Re: [PATCH] [PATCH] Firmware security information in SYSFS

From: Greg Kroah-Hartman
Date: Tue Jul 21 2020 - 06:52:50 EST


On Mon, Jul 20, 2020 at 05:58:47PM -0300, Daniel Gutson wrote:
> On Fri, Jul 17, 2020 at 11:57 AM Greg Kroah-Hartman <
> gregkh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > On Fri, Jul 17, 2020 at 11:46:39AM -0300, Daniel Gutson wrote:
> > > On Fri, Jul 17, 2020 at 11:41 AM Arnd Bergmann <arnd@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > >
> > > > On Fri, Jul 17, 2020 at 8:28 AM Greg Kroah-Hartman
> > > > <gregkh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > On Thu, Jul 16, 2020 at 07:36:27PM -0300, Daniel Gutson wrote:
> > > > > > +What: /sys/kernel/firmware-security/bioswe
> > > > >
> > > > > Ick, I stopped reading right here.
> > > > >
> > > > > No, this is not where this belongs.
> > > > >
> > > > > We already have /sys/firmware/, right? And firmware-specific
> > > > > subdirectories below that.
> > > > >
> > > > > We also have /sys/devices/system/ and I think that would be a much
> > > > > better place for this, as it is easier to work with a real 'struct
> > > > > device' than a "raw" kobject any day. Bonus is you get full support
> > of
> > > > > userspace libraries when you do that, unlike when dealing with
> > kobjects.
> > > > >
> > > > > Also, this really is a _SPECIFIC_ type of firmware that supports
> > these
> > > > > features, right? Why not call that out too? This is not generic by
> > any
> > > > > means.
> > > >
> > > > As I suggested in my previous review, I wouldn't worry too much about
> > > > the user interface at the start, but instead first work out how the
> > > > hardware
> > > > support fits in with the existing drivers and once that looks fine
> > decide
> > > > on how to export it to user space.
> > > >
> > > > I agree the /sys/kernel/firmware-security/bioswe sounds like the wrong
> > > > place, but I'm not sure if adding any other new directory in sysfs is
> > > > much better. I think the most promising would be to have it on the
> > > > sysfs directory for the device it refers to,
> > >
> > >
> > > My idea is to have all the firmware security information together in the
> > > same place; this information comes from many devices.
> > > This initial patch involves the SPI Controller, and I don't want to add
> > > more stuff until there
> > > is a consensus.
> > > So, do you have a suggestion where to put this information?
> > > /sys/devices/system/firmware-security?
> > > /sys/firmware/security?
> > > other?
> > >
> > > Please advise.
> >
> > It's fun to focus on things like this, as it's the most visible part,
> > but are you sure the "talk to the hardware" part is working properly?
> >
>
> Yes.
>
>
>
> >
> > If so, great, it should be a "class", as that way it is independent of
> > any hardware type, right? Classes show how devices talk to userspace in
> > a common way (input, tty, led, block, etc.) So why is this any
> > different from that?
> >
>
> Are you suggesting to create a new class, or use an existing one?

Probably a new one, unless you can find an existing one that would fit?

thanks,

greg k-h