Thread (15 messages) 15 messages, 5 authors, 2025-11-09

[Bug 214885] random.{4,7} [man-pages 5.13] do not reflect changes to /dev/random semantics since kernel 5.6

From: bugzilla-daemon@kernel.org
Date: 2023-05-25 12:36:09

https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=214885
--- Comment #2 from Mingye Wang (arthur200126@gmail.com) ---
Created attachment 304322
  --> https://bugzilla.kernel.org/attachment.cgi?id=304322&action=edit
An attempt at an edit.

I feel like writing, so here goes my attempt at a patch.  Basically what was
requested by the reporter and myself in the preceding comment.

random.4:
* have the DESCRIPTION section rearranged such that the old and new random
behavior is split into two paragraphs. That will make reading easier.
* interface size changes & proc removal, as requested
* mention blocking time, as I requested
* I did NOT touch the comment in USAGE a lot. Old kernels will refuse to die
for a long time, so even though /dev/random acts exactly like getrandom() now,
we cannot tell people to expect that. So let's keep calling it a legacy
interface.

random.7:
Ho boy this is where most of it goes.
* Table demolition, as promised.
* Added table entry for GRND_INSECURE.
* Add mention of the unfortunate compromise that made /dev/urandom fast. I say
unfortunate, but we are all laughing because now we can dd that hard drive
FAST.
* "Choice of random source" revised to remove any recommendation of
/dev/random.  We would make an incorrect impression that the new change is
somehow less secure otherwise.
* "The old blocking pool" section added to further explain that removal was not
the mistake, /dev/random was.

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