EVOLUTION-MANAGER

Edit File: plugins_utils.lua

--
-- (C) 2019-20 - ntop.org
--

local plugins_utils = {}
local plugins_consts_utils = require("plugins_consts_utils")

local os_utils = require("os_utils")
local persistence = require("persistence")
local file_utils = require("file_utils")
require "lua_trace"

local dirs = ntop.getDirs()

-- enable debug tracing
local do_trace = false

plugins_utils.COMMUNITY_SOURCE_DIR = os_utils.fixPath(dirs.scriptdir .. "/plugins")
plugins_utils.PRO_SOURCE_DIR = os_utils.fixPath(dirs.installdir .. "/pro/scripts/pro_plugins")
plugins_utils.ENTERPRISE_SOURCE_DIR = os_utils.fixPath(dirs.installdir .. "/pro/scripts/enterprise_plugins")

local RUNTIME_PATHS = {}
local METADATA = nil

-- ##############################################

-- The runtime path can change when the user reloads the plugins.
-- We need to cache this into the same vm to ensure that all the lua
-- scripts into this vm use the same directory.
local cached_runtime_dir = nil

function plugins_utils.getRuntimePath()
  if(not cached_runtime_dir) then
    cached_runtime_dir = ntop.getCurrentPluginsDir()
  end

return(cached_runtime_dir)
end

local function getMetadataPath()
  return(os_utils.fixPath(plugins_utils.getRuntimePath() .. "/plugins_metadata.lua"))
end

-- ##############################################

local function clearInternalState()
  RUNTIME_PATHS = {}
  METADATA = nil
  cached_runtime_dir = nil
end

-- ##############################################

-- @brief Lists the all available plugins
-- @returns a sorted table with plugins as values.
-- @notes Plugins must be loaded based according to the sort order to honor dependencies
function plugins_utils.listPlugins()
  local plugins = {}
  local rv = {}
  local source_dirs = {{"community", plugins_utils.COMMUNITY_SOURCE_DIR}}
  local plugins_with_deps = {}

if ntop.isPro() then
    source_dirs[#source_dirs + 1] = {"pro", plugins_utils.PRO_SOURCE_DIR}

if ntop.isEnterprise() then
      source_dirs[#source_dirs + 1] = {"enterprise", plugins_utils.ENTERPRISE_SOURCE_DIR}
    end
  end

for _, source_conf in ipairs(source_dirs) do
    local edition = source_conf[1]
    local source_dir = source_conf[2]

for plugin_name in pairs(ntop.readdir(source_dir)) do
      local plugin_dir = os_utils.fixPath(source_dir .. "/" .. plugin_name)
      local plugin_info = os_utils.fixPath(plugin_dir .. "/manifest.lua")

if ntop.exists(plugin_info) then
        local metadata = dofile(plugin_info)
        local mandatory_fields = {"title", "description", "author"}

if(metadata == nil) then
          traceError(TRACE_ERROR, TRACE_CONSOLE, string.format("Could not load manifest.lua in '%s'", plugin_name))
          goto continue
        end

for _, field in pairs(mandatory_fields) do
          if(metadata[field] == nil) then
            traceError(TRACE_ERROR, TRACE_CONSOLE, string.format("Missing mandatory field '%s' in manifest.lua of '%s'", field, plugin_name))
            goto continue
          end
        end

if(metadata.disabled) then
          -- The plugin is disabled, skip it
          goto continue
        end

-- Augument information
        metadata.path = plugin_dir
        metadata.key = plugin_name
        metadata.edition = edition

if not table.empty(metadata.dependencies) then
          plugins_with_deps[plugin_name] = metadata
        else
          plugins[plugin_name] = metadata
          rv[#rv + 1] = metadata
        end
      else
        traceError(TRACE_ERROR, TRACE_CONSOLE, string.format("Missing manifest.lua in '%s'", plugin_name))
      end

