write_files as a specific user fails if folder is owned by root

[rajannpatel]

Bug report

Steps to reproduce the problem

Use this cloud-init.yaml file:

#cloud-config

users:
  - name: asterisk
    gecos: 'Asterisk User'
    groups: users
    sudo: ['ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL']
    shell: /bin/bash
    lock_passwd: true

write_files:
  - path: /var/log/asterisk/empty.log
    owner: asterisk:asterisk
    permissions: '0664'
    content: |
      ---LOG BEGINS---

The file does not get written to /var/log/asterisk/empty.log
Remove owner: asterisk:asterisk and try again, voila, it works.

Environment details

• Cloud-init version: cloud-init 24.4-0ubuntu1~24.04.2
• Operating System Distribution: Ubuntu 24.04.2
• Cloud provider, platform or installer type: Google Cloud

cloud-init logs

https://pastebin.canonical.com/p/7njH9PswGW/

[TheRealFalcon]

@rajannpatel , if you add defer: true to your write_files definition, I think it should work:

write_files:
  - path: /var/log/asterisk/empty.log
    owner: asterisk:asterisk
    permissions: "0664"
    defer: true
    content: |
      ---LOG BEGINS---

By default, write_files runs before users and groups get created, but defer tells it to run later in boot.