Replacing _backend for _platform class attribute in ResourceManager
[nepi.git] / src / nepi / resources / linux / node.py
index 1163f6d..e63a92e 100644 (file)
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@
 #
 # Author: Alina Quereilhac <alina.quereilhac@inria.fr>
 
-from nepi.execution.attribute import Attribute, Flags
-from nepi.execution.resource import ResourceManager, clsinit, ResourceState, \
-        reschedule_delay
+from nepi.execution.attribute import Attribute, Flags, Types
+from nepi.execution.resource import ResourceManager, clsinit_copy, \
+        ResourceState
 from nepi.resources.linux import rpmfuncs, debfuncs 
 from nepi.util import sshfuncs, execfuncs
 from nepi.util.sshfuncs import ProcStatus
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import collections
 import os
 import random
 import re
+import socket
 import tempfile
 import time
 import threading
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ class OSType:
     UBUNTU = "ubuntu"
     DEBIAN = "debian"
 
-@clsinit
+@clsinit_copy
 class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
     """
     .. class:: Class Args :
@@ -141,46 +142,62 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
                     source compilation, file download, etc)
 
     """
-    _rtype = "LinuxNode"
+    _rtype = "linux::Node"
     _help = "Controls Linux host machines ( either localhost or a host " \
             "that can be accessed using a SSH key)"
-    _backend_type = "linux"
+    _platform = "linux"
 
     @classmethod
     def _register_attributes(cls):
         hostname = Attribute("hostname", "Hostname of the machine",
-                flags = Flags.ExecReadOnly)
+                flags = Flags.Design)
 
         username = Attribute("username", "Local account username", 
                 flags = Flags.Credential)
 
-        port = Attribute("port", "SSH port", flags = Flags.ExecReadOnly)
+        port = Attribute("port", "SSH port", flags = Flags.Design)
         
         home = Attribute("home",
                 "Experiment home directory to store all experiment related files",
-                flags = Flags.ExecReadOnly)
+                flags = Flags.Design)
         
         identity = Attribute("identity", "SSH identity file",
                 flags = Flags.Credential)
         
         server_key = Attribute("serverKey", "Server public key", 
-                flags = Flags.ExecReadOnly)
+                flags = Flags.Design)
         
         clean_home = Attribute("cleanHome", "Remove all nepi files and directories "
                 " from node home folder before starting experiment", 
-                flags = Flags.ExecReadOnly)
+                type = Types.Bool,
+                default = False,
+                flags = Flags.Design)
 
         clean_experiment = Attribute("cleanExperiment", "Remove all files and directories " 
                 " from a previous same experiment, before the new experiment starts", 
-                flags = Flags.ExecReadOnly)
+                type = Types.Bool,
+                default = False,
+                flags = Flags.Design)
         
         clean_processes = Attribute("cleanProcesses", 
                 "Kill all running processes before starting experiment",
-                flags = Flags.ExecReadOnly)
+                type = Types.Bool,
+                default = False,
+                flags = Flags.Design)
         
         tear_down = Attribute("tearDown", "Bash script to be executed before " + \
                 "releasing the resource",
-                flags = Flags.ExecReadOnly)
+                flags = Flags.Design)
+
+        gateway_user = Attribute("gatewayUser", "Gateway account username",
+                flags = Flags.Design)
+
+        gateway = Attribute("gateway", "Hostname of the gateway machine",
+                flags = Flags.Design)
+
+        ip = Attribute("ip", "Linux host public IP address. "
+                   "Must not be modified by the user unless hostname is 'localhost'",
+                    flags = Flags.Design)
 
         cls._register_attribute(hostname)
         cls._register_attribute(username)
@@ -192,13 +209,16 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
         cls._register_attribute(clean_experiment)
         cls._register_attribute(clean_processes)
         cls._register_attribute(tear_down)
+        cls._register_attribute(gateway_user)
+        cls._register_attribute(gateway)
+        cls._register_attribute(ip)
 
     def __init__(self, ec, guid):
         super(LinuxNode, self).__init__(ec, guid)
         self._os = None
         # home directory at Linux host
         self._home_dir = ""
-        
+
         # lock to prevent concurrent applications on the same node,
         # to execute commands at the same time. There are potential
         # concurrency issues when using SSH to a same host from 
@@ -219,9 +239,13 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
            home = os.path.join(self._home_dir, home) 
         return home
 
