Re: [RFC PATCH v12 3/4] Linux Random Number Generator

From: Stephan Müller
Date: Tue Jul 18 2017 - 10:37:46 EST


Am Dienstag, 18. Juli 2017, 10:52:12 CEST schrieb Greg Kroah-Hartman:

Hi Greg,

>
> > I have stated the core concerns I have with random.c in [1]. To remedy
> > these core concerns, major changes to random.c are needed. With the past
> > experience, I would doubt that I get the changes into random.c.
> >
> > [1] https://www.spinics.net/lists/linux-crypto/msg26316.html
>
> Evolution is the correct way to do this, kernel development relies on
> that. We don't do the "use this totally different and untested file
> instead!" method.

I am not sure I understand your reply. The offered patch set does not rip out
existing code. It adds a replacement implementation which can be enabled
during compile time. Yet it is even disabled per default (and thus the legacy
code is compiled).

I see such a development approach in numerous different kernel core areas:
memory allocators (SLAB, SLOB, SLUB), process schedulers, IRQ schedulers.

What is so different for the realm of RNGs?

Ciao
Stephan