Linux kernel mirror (for testing) git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git
kernel os linux

docs: sysctl/kernel: document random

This documents the random directory, based on the behaviour seen in
drivers/char/random.c.

Signed-off-by: Stephen Kitt <steve@sk2.org>
Link: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20200623112514.10650-1-steve@sk2.org
Signed-off-by: Jonathan Corbet <corbet@lwn.net>

authored by

Stephen Kitt and committed by
Jonathan Corbet
0b227076 48d4b96c

+32
+32
Documentation/admin-guide/sysctl/kernel.rst
··· 996 996 See Documentation/filesystems/devpts.rst. 997 997 998 998 999 + random 1000 + ====== 1001 + 1002 + This is a directory, with the following entries: 1003 + 1004 + * ``boot_id``: a UUID generated the first time this is retrieved, and 1005 + unvarying after that; 1006 + 1007 + * ``entropy_avail``: the pool's entropy count, in bits; 1008 + 1009 + * ``poolsize``: the entropy pool size, in bits; 1010 + 1011 + * ``urandom_min_reseed_secs``: obsolete (used to determine the minimum 1012 + number of seconds between urandom pool reseeding). 1013 + 1014 + * ``uuid``: a UUID generated every time this is retrieved (this can 1015 + thus be used to generate UUIDs at will); 1016 + 1017 + * ``write_wakeup_threshold``: when the entropy count drops below this 1018 + (as a number of bits), processes waiting to write to ``/dev/random`` 1019 + are woken up. 1020 + 1021 + If ``drivers/char/random.c`` is built with ``ADD_INTERRUPT_BENCH`` 1022 + defined, these additional entries are present: 1023 + 1024 + * ``add_interrupt_avg_cycles``: the average number of cycles between 1025 + interrupts used to feed the pool; 1026 + 1027 + * ``add_interrupt_avg_deviation``: the standard deviation seen on the 1028 + number of cycles between interrupts used to feed the pool. 1029 + 1030 + 999 1031 randomize_va_space 1000 1032 ================== 1001 1033