Fix deferred restart racing boot: wait for boot to settle before restarting middlewared

The truecloud-mw-restart unit relied on After=multi-user.target /
After=ix-postinit.service, but systemd ordering cannot see middlewared's
internal boot work. On 25.10.4 the restart fired two seconds into
ix-reporting's reporting.start_service call and before the docker/apps
startup task ran, killing both for the whole boot: all apps down
(docker.status FAILED), no dashboard stats, SMB backend uninitialized.

The unit now runs patch/wait_restart.sh: drain the systemd boot job
queue (is-system-running --wait), poll docker.status until the state
machine leaves its transitional states, short grace period, then
try-restart. No Type=oneshot — a oneshot's start job sits in the very
queue the script waits on and would deadlock on itself. All waits are
bounded and fail open.

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,5 +1,51 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## v0.2.1 — 2026-07-09
+
+### Fixed
+
+- **Deferred restart raced the rest of boot, leaving all apps and dashboard
+  stats down.** The `truecloud-mw-restart` unit introduced in v0.0.4 relied
+  on systemd ordering (`After=multi-user.target`, `After=ix-postinit.service`),
+  which cannot see middlewared's *internal* boot work. Observed on 25.10.4:
+  the restart fired two seconds into `ix-reporting.service`'s
+  `midclt call reporting.start_service` and before the docker/apps startup
+  task (created on middlewared's system-ready event) had run. Both were
+  killed, and nothing retries them until the next boot — every app stayed
+  down (`docker.status` FAILED, the apps dataset never mounted), netdata
+  never started (no dashboard hardware stats), and the SMB middleware
+  backend was left uninitialized.
+
+  The transient unit now runs `patch/wait_restart.sh` instead of restarting
+  directly: it waits for the systemd boot job queue to drain
+  (`systemctl is-system-running --wait`, covering in-flight `ix-*` oneshots
+  such as ix-reporting), then polls `midclt call docker.status` until the
+  docker state machine leaves its transitional states, then allows a short
+  grace period for middleware-internal tasks with no queryable state before
+  issuing `systemctl try-restart middlewared`. The unit no longer sets
+  `Type=oneshot` — a oneshot's start job stays in the very queue the script
+  waits on and would deadlock on itself. All waits are bounded and fail
+  open: worst case the restart still happens, just later.
+
+  Recovery on a boot that already hit this (without rebooting):
+  `midclt call reporting.start_service` and
+  `midclt call docker.state.start_service true`.
+
+## v0.2.0 — 2026-07-08
+
+### Changed
+
+- **`create_task.py` now uses the TrueNAS middleware via `midclt` instead of the
+  deprecated `/api/v2.0` REST API**, which is removed in TrueNAS 26.04. Practical
+  effects:
+  - Run the script **on the TrueNAS host** — it uses the local middleware socket, so
+    it no longer needs a host address or API key.
+  - `--host`, `--api-key`, and `--insecure` are accepted but **ignored** (a deprecation
+    note is printed); they will be removed in a future release.
+  - `list-credentials` → `cloudsync.credentials.query`, `list-tasks` →
+    `cloud_backup.query`, `create` → `cloud_backup.create`.
+- Dropped the `ssl`/`urllib` HTTP client; no TLS certificate handling is needed anymore.
+
 ## v0.1.0 — 2026-07-08
 
 ### Added

README.md

@@ -66,9 +66,11 @@ directly.
 
 PREINIT scripts are executed *by* middlewared, which by then has already
 imported the stock modules — so after patching, `apply.sh` schedules a single
-detached middlewared restart (transient systemd unit `truecloud-mw-restart`,
+detached middlewared restart (transient systemd unit `truecloud-mw-restart`
-ordered after `multi-user.target`) that loads the patched modules once boot
+running `patch/wait_restart.sh`) that loads the patched modules once boot has
-completes. Expect one middlewared restart shortly after every boot; the UI
+*actually* settled: the script waits for the systemd boot job queue to drain
+and for the docker/apps state machine to reach a terminal state before
+restarting. Expect one middlewared restart shortly after every boot; the UI
 and API are briefly unavailable while it happens, and running services are
 not affected.
 
