Re: changeset: Make forced module loading optional [LWN.net]

From:		Rusty Russell <rusty-AT-rustcorp.com.au>
To:		Linus Torvalds <torvalds-AT-linux-foundation.org>
Subject:		Re: changeset: Make forced module loading optional
Date:		Tue, 6 May 2008 04:42:12 +1000
Message-ID:		<200805060442.12440.rusty@rustcorp.com.au>
Cc:		linux-kernel-AT-vger.kernel.org, Jon Masters <jonathan-AT-jonmasters.org>, Sam Ravnborg <sam-AT-ravnborg.org>
Archive-link:		Article, Thread

On Tuesday 06 May 2008 03:07:03 Linus Torvalds wrote:
> On Mon, 5 May 2008, Rusty Russell wrote:
> > BTW, for the peanut gallery: I don't recommend modversions: it's not
> > reliable in detecting all differences, nor being stable when there are no
> > real differences.
...
> So I agree that modversions is not "reliable", but I think that the
> alternative is often even *less* reliable, so I find the "don't recommend
> modversions" comment to be pretty debatable.

Kids: do not shove random modules into your kernel.  Just because Linus does 
something doesn't make it a good idea.  modversions tries to be clever, but 
don't count on it; you want module signing for this (where did those patches 
go?)

BTW, I'm fascinated and a little nausiated that you ignore initrds.  We've 
moved half the kernel brains to userspace with udev, initrd and modules; it's 
really unfair that you're not sharing all that why-won't-my-machine-boot 
love.

Cheers,
Rusty.

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