Re: [patch] Katmai/PIII support for Linux pre-2.2.2-1

Alan Cox (alan@lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk)
Wed, 3 Feb 1999 20:12:34 +0000 (GMT)

> > nor do we want to do boot-time dynamic linking.
>
> I think it would be better to do this. It would allow for a common kernel
> that runs on all of Intel CPUs without opening a potential security hole
> or having a serious performance impact, as not using the KNIs at all would
> have.

Its not a "potential" security hole.

If KNI instructions don't fault in an environment where they are marked
available but not saved then its an actual hole. If KNI instructions do
fault its not a security hole

In case a) Ingo's code needs to panic at boot on a Xeon/PIII if its
not using FXSAVE (clearly not acceptable) or dynamic link
In case b) Ingo's patch is fine.

Ingo - I've yet to see any actual PIII docs - what _actually_ occurs in
this situation

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