::continue::
    end
  end

-- Check basic dependencies.
  -- No recursion is supported (e.g. dependency on a plugin which has dependencies itself)
  for plugin_name, metadata in pairs(plugins_with_deps) do
    local satisfied = true

for _, dep_name in pairs(metadata.dependencies) do
      if not plugins[dep_name] then
        satisfied = false

if do_trace then
          io.write(string.format("Skipping plugin '%s' with unmet depedendency ('%s')\n", plugin_name, dep_name))
        end

break
      end
    end

if satisfied then
      plugins[plugin_name] = metadata
      rv[#rv + 1] = metadata
    end
  end

return(rv)
end

-- ##############################################

local function init_runtime_paths()
  local runtime_path = plugins_utils.getRuntimePath()

RUNTIME_PATHS = {
    -- Definitions
    alert_definitions = os_utils.fixPath(runtime_path .. "/alert_definitions"),
    status_definitions = os_utils.fixPath(runtime_path .. "/status_definitions"),
    pro_alert_definitions = os_utils.fixPath(runtime_path .. "/alert_definitions/pro"),
    pro_status_definitions = os_utils.fixPath(runtime_path .. "/status_definitions/pro"),

-- Locales
    locales = os_utils.fixPath(runtime_path .. "/locales"),

-- Timeseries
    ts_schemas = os_utils.fixPath(runtime_path .. "/ts_schemas"),

-- Web Gui
    web_gui = os_utils.fixPath(runtime_path) .. "/scripts",
    menu_items = os_utils.fixPath(runtime_path) .. "/menu_items",

-- Alert endpoints
    alert_endpoints = os_utils.fixPath(runtime_path) .. "/alert_endpoints",

-- HTTP lint
    http_lint = os_utils.fixPath(runtime_path) .. "/http_lint",

-- User scripts
    interface_scripts = os_utils.fixPath(runtime_path .. "/callbacks/interface/interface"),
    host_scripts = os_utils.fixPath(runtime_path .. "/callbacks/interface/host"),
    network_scripts = os_utils.fixPath(runtime_path .. "/callbacks/interface/network"),
    flow_scripts = os_utils.fixPath(runtime_path .. "/callbacks/interface/flow"),
    syslog = os_utils.fixPath(runtime_path .. "/callbacks/system/syslog"),
    snmp_scripts = os_utils.fixPath(runtime_path .. "/callbacks/system/snmp_device"),
    system_scripts = os_utils.fixPath(runtime_path .. "/callbacks/system/system"),
  }
end

-- ##############################################

local function init_plugin_consts_ids(defs_dir, const_type)
   for fname in pairs(ntop.readdir(defs_dir) or {}) do
      if string.ends(fname, ".lua") then
	 local mod_fname = string.sub(fname, 1, string.len(fname) - 4)
	 plugins_consts_utils.request_id(const_type, mod_fname)
      end
   end
end

-- ##############################################

local function init_plugins(plugins)
   for _, plugin in ipairs(plugins) do
      init_plugin_consts_ids(os_utils.fixPath(plugin.path .. "/alert_definitions"), "alert")
   end
   plugins_consts_utils.assign_requested_ids("alert")

for _, plugin in ipairs(plugins) do
      init_plugin_consts_ids(os_utils.fixPath(plugin.path .. "/status_definitions"), "flow")
   end
   plugins_consts_utils.assign_requested_ids("flow")
end

-- ##############################################

-- NOTE: cannot save the definitions to a single file via the persistance
-- module because they may contain functions (e.g. in the i18n_description)
local function load_definitions(defs_dir, runtime_path, validator)
  for fname in pairs(ntop.readdir(defs_dir) or {}) do
    if string.ends(fname, ".lua") then
      local mod_fname = string.sub(fname, 1, string.len(fname) - 4)
      local full_path = os_utils.fixPath(defs_dir .. "/" .. fname)
      local def_script = dofile(full_path)