@@ -113,10 +115,15 @@ Two different things must survive two different events:
    imported the stock modules in step 1 and never re-imports, so the on-disk
    patch alone is not enough. `apply.sh` detects it was invoked by middlewared
    and creates a transient systemd unit (`truecloud-mw-restart`, via
-   `systemd-run --no-block`, ordered after `multi-user.target`) — detached and
+   `systemd-run --no-block`) running `patch/wait_restart.sh` — detached so it
-   deferred so it cannot disrupt the remainder of the boot sequence.
+   cannot disrupt the remainder of the boot sequence.
-5. **Once boot completes, middlewared restarts once** and imports the patched
+5. **Once boot has settled, middlewared restarts once** and imports the
-   modules from the overlay. S3/B2 backup support is now active until the next
+   patched modules from the overlay. `wait_restart.sh` holds the restart until
+   the systemd boot job queue has drained (so in-flight `ix-*` units like
+   `ix-reporting` finish first) *and* middlewared's docker/apps startup has
+   reached a terminal state — plain unit ordering cannot see either, and
+   restarting middlewared while they run kills apps and dashboard reporting
+   for the whole boot. S3/B2 backup support is then active until the next
    reboot, when the cycle repeats.
 
 What you will observe: one middlewared restart shortly after every boot (a
@@ -187,18 +194,18 @@ Check [CHANGELOG.md](CHANGELOG.md) to see what changed between versions.
 ## Creating a task via CLI
 
 If the UI still shows only Storj after refreshing (e.g. the JS bundle pattern
-changed in a new TrueNAS version), create tasks directly via the REST API:
+changed in a new TrueNAS version), create tasks directly. Run this **on the
+TrueNAS host** — it talks to the local middleware via `midclt`, so it needs no
+host address or API key:
 
 ```bash
 # Replace /mnt/tank/truenas-truecloud-patch with your clone path
 
 # List your cloud credentials to find the right ID
-python3 /mnt/tank/truenas-truecloud-patch/patch/create_task.py \
+python3 /mnt/tank/truenas-truecloud-patch/patch/create_task.py list-credentials
-    --host 192.168.1.1 --api-key <key> list-credentials
 
 # Create a task with a B2 credential (id=3)
-python3 /mnt/tank/truenas-truecloud-patch/patch/create_task.py \
+python3 /mnt/tank/truenas-truecloud-patch/patch/create_task.py create \
-    --host 192.168.1.1 --api-key <key> create \
     --name "tank-to-b2" \
     --path /mnt/tank/data \
     --credential 3 \
@@ -213,7 +220,8 @@ python3 /mnt/tank/truenas-truecloud-patch/patch/create_task.py \
 > which re-fetches all repo metadata from the provider every run — glacially slow
 > on large repos. Point it at a writable dir on a pool with free space.
 
-Get an API key from **System → API Keys → Add**.
+> Versions ≤ 0.1.0 used the `/api/v2.0` REST API with `--host`/`--api-key`; those
+> flags are now accepted-but-ignored (REST is removed in TrueNAS 26.04).
 
 ---
 
@@ -433,9 +441,7 @@ grep -c 'STORJ_IX.*S3.*B2' \
     | grep -v ':0'
 ```
 
-**`create_task.py` SSL error connecting to TrueNAS**
+**`create_task.py` — "midclt not found" or permission errors**
-`create_task.py` talks to the **TrueNAS API**, not your S3 endpoint, and
+`create_task.py` now talks to the local middleware via `midclt`, so run it **on
-verifies its TLS certificate. If your NAS uses a self-signed certificate,
+the TrueNAS host** (not remotely) as a user with middleware access (root). There
-pass `--insecure` — but be aware this disables certificate verification for
+is no HTTPS/API-key call anymore, so there is no TLS certificate to configure.
-the API call that transmits your TrueNAS API key. Adding your NAS certificate
-to your system's trust store is safer.

patch/apply.sh

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 # Derive PATCH_DIR from this script's location (parent of the patch/ directory).
 PATCH_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd)"
 LOG="$PATCH_DIR/apply.log"
-VERSION="0.0.4"
+VERSION="0.2.1"
 
