linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH v43 01/15] Linux Random Number Generator

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Date:   Tue, 30 Nov 2021 07:24:15 -0500
From:   Jeffrey Walton <noloader@...il.com>
To:     Greg Kroah-Hartman <gregkh@...uxfoundation.org>
Cc:     Stephan Mueller <smueller@...onox.de>,
        Simo Sorce <simo@...hat.com>,
        "Jason A. Donenfeld" <Jason@...c4.com>, Tso Ted <tytso@....edu>,
        Linux Crypto Mailing List <linux-crypto@...r.kernel.org>,
        Willy Tarreau <w@....eu>, Nicolai Stange <nstange@...e.de>,
        LKML <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
        Arnd Bergmann <arnd@...db.de>,
        "Eric W. Biederman" <ebiederm@...ssion.com>,
        "Alexander E. Patrakov" <patrakov@...il.com>,
        "Ahmed S. Darwish" <darwish.07@...il.com>,
        Matthew Garrett <mjg59@...f.ucam.org>,
        Vito Caputo <vcaputo@...garu.com>,
        Andreas Dilger <adilger.kernel@...ger.ca>,
        Jan Kara <jack@...e.cz>, Ray Strode <rstrode@...hat.com>,
        William Jon McCann <mccann@....edu>,
        zhangjs <zachary@...shancloud.com>,
        Andy Lutomirski <luto@...nel.org>,
        Florian Weimer <fweimer@...hat.com>,
        Lennart Poettering <mzxreary@...inter.de>,
        Peter Matthias <matthias.peter@....bund.de>,
        Marcelo Henrique Cerri <marcelo.cerri@...onical.com>,
        Neil Horman <nhorman@...hat.com>,
        Randy Dunlap <rdunlap@...radead.org>,
        Julia Lawall <julia.lawall@...ia.fr>,
        Dan Carpenter <dan.carpenter@...cle.com>,
        Andy Lavr <andy.lavr@...il.com>,
        Eric Biggers <ebiggers@...nel.org>,
        Petr Tesarik <ptesarik@...e.cz>,
        John Haxby <john.haxby@...cle.com>,
        Alexander Lobakin <alobakin@...lbox.org>,
        Jirka Hladky <jhladky@...hat.com>
Subject: Re: [PATCH v43 01/15] Linux Random Number Generator

On Mon, Nov 29, 2021 at 6:07 PM Greg Kroah-Hartman
<gregkh@...uxfoundation.org> wrote:
> ...
> Sometimes, yes, it is valid to have different implementations for things
> that do different things in the same area (like filesystems), but for a
> core function of the kernel, so far the existing random maintainer has
> not wanted to have multiple implementations.  Same goes for other parts
> of the kernel, it's not specific only to this one very tiny driver.
>
> As a counterpoint, we do not allow duplicate drivers that control the
> same hardware types in the tree.  We have tried that in the past and it
> was a nightmare to support and maintain and just caused massive user
> confusion as well.  One can argue that the random driver is in this same
> category.

I think an argument could be made that they are different drivers
since they have different requirements and security goals. I don't
think it matters where the requirements came from, whether it was ad
hoc from the developer, NIST, KISA, CRYPTREC, NESSIE, or another
organization.

Maybe the problem is with the name of the driver? Perhaps the current
driver should be named random-linux, Stephan's driver should be named
random-nist, and the driver should be wired up based on a user's
selection. That should sidestep the problems associated with the
"duplicate drivers" policy.

Jeff