+    @property
+    def nepi_home(self):
+        return os.path.join(self.home_dir, ".nepi")
+
     @property
     def usr_dir(self):
-        return os.path.join(self.home_dir, "nepi-usr")
+        return os.path.join(self.nepi_home, "nepi-usr")
 
     @property
     def lib_dir(self):
@@ -241,7 +265,7 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
 
     @property
     def exp_dir(self):
-        return os.path.join(self.home_dir, "nepi-exp")
+        return os.path.join(self.nepi_home, "nepi-exp")
 
     @property
     def exp_home(self):
@@ -260,7 +284,7 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
         if self._os:
             return self._os
 
-        if (not self.get("hostname") or not self.get("username")):
+        if not self.localhost and not self.get("username"):
             msg = "Can't resolve OS, insufficient data "
             self.error(msg)
             raise RuntimeError, msg
@@ -273,6 +297,8 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
             self._os = OSType.FEDORA_12
         elif out.find("Fedora release 14") == 0:
             self._os = OSType.FEDORA_14
+        elif out.find("Fedora release") == 0:
+            self._os = OSType.FEDORA
         elif out.find("Debian") == 0: 
             self._os = OSType.DEBIAN
         elif out.find("Ubuntu") ==0:
@@ -290,25 +316,16 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
         # To work arround this, repeat the operation N times or
         # until the result is not empty string
         out = ""
-        retrydelay = 1.0
-        for i in xrange(2):
-            try:
-                (out, err), proc = self.execute("cat /etc/issue", 
-                        retry = 5,
-                        with_lock = True,
-                        blocking = True)
-
-                if out.strip() != "":
-                    return out
-            except:
-                trace = traceback.format_exc()
-                msg = "Error detecting OS: %s " % trace
-                self.error(msg, out, err)
-                return False
-
-            time.sleep(min(30.0, retrydelay))
-            retrydelay *= 1.5
-
+        try:
+            (out, err), proc = self.execute("cat /etc/issue", 
+                    with_lock = True,
+                    blocking = True)
+        except:
+            trace = traceback.format_exc()
+            msg = "Error detecting OS: %s " % trace
+            self.error(msg, out, err)
+        
+        return out
 
     @property
     def use_deb(self):
@@ -321,13 +338,11 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
 
     @property
     def localhost(self):
-        return self.get("hostname") in ['localhost', '127.0.0.7', '::1']
+        return self.get("hostname") in ['localhost', '127.0.0.1', '::1']
 
-    def provision(self):
+    def do_provision(self):
         # check if host is alive
         if not self.is_alive():
-            self.fail()
-            
             msg = "Deploy failed. Unresponsive node %s" % self.get("hostname")
             self.error(msg)
             raise RuntimeError, msg
@@ -343,44 +358,56 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
         if self.get("cleanExperiment"):
             self.clean_experiment()
     
-        # Create shared directory structure
-        self.mkdir(self.lib_dir)
-        self.mkdir(self.bin_dir)
-        self.mkdir(self.src_dir)
-        self.mkdir(self.share_dir)
+        # Create shared directory structure and node home directory
+        paths = [self.lib_dir, 
+            self.bin_dir, 
+            self.src_dir, 
+            self.share_dir, 
+            self.node_home]
 
-        # Create experiment node home directory
-        self.mkdir(self.node_home)
+        self.mkdir(paths)
 
-        super(LinuxNode, self).provision()
+        # Get Public IP address if possible
+        if not self.get("ip"):
+            ip = None
 