 # Rotate log at 512 KB to avoid unbounded growth on a system volume.
 # Keep two prior generations (.1 and .2) so the last three boots are always available.
@@ -329,6 +329,14 @@ fi
 # ix-* boot units still need midclt to answer.
 # Boot context is detected by the parent process being middlewared; manual
 # runs (install.sh, recovery) never trigger a restart.
+#
+# The unit runs wait_restart.sh, which blocks until boot has actually
+# settled (systemd job queue drained, docker/apps state terminal) before
+# restarting. systemd ordering alone (After=multi-user.target, ≤ v0.0.4)
+# fired while ix-reporting and the docker/apps startup were still in flight
+# and killed both — apps and dashboard stats stayed down until the next
+# boot. No Type=oneshot: a oneshot's start job would hold the boot queue
+# open against the `is-system-running --wait` inside the script.
 
 echo "--- deferred restart ---"
 
@@ -340,12 +348,10 @@ else
     # A failed unit from an earlier attempt this boot would block systemd-run.
     systemctl reset-failed truecloud-mw-restart.service 2>/dev/null
     if systemd-run --no-block --collect --unit=truecloud-mw-restart \
-           --property=Type=oneshot \
+           /bin/bash "$PATCH_DIR/patch/wait_restart.sh"; then
-           --property=After=multi-user.target \
-           --property=After=ix-postinit.service \
-           systemctl try-restart middlewared; then
         echo "OK: Scheduled deferred middlewared restart (unit: truecloud-mw-restart)."
-        echo "    Backend patch becomes active once boot completes."
+        echo "    It waits for boot to fully settle (apps started, reporting up),"
+        echo "    then restarts middlewared so the backend patch actually loads."
     else
         echo "WARNING: Could not schedule deferred restart — backend patch is on disk but NOT loaded."
         echo "  Activate manually: systemctl restart middlewared"

patch/create_task.py

@@ -3,22 +3,24 @@
 create_task.py — create TrueNAS TrueCloud Backup tasks with S3 or B2 credentials.
 
 The TrueNAS UI normally restricts the credential dropdown to Storj only.
-This script bypasses that restriction by calling the REST API directly.
+This script bypasses that restriction by talking to the TrueNAS middleware
+directly via `midclt` (the /api/v2.0 REST API is removed in TrueNAS 26.04).
 
 Compatible providers (after the truecloud-patch backend patch is applied):
   S3     — any S3-compatible endpoint (AWS, Wasabi, Cloudflare R2, MinIO, …)
   B2     — Backblaze B2 native API
   STORJ_IX — Storj (unchanged, always worked)
 
-Requires a TrueNAS API key: UI → System → API Keys → Add.
+Run this ON the TrueNAS host — it uses the local middleware socket via `midclt`,
+so no host address or API key is needed.
 
 Examples
 --------
 List available cloud credentials:
-    python3 create_task.py --host 192.168.1.1 --api-key <key> list-credentials
+    python3 create_task.py list-credentials
 
 Create a task backed by a B2 credential (id=3):
-    python3 create_task.py --host 192.168.1.1 --api-key <key> create \\
+    python3 create_task.py create \\
         --name "tank-to-b2" \\
         --path /mnt/tank/data \\
         --credential 3 \\
@@ -28,7 +30,7 @@ Create a task backed by a B2 credential (id=3):
         --keep-last 14
 
 Create a task using an S3-compatible credential (Wasabi, R2, etc.):
-    python3 create_task.py --host 192.168.1.1 --api-key <key> create \\
+    python3 create_task.py create \\
         --name "tank-to-wasabi" \\
         --path /mnt/tank/data \\
         --credential 5 \\
@@ -37,54 +39,44 @@ Create a task using an S3-compatible credential (Wasabi, R2, etc.):
         --password "restic-repo-password"
 
 List existing TrueCloud Backup tasks:
-    python3 create_task.py --host 192.168.1.1 --api-key <key> list-tasks
+    python3 create_task.py list-tasks
 """
 
 import argparse
 import calendar
 import json
 import os
-import ssl
 import subprocess
 import sys
 import time
-import urllib.error
-import urllib.request
 
-__version__ = "0.1.0"
+__version__ = "0.2.0"
 
 _PATCH_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
 _STATUS_FILE = os.path.join(_PATCH_DIR, "hook_status.json")
 