-- Verify the definitions
      if(type(def_script) ~= "table") then
        traceError(TRACE_ERROR, TRACE_CONSOLE, string.format("Error loading definition from %s", full_path))
        return(false)
      end

if(validator and not validator(def_script, mod_fname, full_path)) then
        return(false)
      end

file_utils.copy_file(fname, defs_dir, runtime_path)
    end
  end

return(true)
end

-- ##############################################

local function load_plugin_definitions(plugin, alert_definitions, status_definitions)
  local alert_consts = require("alert_consts")
  local flow_consts = require("flow_consts")
  local alert_definitions
  local status_definitions

if(plugin.edition == "community") then
    alert_definitions = RUNTIME_PATHS.alert_definitions
    status_definitions = RUNTIME_PATHS.status_definitions
  else
    -- It's necessary to split pro plugins to avoid errors on demo mode end
    -- while loading pro scripts
    alert_definitions = RUNTIME_PATHS.pro_alert_definitions
    status_definitions = RUNTIME_PATHS.pro_status_definitions
  end

return(load_definitions(os_utils.fixPath(plugin.path .. "/alert_definitions"), alert_definitions, alert_consts.loadDefinition)
    and load_definitions(os_utils.fixPath(plugin.path .. "/status_definitions"), status_definitions, flow_consts.loadDefinition))
end

-- ##############################################

local function load_plugin_ts_schemas(plugin)
  local src_path = os_utils.fixPath(plugin.path .. "/ts_schemas")
  local ts_path = os_utils.fixPath(RUNTIME_PATHS.ts_schemas .. "/" .. plugin.key)

if ntop.exists(src_path) then
    ntop.mkdir(ts_path)

return(
      file_utils.recursive_copy(src_path, ts_path)
    )
  end

return(true)
end

-- ##############################################

local function load_plugin_i18n(locales, default_locale, plugin)
  local locales_dir = os_utils.fixPath(plugin.path .. "/locales")
  local locales_path = ntop.readdir(locales_dir)

if table.empty(locales_path) then
    return(true)
  end

-- Ensure that the plugin localization will not override any existing
  -- key
  if default_locale[plugin.key] then
    traceError(TRACE_WARNING, TRACE_CONSOLE, string.format(
      "Plugin name %s overlaps with an existing i18n key. Please rename the plugin.", plugin.key))
    return(false)
  end

for fname in pairs(locales_path) do
    if string.ends(fname, ".lua") then
      local full_path = os_utils.fixPath(locales_dir .. "/" .. fname)
      local locale = persistence.load(full_path)

if locale then
        locales[fname] = locales[fname] or {}
        locales[fname][plugin.key] = locale

if do_trace then
          io.write("\ti18n: " .. fname .. "\n")
        end
      else
        return(false)
      end
    end
  end

return(true)
end

-- ##############################################

local function load_plugin_lint(plugin)
  local lint_path = os_utils.fixPath(plugin.path .. "/http_lint.lua")

if(ntop.exists(lint_path)) then
    if(not file_utils.copy_file(nil, lint_path,
        os_utils.fixPath(RUNTIME_PATHS.http_lint .. "/" .. plugin.key .. ".lua"))) then
      return(false)
    end
  end

return(true)
end

-- ##############################################

local function load_plugin_user_scripts(paths_to_plugin, plugin)
  local scripts_path = os_utils.fixPath(plugin.path .. "/user_scripts")
  local paths_map = {}

local rv = (
    file_utils.recursive_copy(os_utils.fixPath(scripts_path .. "/interface"), RUNTIME_PATHS.interface_scripts, paths_map) and
    file_utils.recursive_copy(os_utils.fixPath(scripts_path .. "/host"), RUNTIME_PATHS.host_scripts, paths_map) and
    file_utils.recursive_copy(os_utils.fixPath(scripts_path .. "/network"), RUNTIME_PATHS.network_scripts, paths_map) and
    file_utils.recursive_copy(os_utils.fixPath(scripts_path .. "/flow"), RUNTIME_PATHS.flow_scripts, paths_map) and
    file_utils.recursive_copy(os_utils.fixPath(scripts_path .. "/syslog"), RUNTIME_PATHS.syslog, paths_map) and
    file_utils.recursive_copy(os_utils.fixPath(scripts_path .. "/snmp_device"), RUNTIME_PATHS.snmp_scripts, paths_map) and
    file_utils.recursive_copy(os_utils.fixPath(scripts_path .. "/system"), RUNTIME_PATHS.system_scripts, paths_map)
  )

for runtime_path, source_path in pairs(paths_map) do
    -- Ensure that the script does not have errors
    local res = dofile(runtime_path)

