Re: [RFC PATCH 2/2] docs: Update kernel-parameters.txt for signature verification enhancement

From: Prarit Bhargava
Date: Wed Nov 08 2023 - 10:33:57 EST


On 9/14/23 07:27, Alessandro Carminati (Red Hat) wrote:
Update kernel-parameters.txt to reflect new deferred signature
verification.
Enhances boot speed by allowing unsigned modules in initrd after
bootloader check.

Signed-off-by: Alessandro Carminati (Red Hat) <alessandro.carminati@xxxxxxxxx>
---
Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.txt | 9 +++++++++
1 file changed, 9 insertions(+)

diff --git a/Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.txt b/Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.txt
index 0c38a8af95ce..beec86f0dd05 100644
--- a/Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.txt
+++ b/Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.txt
@@ -3410,6 +3410,15 @@
Note that if CONFIG_MODULE_SIG_FORCE is set, that
is always true, so this option does nothing.
+ module_sig_check_wait=
+ This parameter enables delayed activation of module
+ signature checks, deferring the process until userspace
+ triggers it. Once activated, this setting becomes
+ permanent and cannot be reversed. This feature proves
+ valuable for incorporating unsigned modules within
+ initrd, especially after bootloader verification.
+ By employing this option, boot times can be quicker.
+

Please keep these in alphabetical order.

Would making the kernel-parameters.txt warning a little bit more informative be a good thing? This should only be used in environments where some other signature verification method is employed.

Also, for future reference, it would be good to have hard numbers to show the boot time improvement in the changelog.

P.

module_blacklist= [KNL] Do not load a comma-separated list of
modules. Useful for debugging problem modules.