 
-def make_client(host, api_key, insecure=False):
+def midclt_call(method, *args):
-    """Return a callable that makes authenticated REST API calls."""
+    """Call a middleware method locally via `midclt`, the supported JSON-RPC transport
-    base = f"https://{host}/api/v2.0"
+    that replaces the deprecated /api/v2.0 REST API (removed in TrueNAS 26.04). Must run
-    headers = {
+    on the TrueNAS host. Each arg is JSON-encoded (a dict for create; none for queries).
-        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
+    Exits with a clear message on failure."""
-        "Content-Type": "application/json",
+    cmd = ["midclt", "call", method] + [json.dumps(a) for a in args]
-    }
-    ctx = ssl.create_default_context()
-    if insecure:
-        ctx.check_hostname = False
-        ctx.verify_mode = ssl.CERT_NONE
-
-    def call(method, path, body=None):
-        url = base + path
-        data = json.dumps(body).encode() if body is not None else None
-        req = urllib.request.Request(url, data=data, headers=headers, method=method)
     try:
-            with urllib.request.urlopen(req, context=ctx) as resp:
+        proc = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=120)
-                return json.loads(resp.read())
+    except FileNotFoundError:
-        except urllib.error.HTTPError as exc:
+        print("ERROR: `midclt` not found — run this script ON the TrueNAS host.",
-            detail = exc.read().decode(errors="replace")
+              file=sys.stderr)
-            print(f"HTTP {exc.code} {exc.reason}: {detail}", file=sys.stderr)
         sys.exit(1)
-        except urllib.error.URLError as exc:
+    except subprocess.SubprocessError as exc:
-            print(f"Connection error: {exc.reason}", file=sys.stderr)
+        print(f"ERROR: midclt call failed: {exc}", file=sys.stderr)
         sys.exit(1)
-
+    if proc.returncode != 0:
-    return call
+        print(f"ERROR: midclt {method}: {(proc.stderr or proc.stdout).strip()}",
+              file=sys.stderr)
+        sys.exit(1)
+    out = proc.stdout.strip()
+    return json.loads(out) if out else None
 
 
 # ── Sub-commands ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -185,8 +177,8 @@ def _provider_type(cred):
     return p or "?"
 
 
-def cmd_list_credentials(client, _args):
+def cmd_list_credentials(_args):
-    creds = client("GET", "/cloudsync/credentials")
+    creds = midclt_call("cloudsync.credentials.query")
     if not creds:
         print("No cloud credentials configured.")
         return
@@ -196,8 +188,8 @@ def cmd_list_credentials(client, _args):
         print(f"{c['id']:>4}  {_provider_type(c):<14}  {c['name']}")
 
 
-def cmd_list_tasks(client, _args):
+def cmd_list_tasks(_args):
-    tasks = client("GET", "/cloud_backup")
+    tasks = midclt_call("cloud_backup.query")
     if not tasks:
         print("No TrueCloud Backup tasks configured.")
         return
@@ -209,7 +201,7 @@ def cmd_list_tasks(client, _args):
         print(f"{t['id']:>4}  {enabled:<8}  {ptype:<14}  {t.get('description', '')}")
 
 
-def cmd_create(client, args):
+def cmd_create(args):
     parts = args.schedule.split()
     if len(parts) != 5:
         print(
@@ -253,7 +245,7 @@ def cmd_create(client, args):
             file=sys.stderr,
         )
 
-    result = client("POST", "/cloud_backup", body)
+    result = midclt_call("cloud_backup.create", body)
     try:
         print(f"Created task id={result['id']}  name={result['description']!r}")
     except (KeyError, TypeError):
@@ -269,14 +261,12 @@ def main():
         epilog=__doc__.split("Examples")[1] if __doc__ and "Examples" in __doc__ else "",
     )
     p.add_argument("--version", "-V", action="version", version=f"truecloud-patch {__version__}")
-    p.add_argument("--host", default=None, metavar="HOST",
+    # Deprecated & ignored: the tool now uses the local middleware via `midclt` (the
-                   help="TrueNAS hostname or IP address (required except for verify)")
+    # /api/v2.0 REST API is removed in TrueNAS 26.04), so it must run ON the TrueNAS
-    p.add_argument("--api-key", default=None, metavar="KEY",
+    # host and needs no host/API key. Kept accepted-but-ignored for compatibility.
-                   help="TrueNAS API key — System → API Keys (required except for verify)")
+    p.add_argument("--host", default=None, help=argparse.SUPPRESS)
-    p.add_argument("--insecure", action="store_true",
+    p.add_argument("--api-key", default=None, help=argparse.SUPPRESS)
-                   help="Skip TLS certificate verification (self-signed certs). "
+    p.add_argument("--insecure", action="store_true", help=argparse.SUPPRESS)
-                        "WARNING: exposes your API key to network interception. "
-                        "Prefer adding your cert to the trust store instead.")
 
