# Re: \[PATCH v12 09/22\] selftests/vm: fix alloc\_random\_pkey() to make it really random

- From: Dave Hansen \<hidden\>
- Date: 2018-03-16 22:13:16 
- List: linuxppc-dev
- Page: https://ratatoskr.run/linuxppc-dev/2018/03/5218944
- Thread: https://ratatoskr.run/linux-kselftest/2018/02/5195852/t.md

```text
On 02/21/2018 05:55 PM, Ram Pai wrote:
> alloc_random_pkey() was allocating the same pkey every time.
> Not all pkeys were geting tested. fixed it.
...
> @@ -602,13 +603,15 @@ int alloc_random_pkey(void)
>  	int alloced_pkeys[NR_PKEYS];
>  	int nr_alloced = 0;
>  	int random_index;
> +
>  	memset(alloced_pkeys, 0, sizeof(alloced_pkeys));
> +	srand((unsigned int)time(NULL));
>  
>  	/* allocate every possible key and make a note of which ones we got */
>  	max_nr_pkey_allocs = NR_PKEYS;
> -	max_nr_pkey_allocs = 1;
>  	for (i = 0; i < max_nr_pkey_allocs; i++) {
>  		int new_pkey = alloc_pkey();

The srand() is probably useful, but won't this always just do a single
alloc_pkey() now?  That seems like it will mean we always use the first
one the kernel gives us, which isn't random.

> -	dprintf1("%s()::%d, ret: %d pkey_reg: 0x%x shadow: 0x%x\n", __func__,
> -			__LINE__, ret, __rdpkey_reg(), shadow_pkey_reg);
> +	dprintf1("%s()::%d, ret: %d pkey_reg: 0x%x shadow: 0x%016lx\n",
> +		__func__, __LINE__, ret, __rdpkey_reg(), shadow_pkey_reg);
>  	return ret;
>  }

This belonged in the pkey_reg_t patch, I think.
```