Re: [PATCH v6] random: defer fast pool mixing to worker

[Jason A. Donenfeld]

Hi Sebastian,

On Fri, Feb 11, 2022 at 5:44 PM Sebastian Andrzej Siewior
<bigeasy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > +
> > +     /* Check to see if we're running on the wrong CPU due to hotplug. */
> > +     migrate_disable();
> > +     if (fast_pool != this_cpu_ptr(&irq_randomness)) {
> > +             migrate_enable();
> > +             /*
> > +              * If we are unlucky enough to have been moved to another CPU,
>
> + "during CPU hotplug while the CPU was shutdown". It should not look
> like the worker can be migrated on system without CPU-hotplug involved.

Will adjust comment.

> I *think* we could drop that "fast_pool !=
> this_cpu_ptr(&irq_randomness)" check at the top since that cmpxchg will
> save us and redo the loop. But if I remember correctly you worried about
> fast_pool->pool being modified (which is only a corner case if we are on
> the other CPU while the orig CPU is back again). Either way, it would be
> random and we would not consume more entropy.

No, we cannot, and "it's all random anyway so who cares if we corrupt
things!" is not rigorous, as entropy may actually be thrown away as
it's moved between words on each mix. If we're not running on the same
CPU, one CPU can corrupt the other's view of fast pool before updating
count. We must keep this.

> So if we have to keep this then please swap that migrate_disable() with
> local_irq_disable(). Otherwise PeterZ will yell at me.

Okay, I'll do that then, and then in the process get rid of the
cmpxchg loop since it's no longer required.

> >       if (unlikely(crng_init == 0)) {
> > -             if (fast_pool->count >= 64 &&
> > +             if (new_count >= 64 &&
> >                   crng_fast_load(fast_pool->pool, sizeof(fast_pool->pool)) > 0) {
> > -                     fast_pool->count = 0;
> > +                     atomic_set(&fast_pool->count, 0);
> >                       fast_pool->last = now;
>
> I'm fine if we keep this as is for now.
> What do we do here vs RT? I suggested this
>   https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/rt/linux-rt-devel.git/commit/?id=a2d2d54409481aa23a3e11ab9559a843e36a79ec
>
> Is this doable?

It might be, but last time I checked it seemed problematic. As I
mentioned in an earlier thread, I'll take a look again at that next
week after this patch here settles. Haven't forgotten.

v+1 coming up with irqs disabled.

Jason