-    def deploy(self):
+            if self.localhost:
+                ip = socket.gethostbyname(socket.gethostname())
+            else:
+                try:
+                    ip = socket.gethostbyname(self.get("hostname"))
+                except:
+                    msg = "DNS can not resolve hostname %s" % self.get("hostname") 
+                    self.debug(msg)
+
+            self.set("ip", ip)
+
+        super(LinuxNode, self).do_provision()
+
+    def do_deploy(self):
         if self.state == ResourceState.NEW:
-            try:
-                self.discover()
-                self.provision()
-            except:
-                self.fail()
-                raise
+            self.info("Deploying node")
+            self.do_discover()
+            self.do_provision()
 
         # Node needs to wait until all associated interfaces are 
         # ready before it can finalize deployment
         from nepi.resources.linux.interface import LinuxInterface
-        ifaces = self.get_connected(LinuxInterface.rtype())
+        ifaces = self.get_connected(LinuxInterface.get_rtype())
         for iface in ifaces:
             if iface.state < ResourceState.READY:
-                self.ec.schedule(reschedule_delay, self.deploy)
+                self.ec.schedule(self.reschedule_delay, self.deploy)
                 return 
 
-        super(LinuxNode, self).deploy()
+        super(LinuxNode, self).do_deploy()
 
-    def release(self):
-        # Node needs to wait until all associated RMs are released
-        # to be released
+    def do_release(self):
         rms = self.get_connected()
         for rm in rms:
-            if rm.state < ResourceState.STOPPED:
-                self.ec.schedule(reschedule_delay, self.release)
+            # Node needs to wait until all associated RMs are released
+            # before it can be released
+            if rm.state != ResourceState.RELEASED:
+                self.ec.schedule(self.reschedule_delay, self.release)
                 return 
 
         tear_down = self.get("tearDown")
@@ -389,38 +416,53 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
 
         self.clean_processes()
 
-        super(LinuxNode, self).release()
+        super(LinuxNode, self).do_release()
 
     def valid_connection(self, guid):
         # TODO: Validate!
         return True
 
-    def clean_processes(self, killer = False):
+    def clean_processes(self):
         self.info("Cleaning up processes")
+
+        if self.localhost:
+            return 
         
-        if killer:
-            # Hardcore kill
-            cmd = ("sudo -S killall python tcpdump || /bin/true ; " +
-                "sudo -S killall python tcpdump || /bin/true ; " +
-                "sudo -S kill $(ps -N -T -o pid --no-heading | grep -v $PPID | sort) || /bin/true ; " +
-                "sudo -S killall -u root || /bin/true ; " +
-                "sudo -S killall -u root || /bin/true ; ")
-        else:
-            # Be gentler...
+        if self.get("username") != 'root':
             cmd = ("sudo -S killall tcpdump || /bin/true ; " +
-                "sudo -S killall tcpdump || /bin/true ; " +
-                "sudo -S killall -u %s || /bin/true ; " % self.get("username") +
                 "sudo -S killall -u %s || /bin/true ; " % self.get("username"))
+        else:
+            if self.state >= ResourceState.READY:
+                import pickle
+                pids = pickle.load(open("/tmp/save.proc", "rb"))
+                pids_temp = dict()
+                ps_aux = "ps aux |awk '{print $2,$11}'"
+                (out, err), proc = self.execute(ps_aux)
+                if len(out) != 0:
+                    for line in out.strip().split("\n"):
+                        parts = line.strip().split(" ")
+                        pids_temp[parts[0]] = parts[1]
+                    kill_pids = set(pids_temp.items()) - set(pids.items())
+                    kill_pids = ' '.join(dict(kill_pids).keys())
+
+                    cmd = ("killall tcpdump || /bin/true ; " +
+                        "kill $(ps aux | grep '[n]epi' | awk '{print $2}') || /bin/true ; " +
+                        "kill %s || /bin/true ; " % kill_pids)
+                else:
+                    cmd = ("killall tcpdump || /bin/true ; " +
+                        "kill $(ps aux | grep '[n]epi' | awk '{print $2}') || /bin/true ; ")
+            else:
+                cmd = ("killall tcpdump || /bin/true ; " +
+                    "kill $(ps aux | grep '[n]epi' | awk '{print $2}') || /bin/true ; ")
+
+        (out, err), proc = self.execute(cmd, retry = 1, with_lock = True)
 
