Re: CONFIG_RANDOM option for 1.99.2

Martin.Dalecki (dalecki@namu23.Num.Math.Uni-Goettingen.de)
Wed, 15 May 1996 16:05:47 +0200 (MET DST)


On Wed, 15 May 1996, Martin Mares wrote:

> Hi,
>
> > > The random generator is sometimes used inside the kernel itself
> > > -- for example in my BOOTP code. I think it isn't a good idea to allow
> > > disabling it.
> >
> > It is not used SOMETIMES in the kernel but ONLY in BOOTP and there it is
> > incredibble overkill (IMHO.)
>
> OK. There really should be a kernel-level random number generator, because
> it's useful in many kernel parts related to networking (although they usually
> generate the numbers themselves for now). On the other side, we probably
> should make the current high-quality (but high-overhead) generator optional
> and create a kernel-level interface to a 32-bit generator using the
> high-quality one if it's present or something else (a simple linear
> congruential generator?) instead if it isn't.
>
> Martin
>
I subscribe to this with both hand's :-) Or to say it otherwise: I agree
compleatly with this view.

Marcin