if(res == nil) then
      traceError(TRACE_ERROR, TRACE_CONSOLE, string.format("Skipping bad user script '%s' in plugin '%s'", source_path, plugin.key))
      os.remove(runtime_path)
    else
      paths_to_plugin[runtime_path] = {
        source_path = source_path,
        plugin = plugin,
      }
    end
  end

return(rv)
end

-- ##############################################

local function load_plugin_alert_endpoints(endpoints_prefs_entries, plugin)
  local endpoints_path = os_utils.fixPath(plugin.path .. "/alert_endpoints")

for fname in pairs(ntop.readdir(endpoints_path)) do
    if(fname == "prefs_entries.lua") then
      local prefs_entries = dofile(os_utils.fixPath(endpoints_path .. "/" .. fname))

if(prefs_entries) then
        if(prefs_entries.entries == nil) then
          traceError(TRACE_ERROR, TRACE_CONSOLE, string.format("Missing field 'entries' in %s (prefs_entries.lua)", plugin.key))
          return(false)
        end
        if(prefs_entries.endpoint_key == nil) then
          traceError(TRACE_ERROR, TRACE_CONSOLE, string.format("Missing field 'endpoint_key' in %s (prefs_entries.lua)", plugin.key))
          return(false)
        end
        if(endpoints_prefs_entries[prefs_entries.endpoint_key] ~= nil) then
          traceError(TRACE_ERROR, TRACE_CONSOLE, string.format("Endpoint key '%s' already defined, error in %s (prefs_entries.lua)", prefs_entries.endpoint_key, plugin.key))
          return(false)
        end

endpoints_prefs_entries[prefs_entries.endpoint_key] = prefs_entries
      end
    else
      if not file_utils.copy_file(fname, endpoints_path, RUNTIME_PATHS.alert_endpoints) then
        return(false)
      end
    end
  end

return(true)
end

-- ##############################################

local function load_plugin_web_gui(plugin)
  local gui_dir = os_utils.fixPath(plugin.path .. "/web_gui")

for fname in pairs(ntop.readdir(gui_dir)) do
    if(fname == "menu.lua") then
      local full_path = os_utils.fixPath(gui_dir .. "/" .. fname)
      local menu_entry = dofile(full_path)

if(menu_entry) then
        if(menu_entry.label == nil) then
          traceError(TRACE_ERROR, TRACE_CONSOLE, string.format("Missing menu entry 'label' in %s (menu.lua)", plugin.key))
          return(false)
        elseif(menu_entry.script == nil) then
          traceError(TRACE_ERROR, TRACE_CONSOLE, string.format("Missing menu entry 'script' in %s (menu.lua)", plugin.key))
          return(false)
        else
          -- Check that the menu entry exists
          local script_path = os_utils.fixPath(gui_dir .. "/" .. menu_entry.script)

if(not ntop.exists(script_path)) then
            traceError(TRACE_ERROR, TRACE_CONSOLE, string.format("Menu entry script path '%s' does not exists in %s", script_path, plugin.key))
            return(false)
          end

if(not file_utils.copy_file(nil, full_path,
              os_utils.fixPath(RUNTIME_PATHS.menu_items .. "/" .. plugin.key .. ".lua"))) then
            return(false)
          end
        end
      end
    else
      if not file_utils.copy_file(fname, gui_dir, RUNTIME_PATHS.web_gui) then
        return(false)
      end
    end
  end

return(true)
end

-- ##############################################

-- @brief Loads the ntopng plugins into a single directory tree.
-- @notes This should be called at startup. It clears and populates the
-- shadow_dir first, then swaps it with the current_dir. This prevents
-- other threads to see intermediate states and half-populated directories.
function plugins_utils.loadPlugins(community_plugins_only)
  local locales_utils = require("locales_utils")
  local plugins = plugins_utils.listPlugins()
  local loaded_plugins = {}
  local locales = {}
  local endpoints_prefs_entries = {}
  local path_map = {}
  local en_locale = locales_utils.readDefaultLocale()
  local current_dir = ntop.getCurrentPluginsDir()
  local shadow_dir = ntop.getShadowPluginsDir()

-- Clean up the shadow directory
  ntop.rmdir(shadow_dir)