-        out = err = ""
-        (out, err), proc = self.execute(cmd, retry = 1, with_lock = True) 
-            
     def clean_home(self):
         """ Cleans all NEPI related folders in the Linux host
         """
         self.info("Cleaning up home")
         
-        cmd = "cd %s ; find . -maxdepth 1 \( -name 'nepi-usr' -o -name 'nepi-exp' \) -execdir rm -rf {} + " % (
+        cmd = "cd %s ; find . -maxdepth 1 -name \.nepi -execdir rm -rf {} + " % (
                 self.home_dir )
 
         return self.execute(cmd, with_lock = True)
@@ -440,13 +482,10 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
 
     def execute(self, command,
             sudo = False,
-            stdin = None, 
             env = None,
             tty = False,
             forward_x11 = False,
-            timeout = None,
             retry = 3,
-            err_on_timeout = True,
             connect_timeout = 30,
             strict_host_checking = False,
             persistent = True,
@@ -459,29 +498,31 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
 
         if self.localhost:
             (out, err), proc = execfuncs.lexec(command, 
-                    user = user,
+                    user = self.get("username"), # still problem with localhost
                     sudo = sudo,
-                    stdin = stdin,
                     env = env)
         else:
             if with_lock:
+                # If the execute command is blocking, we don't want to keep
+                # the node lock. This lock is used to avoid race conditions
+                # when creating the ControlMaster sockets. A more elegant
+                # solution is needed.
                 with self._node_lock:
                     (out, err), proc = sshfuncs.rexec(
                         command, 
                         host = self.get("hostname"),
                         user = self.get("username"),
                         port = self.get("port"),
+                        gwuser = self.get("gatewayUser"),
+                        gw = self.get("gateway"),
                         agent = True,
                         sudo = sudo,
-                        stdin = stdin,
                         identity = self.get("identity"),
                         server_key = self.get("serverKey"),
                         env = env,
                         tty = tty,
                         forward_x11 = forward_x11,
-                        timeout = timeout,
                         retry = retry,
-                        err_on_timeout = err_on_timeout,
                         connect_timeout = connect_timeout,
                         persistent = persistent,
                         blocking = blocking, 
@@ -493,17 +534,16 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
                     host = self.get("hostname"),
                     user = self.get("username"),
                     port = self.get("port"),
+                    gwuser = self.get("gatewayUser"),
+                    gw = self.get("gateway"),
                     agent = True,
                     sudo = sudo,
-                    stdin = stdin,
                     identity = self.get("identity"),
                     server_key = self.get("serverKey"),
                     env = env,
                     tty = tty,
                     forward_x11 = forward_x11,
-                    timeout = timeout,
                     retry = retry,
-                    err_on_timeout = err_on_timeout,
                     connect_timeout = connect_timeout,
                     persistent = persistent,
                     blocking = blocking, 
@@ -519,19 +559,19 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
             stdout = 'stdout', 
             stderr = 'stderr', 
             sudo = False,
-            tty = False):
+            tty = False,
+            strict_host_checking = False):
         
         self.debug("Running command '%s'" % command)
         
