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    SubjectRE: [PATCH] drivers/net: remove network drivers' last few uses of IRQF_SAMPLE_RANDOM
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    Alan Cox wrote:
    > Chris Peterson <cpeterso@cpeterso.com> wrote:
    >> I know Jeff Garzik says he's not interested in an anti-entropy
    >> pogrom for existing net drivers, but here is the patch if anyone
    >> else is interested..? :)
    >>
    >> Only 12 net drivers are affected, the last of the
    >> theoretically-exploitable network entropy.
    >
    > Looks fine to me. If Jeff doesn't want to touch them then send them
    > direct to Andrew/Linus.
    >
    > A more interesting alternative might be to mark things like network
    > drivers with a new flag say IRQF_SAMPLE_DUBIOUS so that users can be
    > given a switch to enable/disable their use depending upon the
    > environment.

    we've been hearing rumblings of big customers wanting (maybe requiring)
    wired network drivers from Intel to advertise this flag. Jeff have you
    heard of such?

    I think the argument is that a headless system (no keyboard/mouse, no
    soundcard, probably no video) with a libata based driver and a network
    driver without IRQF_SAMPLE_RANDOM has *no* sources of entropy. In this
    case the argument is very strong for at least *some* source of entropy
    from interrupts so that randomness can get some external input. Just
    try rebuilding a kernel RPM over an ssh session and you'll see what I
    mean.

    In short, I agree with Alan's IRQF_SAMPLE_DUBIOUS, and know of Linux
    customers who also want the same.


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