-- Use the shadow directory as the new base
  clearInternalState()
  cached_runtime_dir = shadow_dir

init_runtime_paths()

-- Note: load these only after cleaning the old plugins, to avoid
  -- errors due to ntopng version change (e.g. after adding the --community switch)
  local alert_consts = require("alert_consts")
  local flow_consts = require("flow_consts")

-- Ensure that the directory is writable
  ntop.mkdir(shadow_dir)
  local test_file = os_utils.fixPath(shadow_dir .. "/test")

local outfile, err = io.open(test_file, "w")
  if(outfile) then
    outfile:close()
  end

if(outfile == nil) then
    traceError(TRACE_ERROR, TRACE_CONSOLE, string.format("Cannot write to the plugins directory: %s. Plugins will not be loaded!",
      err or shadow_dir))

clearInternalState()

return(false)
  end

os.remove(test_file)

for _, path in pairs(RUNTIME_PATHS) do
    ntop.mkdir(path)
  end

-- Reset the definitions before loading
  alert_consts.resetDefinitions()
  flow_consts.resetDefinitions()

init_plugins(plugins)

-- Load the plugins following the dependecies order
  for _, plugin in ipairs(plugins) do
    if community_plugins_only and plugin.edition ~= "community" then
       goto continue
    end

-- Ensure that the depencies has been loaded as well
    for _, dep in pairs(plugin.dependencies or {}) do
       if not loaded_plugins[dep] then
	  traceError(TRACE_WARNING, TRACE_CONSOLE, string.format("Skipping plugin %s due to missing dependency '%s'", plugin.key, dep))
	  goto continue
       end
    end

if do_trace then
      io.write(string.format("Loading plugin %s [edition: %s]\n", plugin.key, plugin.edition))
    end

if load_plugin_definitions(plugin) and
        load_plugin_i18n(locales, en_locale, plugin) and
        load_plugin_lint(plugin) and
        load_plugin_ts_schemas(plugin) and
        load_plugin_web_gui(plugin) and
        load_plugin_user_scripts(path_map, plugin) and
        load_plugin_alert_endpoints(endpoints_prefs_entries, plugin) then
      loaded_plugins[plugin.key] = plugin
    else
      traceError(TRACE_ERROR, TRACE_CONSOLE, string.format("Errors occurred while processing plugin '%s'", plugin.key))
    end

::continue::
  end

-- Save the locales
  for fname, plugins_locales in pairs(locales) do
    local locale_path = os_utils.fixPath(RUNTIME_PATHS.locales .. "/" .. fname)

persistence.store(locale_path, plugins_locales)
    ntop.setDefaultFilePermissions(locale_path)
  end

-- Save alert endpoint entries
  if not table.empty(endpoints_prefs_entries) then
    local entries_path = os_utils.fixPath(RUNTIME_PATHS.alert_endpoints .. "/prefs_entries.lua")

persistence.store(entries_path, endpoints_prefs_entries)
    ntop.setDefaultFilePermissions(entries_path)
  end

-- Save loaded plugins metadata
  -- See load_metadata()
  local plugins_metadata = {
    plugins = loaded_plugins,
    path_map = path_map,
  }
  persistence.store(getMetadataPath(), plugins_metadata)
  ntop.setDefaultFilePermissions(getMetadataPath())

-- Swap the active plugins directory with the shadow
  clearInternalState()
  ntop.swapPluginsDir()
  deleteCachePattern("ntonpng.cache.user_scripts.available_system_modules.*")

-- Reload the periodic scripts to load the new plugins
  ntop.reloadPeriodicScripts()

return(true)
end

-- ##############################################

local schemas_loaded = {}

function plugins_utils.loadSchemas(granularity)
  if(schemas_loaded["all"] or (granularity and schemas_loaded[granularity])) then
    -- already loaded
    return
  end

init_runtime_paths()

for plugin_name in pairs(ntop.readdir(RUNTIME_PATHS.ts_schemas)) do
    local ts_dir = os_utils.fixPath(RUNTIME_PATHS.ts_schemas .. "/" .. plugin_name)
    local files_to_load = nil

if(granularity ~= nil) then
      -- Only load schemas for the specified granularity
      files_to_load = {granularity .. ".lua"}
    else
      -- load all
      files_to_load = ntop.readdir(ts_dir)
    end

for _, fname in pairs(files_to_load) do
      if string.ends(fname, ".lua") then
        local fgran = string.sub(fname, 1, string.len(fname)-4)
        local fpath = os_utils.fixPath(ts_dir .. "/" .. fname)