         if self.localhost:
-            (out, err), proc = execfuncs.lspawn(command, pidfile, 
-                    stdout = stdout, 
-                    stderr = stderr, 
-                    stdin = stdin, 
+            (out, err), proc = execfuncs.lspawn(command, pidfile,
                     home = home, 
                     create_home = create_home, 
-                    sudo = sudo,
-                    user = user) 
+                    stdin = stdin or '/dev/null',
+                    stdout = stdout or '/dev/null',
+                    stderr = stderr or '/dev/null',
+                    sudo = sudo) 
         else:
             with self._node_lock:
                 (out, err), proc = sshfuncs.rspawn(
@@ -539,17 +579,20 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
                     pidfile = pidfile,
                     home = home,
                     create_home = create_home,
-                    stdin = stdin if stdin is not None else '/dev/null',
-                    stdout = stdout if stdout else '/dev/null',
-                    stderr = stderr if stderr else '/dev/null',
+                    stdin = stdin or '/dev/null',
+                    stdout = stdout or '/dev/null',
+                    stderr = stderr or '/dev/null',
                     sudo = sudo,
                     host = self.get("hostname"),
                     user = self.get("username"),
                     port = self.get("port"),
+                    gwuser = self.get("gatewayUser"),
+                    gw = self.get("gateway"),
                     agent = True,
                     identity = self.get("identity"),
                     server_key = self.get("serverKey"),
-                    tty = tty
+                    tty = tty,
+                    strict_host_checking = strict_host_checking
                     )
 
         return (out, err), proc
@@ -564,9 +607,12 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
                     host = self.get("hostname"),
                     user = self.get("username"),
                     port = self.get("port"),
+                    gwuser = self.get("gatewayUser"),
+                    gw = self.get("gateway"),
                     agent = True,
                     identity = self.get("identity"),
-                    server_key = self.get("serverKey")
+                    server_key = self.get("serverKey"),
+                    strict_host_checking = False
                     )
         
         return pidtuple
@@ -581,9 +627,12 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
                         host = self.get("hostname"),
                         user = self.get("username"),
                         port = self.get("port"),
+                        gwuser = self.get("gatewayUser"),
+                        gw = self.get("gateway"),
                         agent = True,
                         identity = self.get("identity"),
-                        server_key = self.get("serverKey")
+                        server_key = self.get("serverKey"),
+                        strict_host_checking = False
                         )
            
         return status
@@ -603,24 +652,28 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
                         host = self.get("hostname"),
                         user = self.get("username"),
                         port = self.get("port"),
+                        gwuser = self.get("gatewayUser"),
+                        gw = self.get("gateway"),
                         agent = True,
                         sudo = sudo,
                         identity = self.get("identity"),
-                        server_key = self.get("serverKey")
+                        server_key = self.get("serverKey"),
+                        strict_host_checking = False
                         )
 
         return (out, err), proc
 
     def copy(self, src, dst):
         if self.localhost:
-            (out, err), proc = execfuncs.lcopy(source, dest, 
-                    recursive = True,
-                    strict_host_checking = False)
+            (out, err), proc = execfuncs.lcopy(src, dst, 
+                    recursive = True)
         else:
             with self._node_lock:
                 (out, err), proc = sshfuncs.rcopy(
                     src, dst, 
                     port = self.get("port"),
+                    gwuser = self.get("gatewayUser"),
+                    gw = self.get("gateway"),
                     identity = self.get("identity"),
                     server_key = self.get("serverKey"),
                     recursive = True,
@@ -628,15 +681,21 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
 
         return (out, err), proc
 
-
-    def upload(self, src, dst, text = False, overwrite = True):
+    def upload(self, src, dst, text = False, overwrite = True,
+            raise_on_error = True):
         """ Copy content to destination
 
-           src  content to copy. Can be a local file, directory or a list of files
+        src  string with the content to copy. Can be:
+            - plain text
+            - a string with the path to a local file
+            - a string with a semi-colon separeted list of local files
+            - a string with a local directory
 
-           dst  destination path on the remote host (remote is always self.host)
+        dst  string with destination path on the remote host (remote is 
+            always self.host)
 
