid_device, examine=False):
     return None
 
 
-# TODO(rg): handle PreP boot parts relocation as well
+# NOTE(cid): PReP partition support is deprecated and will be removed in a
+# future release. RAID support for PReP partitions will not be implemented.
 def prepare_boot_partitions_for_softraid(device, holders, efi_part,
                                          target_boot_mode):
     """Prepare boot partitions when relevant.

releasenotes/notes/deprecate-prep-partition-support-b80be860deb3c316.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+---
+deprecations:
+  - |
+    PReP (PowerPC Reference Platform) partition support is now deprecated and
+    will be removed in a future release. This affects ppc64* (PowerPC 64-bit)
+    hardware support. While POWER hardware remains an active platform, it
+    represents a small, specialized share of typical ironic-python-agent
+    deployment patterns.
+
+    The feature was originally added to support booting partition images
+    locally on PowerPC hardware, but usage in the ironic-python-agent
+    ecosystem may be limited.
+
+    Note that RAID support for PReP partitions was never implemented and
+    will not be added before removal.
+
+    Users with ppc64* hardware deployments should plan to migrate to
+    alternative solutions or contact the Ironic community if they have
+    specific requirements.