-- Check if not already loaded
        if((schemas_loaded[fgran] == nil) and ntop.exists(fpath)) then
          -- load the script
          dofile(fpath)
        end
      end
      
    end
  end

schemas_loaded[granularity or "all"] = true
end

-- ##############################################

function plugins_utils.checkReloadPlugins(when)
   local demo_ends_at = ntop.getInfo()["pro.demo_ends_at"]
   local time_delta = demo_ends_at - when
   local plugins_reloaded = false

-- tprint({time_delta = time_delta, demo_ends_at = demo_ends_at, when = when, is_pro = ntop.isPro()})

if ntop.getCache('ntopng.cache.force_reload_plugins') == '1' then
      -- Check and possibly reload plugins after a user has changed (e.g., applied or removed) a license
      -- from the web user interface (page about.lua)
      plugins_utils.loadPlugins(not ntop.isPro() --[[ reload only community if license is not pro --]])
      ntop.delCache('ntopng.cache.force_reload_plugins')
      plugins_reloaded = true
   elseif demo_ends_at and demo_ends_at > 0 and time_delta <= 10 and ntop.isPro() and not ntop.hasPluginsReloaded() then
      -- Checks and possibly reload plugins for demo licenses. In case of demo licenses,
      -- if within 10 seconds from the license expirations, a plugin reload is executed only for the community plugins
      plugins_utils.loadPlugins(true --[[ reload only community plugins --]])
      plugins_reloaded = true
   end

if plugins_reloaded then
      ntop.reloadPlugins()
   end
end

-- ##############################################

function plugins_utils.getMenuEntries()
  init_runtime_paths()
  local menu = {}
  local entries_data = {}

for fname in pairs(ntop.readdir(RUNTIME_PATHS.menu_items)) do
    local full_path = os_utils.fixPath(RUNTIME_PATHS.menu_items .. "/" .. fname)
    local plugin_key = string.sub(fname, 1, string.len(fname)-4)

local menu_entry = dofile(full_path)

if(menu_entry and ((not menu_entry.is_shown) or menu_entry.is_shown())) then
      menu_entry.url = plugins_utils.getUrl(menu_entry.script)
      menu[plugin_key] = menu_entry

if menu_entry.menu_entry then
        entries_data[menu_entry.menu_entry.key] = menu_entry.menu_entry
      end
    end
  end

return menu, entries_data
end

-- ##############################################

function plugins_utils.getUrl(script)
  return(ntop.getHttpPrefix() .. "/plugins/" .. script)
end

-- ##############################################

function plugins_utils.hasAlerts(ifid, options)
  -- Requiring alert_utils here to optimize second.lua
  require("alert_utils")

local opts = table.merge(options, {ifid = ifid})
  local old_iface = iface
  local rv
  interface.select(ifid)

rv = (areAlertsEnabled() and
    (hasAlerts("historical", getTabParameters(opts, "historical")) or
     hasAlerts("engaged", getTabParameters(opts, "engaged"))))

interface.select(old_iface)
  return(rv)
end

-- ##############################################

function plugins_utils.timeseriesCreationEnabled()
   return areSystemTimeseriesEnabled()
end

-- ##############################################

local function load_metadata()
  if(METADATA == nil) then
    METADATA = dofile(getMetadataPath())
  end
end

