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Bug 1740798 - man auditctl(8) refers to backlog_limit in --backlog_wait_time wait_time
Summary: man auditctl(8) refers to backlog_limit in --backlog_wait_time wait_time
Keywords:
Status: CLOSED ERRATA
Alias: None
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Classification: Red Hat
Component: audit
Version: 8.0
Hardware: Unspecified
OS: Unspecified
low
unspecified
Target Milestone: rc
: 8.2
Assignee: Steve Grubb
QA Contact: Ondrej Moriš
URL:
Whiteboard:
Depends On:
Blocks:
TreeView+ depends on / blocked
 
Reported: 2019-08-13 16:01 UTC by Jan Pazdziora
Modified: 2020-04-28 16:47 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

Fixed In Version: audit-3.0-0.14.20191104git1c2f876
Doc Type: If docs needed, set a value
Doc Text:
Clone Of:
Environment:
Last Closed: 2020-04-28 16:46:58 UTC
Type: Bug
Target Upstream Version:
Embargoed:


Attachments (Terms of Use)


Links
System ID Private Priority Status Summary Last Updated
Red Hat Product Errata RHBA-2020:1812 0 None None None 2020-04-28 16:47:05 UTC

Description Jan Pazdziora 2019-08-13 16:01:13 UTC
Description of problem:

The man page for auditctl(8) says:

       --backlog_wait_time wait_time
              Set  the time for the kernel to wait (Kernel Default 60*HZ) when
              the backlog_limit is reached before queuing more audit events to
              be  transferred  to  auditd.  The number must be greater than or
              equal to zero and less that 10 times the default value.

However, nowhere in that page is backlog_limit defined or explained. Is that a CLI option, is that auditd config parameter, is that some kernel thing? It is written with an underscore so I assume it refers to some value that can be queried and set but how to do it?

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):

audit-3.0-0.10.20180831git0047a6c.el8.x86_64

How reproducible:

Deterministic.

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Read the man page for auditctl(8) and try to figure out in which situation will the kernel wait that wait_time interval.

Actual results:

No explanation of backlog_limit.

Expected results:

Some explanation of backlog_limit.

Additional info:

Comment 1 Steve Grubb 2019-08-13 18:55:36 UTC
The backlog limit is directly above the --backlog_wait_time on the man page. Modified the text slightly to clarify:
https://github.com/linux-audit/audit-userspace/commit/e92e4839cdc4b9b2ab49125c766e435184f19e2f

Comment 2 Steve Grubb 2019-11-04 20:52:10 UTC
audit-3.0-0.14.20191104git1c2f876 has been built to address this issue.

Comment 4 Ondrej Moriš 2019-11-10 22:07:09 UTC
Acceptance Criteria:

 * backlog limit is explained in man page.

Successfully verified:

OLD (audit-3.0-0.13.20190507gitf58ec40.el8)
===========================================
       -b backlog
              Set max number of outstanding audit buffers allowed (Kernel Default=64) If all buffers are  full,  the
              failure flag is consulted by the kernel for action.

       --backlog_wait_time wait_time
              Set  the  time  for the kernel to wait (Kernel Default 60*HZ) when the backlog_limit is reached before
              queuing more audit events to be transferred to auditd. The number must be greater  than  or  equal  to
              zero and less that 10 times the default value.


NEW (audit-3.0-0.15.20191104git1c2f876.el8)
===========================================
       -b backlog
              Set max number (limit) of outstanding audit buffers allowed (Kernel Default=64)  If  all  buffers  are
              full, the failure flag is consulted by the kernel for action.

       --backlog_wait_time wait_time
              Set  the  time  for the kernel to wait (Kernel Default 60*HZ) when the backlog limit is reached before
              queuing more audit events to be transferred to auditd. The number must be greater  than  or  equal  to
              zero and less that 10 times the default value.

Backlog limit is explained [*] in '-b' option description preceding --backlog_wait option description. 

[*] max number of outstanding audit buffers allowed

One more nitpick to fix upstream - missing dot after "(Kernel Default=64)' (...allowed (Kernel Default=64)  If...).

Comment 6 errata-xmlrpc 2020-04-28 16:46:58 UTC
Since the problem described in this bug report should be
resolved in a recent advisory, it has been closed with a
resolution of ERRATA.

For information on the advisory, and where to find the updated
files, follow the link below.

If the solution does not work for you, open a new bug report.

https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2020:1812


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