linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH 1/1] virtio: rng: add derating factor for use by hwrng core

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Date:	Tue, 12 Aug 2014 10:57:59 +0530
From:	Amit Shah <amit.shah@...hat.com>
To:	"H. Peter Anvin" <hpa@...ux.intel.com>
Cc:	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org,
	Rusty Russell <rusty@...tcorp.com.au>,
	Virtualization List <virtualization@...ts.linux-foundation.org>,
	kvm list <kvm@...r.kernel.org>, jgarzik@...pay.com,
	duwe@....de, Amos Kong <akong@...hat.com>,
	ricardo.neri-calderon@...ux.intel.com, tytso@....edu,
	herbert@...dor.apana.org.au
Subject: Re: [PATCH 1/1] virtio: rng: add derating factor for use by hwrng
 core

On (Mon) 11 Aug 2014 [15:11:03], H. Peter Anvin wrote:
> On 08/11/2014 11:49 AM, Amit Shah wrote:
> > The khwrngd thread is started when a hwrng device of sufficient
> > quality is registered.  The virtio-rng device is backed by the
> > hypervisor, and we trust the hypervisor to provide real entropy.  A
> > malicious hypervisor is a scenario that's ruled out, so we are certain
> > the quality of randomness we receive is perfectly trustworthy.  Hence,
> > we use 100% for the factor, indicating maximum confidence in the source.
> > 
> > Signed-off-by: Amit Shah <amit.shah@...hat.com>
> 
> It isn't "ruled out", it is just irrelevant: if the hypervisor is
> malicious, the quality of your random number source is the least of your
> problems.

Yea; I meant ruled out in that sense.  Should the commit msg be more
verbose?

		Amit
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