-- ##############################################

-- @brief Retrieve the original source path of a user script
-- @param script_path the runtime path of the user script
-- @return the user script source path
function plugins_utils.getUserScriptSourcePath(script_path)
  load_metadata()

local info = METADATA.path_map[script_path]

if info then
    return(info.source_path)
  end
end

-- ##############################################

-- @brief Retrieve the plugin associated with the user script
-- @param script_path the runtime path of the user script
-- @return the associated plugin
function plugins_utils.getUserScriptPlugin(script_path)
  load_metadata()

local info = METADATA.path_map[script_path]

if info then
    return(info.plugin)
  end
end

-- ##############################################

-- @brief Retrieve metadata of the loaded plugins
-- @return the loaded plugins metadata
function plugins_utils.getLoadedPlugins()
  load_metadata()

return(METADATA.plugins)
end

-- ##############################################

function plugins_utils.loadAlertEndpoint(endpoint_key)
  local endpoint_path = os_utils.fixPath(RUNTIME_PATHS.alert_endpoints .. "/".. endpoint_key ..".lua")

if not ntop.exists(endpoint_path) then
    return(nil)
  end

return(dofile(endpoint_path))
end

-- ##############################################

-- Descending sort by priority
local function endpoint_sorter(a, b)
  if((a.prio ~= nil) and (b.prio == nil)) then
    return(true)
  elseif((a.prio == nil) and (b.prio ~= nil)) then
    return(false)
  elseif(a.prio ~= b.prio) then
    return(a.prio > b.prio)
  end

-- Use the endpoint key to fix a defined sort order
  return(a.key > b.key)
end

-- @brief Get the available alert endpoints
-- @return a sorted table, in order of priority, for the alert endpoints
function plugins_utils.getLoadedAlertEndpoints()
  init_runtime_paths()

local rv = {}
  local prefs_map = {}
  local prefs_path = os_utils.fixPath(RUNTIME_PATHS.alert_endpoints .. "/prefs_entries.lua")

if ntop.exists(prefs_path) then
    prefs_map = dofile(prefs_path) or {}
  end

for fname in pairs(ntop.readdir(RUNTIME_PATHS.alert_endpoints) or {}) do
    if((fname ~= "prefs_entries.lua") and string.ends(fname, ".lua")) then
      local full_path = os_utils.fixPath(RUNTIME_PATHS.alert_endpoints .. "/" .. fname)
      local endpoint = dofile(full_path)

if(endpoint) then
        if((type(endpoint.isAvailable) ~= "function") or endpoint.isAvailable()) then
          local key = string.sub(fname, 1, string.len(fname) - 4)
          endpoint.full_path = full_path
          endpoint.key = key
          endpoint.prefs_entries = prefs_map[key] and prefs_map[key].entries

rv[#rv + 1] = endpoint
        end
      else
        traceError(TRACE_ERROR, TRACE_CONSOLE, string.format("Could not load alert endpoint '%s'", full_path))
      end
    end
  end

-- Sort by priority (higher priority first)
  table.sort(rv, endpoint_sorter)

return(rv)
end

-- ##############################################

function plugins_utils.extendLintParams(http_lint, params)
  init_runtime_paths()

for fname in pairs(ntop.readdir(RUNTIME_PATHS.http_lint)) do
    local full_path = os_utils.fixPath(RUNTIME_PATHS.http_lint .. "/" .. fname)
    local lint = dofile(full_path)

if(lint == nil) then
      traceError(TRACE_ERROR, TRACE_CONSOLE, string.format("Could not load '%s'", full_path))
      goto continue
    end

if(lint.getAdditionalParameters == nil) then
      traceError(TRACE_ERROR, TRACE_CONSOLE, string.format("Missing mandatory function 'getAdditionalParameters' in '%s'", full_path))
      goto continue
    end

local rv = lint.getAdditionalParameters(http_lint)

if(type(rv) ~= "table") then
      traceError(TRACE_ERROR, TRACE_CONSOLE, string.format("function 'getAdditionalParameters' in '%s' returned a non-table value", full_path))
      goto continue
    end

for k, v in pairs(rv) do
      params[k] = v
    end

::continue::
  end
end

-- ##############################################

-- @brief Deletes the plugins runtime directories. This is usually called
-- in boot.lua to start fresh.
function plugins_utils.cleanup()
  ntop.rmdir(os_utils.fixPath(dirs.workingdir .. "/plugins"))
  ntop.rmdir(ntop.getCurrentPluginsDir())
  ntop.rmdir(ntop.getShadowPluginsDir())
end

-- ##############################################

return(plugins_utils)