Re: Tainting the kernel


Subject: Re: Tainting the kernel
From: Anthony Valentine (amv@akvalentine.com)
Date: Thu Jul 11 2002 - 23:31:22 AKDT


I've been using the Nvidia drivers on my work PC for almost a year with
software RAID and ext3. No problems.

I won't argue with you about the binary drivers as everyone has their
own opinion on the matter. I am aware of the issues and have made an
informed decision that I am happy with. YMMV.

I do make it a habit to check what passes out through my firewall to
check on that sort of thing.

Anthony

On Thu, 2002-07-11 at 00:30, civileme wrote:
> On Wednesday 10 July 2002 11:01 pm, Anthony Valentine wrote:
> > That is all it means. It won't hurt anything. I've been running nvidia
> > drivers for quite some time with no problems.
> >
> > On Wed, 2002-07-10 at 21:15, Jon Reynolds wrote:
> > > I have an nvidia video card and when I try and install it it says:
> > >
> > > Warning: loading /lib/modules/2.4.18-3/kernel/drivers/video/NVdriver
> > > will taint the kernel: non-GPL license - NVIDIA
> > >
> > > Is this just because it has a non-GPL license and will it hurt anything
> > > to install it?
> > >
> > > Jon
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ---------
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>
> Actually, my test results show that the NVIdia drivers do affect the kernel.
> Software RAID with JFS, XFS, Reiserfs, and ext3/ext2 all corrupt within a
> week of exercise using the 3d accel drivers from Nvidia.
>
> No corruption is shown in those circumstances using the XFree 2D GPL NVidia
> drivers. In otherwise identical tests with KT266A and NForce chipsets, no
> corruption with the XFree drivers, but of course no tuxracer or bzflag either.
>
> And if you havent noticed the prize money given out for proof-of-concept
> spyware lately, and if you think binary-only drivers wont soon have such a
> payload even for linux, then you haven't been following the computer
> industry's down turn and the rise of greed.
>
> It is a VERY BAD THING to put binary-only drivers into the kernel. There is
> NO WAY you can prove it is not harmful without becoming outlaw, and maybe not
> even then.
>
> That is what the taint message means.
>
> Civileme
>
>

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This archive was generated by hypermail 2a23 : Thu Jul 11 2002 - 23:47:46 AKDT