linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH] ptrace: it is fun to strace /sbin/init

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Message-Id: <20080324160819.cea2d921.akpm@linux-foundation.org>
Date:	Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:08:19 -0700
From:	Andrew Morton <akpm@...ux-foundation.org>
To:	Oleg Nesterov <oleg@...sign.ru>
Cc:	ebiederm@...ssion.com, xemul@...nvz.org, pavel@....cz,
	sds@...ho.nsa.gov, roland@...hat.com, linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: [PATCH] ptrace: it is fun to strace /sbin/init

On Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:56:11 +0300
Oleg Nesterov <oleg@...sign.ru> wrote:

> On 03/24, Andrew Morton wrote:
> >
> > On Sun, 23 Mar 2008 16:51:10 +0300
> > Oleg Nesterov <oleg@...sign.ru> wrote:
> > 
> > > Ptracing of /sbin/init is not allowed. Of course, this is dangerous, but may
> > > be useful. Introduce the kernel boot parameter to allow this, so that we can't
> > > surprise some special/secured systems.
> > 
> > I dunno, is this really needed?
> 
> Well, this is the question. I think it would be very nice to have the ability
> to debug/strace init. Especially if you try to make your own distribution /
> your own init.
> 
> Sometimes I see init at the top of the top's output, with this patch I have a
> chance to see what's going on on my system.

I agree that init should be ptraceable.  I'm questioning the value of a
knob which enables that ability.

Why not just unconditionally enable root's abiltiy to ptrace init?
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