linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH v5 2/4] mm: Provide kernel parameter to allow disabling page init poisoning

lists.openwall.net		lists / announce owl-users owl-dev john-users john-dev passwdqc-users yescrypt popa3d-users / oss-security kernel-hardening musl sabotage tlsify passwords / crypt-dev xvendor / Bugtraq Full-Disclosure linux-kernel linux-netdev linux-ext4 linux-hardening linux-cve-announce PHC
Open Source and information security mailing list archives

Hash Suite: Windows password security audit tool. GUI, reports in PDF.

[<prev] [next>] [<thread-prev] [thread-next>] [day] [month] [year] [list]

Date:   Wed, 26 Sep 2018 09:38:31 +0200
From:   Michal Hocko <mhocko@...nel.org>
To:     Alexander Duyck <alexander.h.duyck@...ux.intel.com>
Cc:     linux-mm@...ck.org, akpm@...ux-foundation.org,
        linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org, linux-nvdimm@...ts.01.org,
        pavel.tatashin@...rosoft.com, dave.jiang@...el.com,
        dave.hansen@...el.com, jglisse@...hat.com, rppt@...ux.vnet.ibm.com,
        dan.j.williams@...el.com, logang@...tatee.com, mingo@...nel.org,
        kirill.shutemov@...ux.intel.com
Subject: Re: [PATCH v5 2/4] mm: Provide kernel parameter to allow disabling
 page init poisoning

On Tue 25-09-18 13:20:12, Alexander Duyck wrote:
[...]
> +	vm_debug[=options]	[KNL] Available with CONFIG_DEBUG_VM=y.
> +			May slow down system boot speed, especially when
> +			enabled on systems with a large amount of memory.
> +			All options are enabled by default, and this
> +			interface is meant to allow for selectively
> +			enabling or disabling specific virtual memory
> +			debugging features.
> +
> +			Available options are:
> +			  P	Enable page structure init time poisoning
> +			  -	Disable all of the above options

I agree with Dave that this is confusing as hell. So what does vm_debug
(without any options means). I assume it's NOP and all debugging is
enabled and that is the default. What if I want to disable _only_ the
page struct poisoning. The weird lookcing `-' will disable all other
options that we might gather in the future.

Why cannot you simply go with [no]vm_page_poison[=on/off]?
-- 
Michal Hocko
SUSE Labs