>> >The version in -current now has '-D' now too, but unfortunately
>> >etc/rc.d/ipmon has not yet been fixed to use it explicitly....
>> 
>> what do you mean?  the -D flag was added to ipmon_flags in
>> /etc/defaults/rc.conf last july, so there's no need for "explicit" use
>> of it.
>
>I mean that's the wrong way to use it.  Obviously there's been an
>problem with people not including '-D' in their own /etc/rc.conf
>settings, and if you think about it for a tiny wee moment longer you'll
>hopefully realise that in the way /etc/rc.d/ipmon invokes 'ipmon' the
>'-D' will _ALWAYS_ be absolutely required, and therefore the correct
>solution is to explicitly use '-D' in that invocation (and to not rely
>on admins keeping it in their /etc/rc.conf settings)!

that line of reasoning leads to believing that *all* the settings in
/etc/defaults/rc.conf should be set in the binaries, and only be able
to be turned *off* through the use of flags.  that's just not right.
the reason for flags and options is so that programs can serve
multiple tasks.  being started automatically at boot time is only one
task, and only hubris would lead one to believe that that was the best
purpose.

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