linux-kernel - Re: [RFC PATCH 2/2] docs: Update kernel-parameters.txt for signature verification enhancement

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Date:   Wed, 8 Nov 2023 10:33:04 -0500
From:   Prarit Bhargava <prarit@...hat.com>
To:     "Alessandro Carminati (Red Hat)" <alessandro.carminati@...il.com>,
        linux-modules@...r.kernel.org
Cc:     linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org, Luis Chamberlain <mcgrof@...nel.org>,
        Jonathan Corbet <corbet@....net>, linux-doc@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: [RFC PATCH 2/2] docs: Update kernel-parameters.txt for signature
 verification enhancement

On 9/14/23 07:27, Alessandro Carminati (Red Hat) wrote:
> Update kernel-parameters.txt to reflect new deferred signature
> verification.
> Enhances boot speed by allowing unsigned modules in initrd after
> bootloader check.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Alessandro Carminati (Red Hat) <alessandro.carminati@...il.com>
> ---
>   Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.txt | 9 +++++++++
>   1 file changed, 9 insertions(+)
> 
> diff --git a/Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.txt b/Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.txt
> index 0c38a8af95ce..beec86f0dd05 100644
> --- a/Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.txt
> +++ b/Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.txt
> @@ -3410,6 +3410,15 @@
>   			Note that if CONFIG_MODULE_SIG_FORCE is set, that
>   			is always true, so this option does nothing.
>   
> +	module_sig_check_wait=
> +			This parameter enables delayed activation of module
> +			signature checks, deferring the process until userspace
> +			triggers it. Once activated, this setting becomes
> +			permanent and cannot be reversed. This feature proves
> +			valuable for incorporating unsigned modules within
> +			initrd, especially after bootloader verification.
> +			By employing this option, boot times can be quicker.
> +

Please keep these in alphabetical order.

Would making the kernel-parameters.txt warning a little bit more 
informative be a good thing?  This should only be used in environments 
where some other signature verification method is employed.

Also, for future reference, it would be good to have hard numbers to 
show the boot time improvement in the changelog.

P.

>   	module_blacklist=  [KNL] Do not load a comma-separated list of
>   			modules.  Useful for debugging problem modules.
>