-           text src is text input, it must be stored into a temp file before uploading
+        text src is text input, it must be stored into a temp file before 
+        uploading
         """
         # If source is a string input 
         f = None
@@ -649,29 +708,50 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
             src = f.name
 
         # If dst files should not be overwritten, check that the files do not
-        # exits already 
+        # exits already
+        if isinstance(src, str):
+            src = map(str.strip, src.split(";"))
+    
         if overwrite == False:
             src = self.filter_existing_files(src, dst)
             if not src:
-                return ("", ""), None 
+                return ("", ""), None
 
         if not self.localhost:
             # Build destination as <user>@<server>:<path>
             dst = "%s@%s:%s" % (self.get("username"), self.get("hostname"), dst)
 
-        result = self.copy(src, dst)
+        ((out, err), proc) = self.copy(src, dst)
 
         # clean up temp file
         if f:
             os.remove(f.name)
 
-        return result
+        if err:
+            msg = " Failed to upload files - src: %s dst: %s" %  (";".join(src), dst) 
+            self.error(msg, out, err)
+            
+            msg = "%s out: %s err: %s" % (msg, out, err)
+            if raise_on_error:
+                raise RuntimeError, msg
+
+        return ((out, err), proc)
 
-    def download(self, src, dst):
+    def download(self, src, dst, raise_on_error = True):
         if not self.localhost:
             # Build destination as <user>@<server>:<path>
             src = "%s@%s:%s" % (self.get("username"), self.get("hostname"), src)
-        return self.copy(src, dst)
+
+        ((out, err), proc) = self.copy(src, dst)
+
+        if err:
+            msg = " Failed to download files - src: %s dst: %s" %  (";".join(src), dst) 
+            self.error(msg, out, err)
+
+            if raise_on_error:
+                raise RuntimeError, msg
+
+        return ((out, err), proc)
 
     def install_packages_command(self, packages):
         command = ""
@@ -686,7 +766,8 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
 
         return command
 
-    def install_packages(self, packages, home, run_home = None):
+    def install_packages(self, packages, home, run_home = None,
+            raise_on_error = True):
         """ Install packages in the Linux host.
 
         'home' is the directory to upload the package installation script.
@@ -703,11 +784,12 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
             stdout = "instpkg_stdout", 
             stderr = "instpkg_stderr",
             overwrite = False,
-            raise_on_error = True)
+            raise_on_error = raise_on_error)
 
         return (out, err), proc 
 
-    def remove_packages(self, packages, home, run_home = None):
+    def remove_packages(self, packages, home, run_home = None,
+            raise_on_error = True):
         """ Uninstall packages from the Linux host.
 
         'home' is the directory to upload the package un-installation script.
@@ -731,18 +813,35 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
             stdout = "rmpkg_stdout", 
             stderr = "rmpkg_stderr",
             overwrite = False,
-            raise_on_error = True)
+            raise_on_error = raise_on_error)
          
         return (out, err), proc 
 
-    def mkdir(self, path, clean = False):
+    def mkdir(self, paths, clean = False):
+        """ Paths is either a single remote directory path to create,
+        or a list of directories to create.
+        """
         if clean:
-            self.rmdir(path)
+            self.rmdir(paths)
+
+        if isinstance(paths, str):
+            paths = [paths]
+
+        cmd = " ; ".join(map(lambda path: "mkdir -p %s" % path, paths))
+
+        return self.execute(cmd, with_lock = True)
+
+    def rmdir(self, paths):
+        """ Paths is either a single remote directory path to delete,
+        or a list of directories to delete.
+        """
 
-        return self.execute("mkdir -p %s" % path, with_lock = True)
+        if isinstance(paths, str):
+            paths = [paths]
 