     sub = p.add_subparsers(dest="cmd", required=True)
 
@@ -323,16 +313,17 @@ def main():
         cmd_verify()
         return
 
-    if not args.host or not args.api_key:
+    if args.host or args.api_key or args.insecure:
-        p.error("--host and --api-key are required for this command")
+        print("NOTE: --host/--api-key/--insecure are deprecated and ignored; this tool "
+              "now uses the local middleware (midclt) and must run on the TrueNAS host.",
+              file=sys.stderr)
 
-    client = make_client(args.host, args.api_key, args.insecure)
     if args.cmd == "list-credentials":
-        cmd_list_credentials(client, args)
+        cmd_list_credentials(args)
     elif args.cmd == "list-tasks":
-        cmd_list_tasks(client, args)
+        cmd_list_tasks(args)
     elif args.cmd == "create":
-        cmd_create(client, args)
+        cmd_create(args)
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":

patch/wait_restart.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# patch/wait_restart.sh — payload of the transient `truecloud-mw-restart`
+# unit that apply.sh schedules in boot context (Step 3).
+#
+# Why not restart middlewared directly from the unit: systemd ordering
+# (`After=multi-user.target`, used up to v0.0.4) cannot see middlewared's
+# *internal* boot work. When the boot targets are reached, two things are
+# typically still in flight inside middlewared:
+#
+#   - ix-reporting.service's `midclt call reporting.start_service` (netdata,
+#     which feeds the dashboard hardware stats), and
+#   - the docker/apps startup task middlewared creates on its own
+#     system-ready event (`docker.state.start_service`).
+#
+# Restarting middlewared while those run kills them, and nothing retries
+# them until the next boot: every app stays down (`docker.status` FAILED),
+# the dashboard shows no stats, and middleware-internal service state (e.g.
+# the SMB backend) is left uninitialized. Observed on 25.10.4 with v0.0.4.
+#
+# So this script waits for both layers to settle before restarting. Every
+# wait is bounded and fails open: worst case the restart still happens, just
+# later — a restart on a settled system is harmless (docker, apps and
+# netdata are independent processes; only the middleware API blips).
+#
+# NOTE: the unit must NOT be Type=oneshot. A oneshot's start job stays in
+# the systemd job queue until the process exits, and `is-system-running
+# --wait` below waits for that same queue to drain — the unit would deadlock
+# on itself until the timeout. apply.sh schedules this with the default
+# service type, whose start job completes at fork.
+
+# 1. systemd layer: wait for the boot job queue to drain. This covers every
+#    ix-* oneshot still activating, including ix-reporting's in-flight midclt
+#    call. The exit code is irrelevant — a "degraded" boot (any unrelated
+#    failed unit) is still a finished boot. The timeout only guards against
+#    a boot that never settles (e.g. a unit stuck on a network wait).
+timeout 900 systemctl is-system-running --wait > /dev/null 2>&1
+
+# 2. middlewared layer: poll the docker state machine until it leaves the
+#    transitional states (PENDING/INITIALIZING/STOPPING/MIGRATING — see
+#    middlewared/plugins/docker/state_utils.py). An empty answer means
+#    midclt could not respond at all; keep waiting. Cap at 10 minutes.
+for _ in $(seq 1 120); do
+    _status=$(midclt call docker.status 2>/dev/null \
+                  | grep -oE '"status": "[A-Z_]+"' | cut -d'"' -f4)
+    case "$_status" in
+        RUNNING|STOPPED|UNCONFIGURED|FAILED|MIGRATION_FAILED) break ;;
+    esac
+    sleep 5
+done
+
+# 3. Grace period for middleware-internal ready-event tasks that expose no
+#    queryable state (smb.configure and friends). Bounded insurance.
+sleep 30
+
+exec systemctl try-restart middlewared