-    def rmdir(self, path):
-        return self.execute("rm -rf %s" % path, with_lock = True)
+        cmd = " ; ".join(map(lambda path: "rm -rf %s" % path, paths))
+
+        return self.execute(cmd, with_lock = True)
         
     def run_and_wait(self, command, home, 
             shfile = "cmd.sh",
@@ -755,7 +854,7 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
             stderr = "stderr", 
             sudo = False,
             tty = False,
-            raise_on_error = False):
+            raise_on_error = True):
         """
         Uploads the 'command' to a bash script in the host.
         Then runs the script detached in background in the host, and
@@ -962,35 +1061,25 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
             return True
 
         out = err = ""
+        msg = "Unresponsive host. Wrong answer. "
+
         # The underlying SSH layer will sometimes return an empty
         # output (even if the command was executed without errors).
         # To work arround this, repeat the operation N times or
         # until the result is not empty string
-        retrydelay = 1.0
-        for i in xrange(2):
-            try:
-                (out, err), proc = self.execute("echo 'ALIVE'",
-                        retry = 5,
-                        blocking = True,
-                        with_lock = True)
-        
-                if out.find("ALIVE") > -1:
-                    return True
-            except:
-                trace = traceback.format_exc()
-                msg = "Unresponsive host. Error reaching host: %s " % trace
-                self.error(msg, out, err)
-                return False
+        try:
+            (out, err), proc = self.execute("echo 'ALIVE'",
+                    blocking = True,
+                    with_lock = True)
+    
+            if out.find("ALIVE") > -1:
+                return True
+        except:
+            trace = traceback.format_exc()
+            msg = "Unresponsive host. Error reaching host: %s " % trace
 
-            time.sleep(min(30.0, retrydelay))
-            retrydelay *= 1.5
-
-        if out.find("ALIVE") > -1:
-            return True
-        else:
-            msg = "Unresponsive host. Wrong answer. "
-            self.error(msg, out, err)
-            return False
+        self.error(msg, out, err)
+        return False
 
     def find_home(self):
         """ Retrieves host home directory
@@ -999,37 +1088,28 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
         # output (even if the command was executed without errors).
         # To work arround this, repeat the operation N times or
         # until the result is not empty string
-        retrydelay = 1.0
-        for i in xrange(2):
-            try:
-                (out, err), proc = self.execute("echo ${HOME}",
-                        retry = 5,
-                        blocking = True,
-                        with_lock = True)
-        
-                if out.strip() != "":
-                    self._home_dir =  out.strip()
-                    break
-            except:
-                trace = traceback.format_exc()
-                msg = "Impossible to retrieve HOME directory" % trace
-                self.error(msg, out, err)
-                return False
-
-            time.sleep(min(30.0, retrydelay))
-            retrydelay *= 1.5
+        msg = "Impossible to retrieve HOME directory"
+        try:
+            (out, err), proc = self.execute("echo ${HOME}",
+                    blocking = True,
+                    with_lock = True)
+    
+            if out.strip() != "":
+                self._home_dir =  out.strip()
+        except:
+            trace = traceback.format_exc()
+            msg = "Impossible to retrieve HOME directory %s" % trace
 
         if not self._home_dir:
-            msg = "Impossible to retrieve HOME directory"
-            self.error(msg, out, err)
+            self.error(msg)
             raise RuntimeError, msg
 
     def filter_existing_files(self, src, dst):
         """ Removes files that already exist in the Linux host from src list
         """
         # construct a dictionary with { dst: src }
-        dests = dict(map(lambda x: ( os.path.join(dst, os.path.basename(x) ),  x ), 
-            src.strip().split(" ") ) ) if src.strip().find(" ") != -1 else dict({dst: src})
+        dests = dict(map(lambda s: (os.path.join(dst, os.path.basename(s)), s), src)) \
+                    if len(src) > 1 else dict({dst: src[0]})
 
         command = []
         for d in dests.keys():
@@ -1044,7 +1124,7 @@ class LinuxNode(ResourceManager):
                 del dests[d]
 
         if not dests:
-            return ""
+            return []
 
-        return " ".join(dests.values())
+        return dests.values()