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Bug 446076

Summary: [RHEL5 U2] iwl4965 -> compat module taints kernel
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Reporter: Brian Hardbarger <hardbar>
Component: kernelAssignee: John W. Linville <linville>
Status: CLOSED ERRATA QA Contact: Martin Jenner <mjenner>
Severity: medium Docs Contact:
Priority: low    
Version: 5.2CC: bxu, cward, dzickus, ltroan, syeghiay
Target Milestone: rc   
Target Release: ---   
Hardware: x86_64   
OS: Linux   
Whiteboard:
Fixed In Version: Doc Type: Bug Fix
Doc Text:
Story Points: ---
Clone Of: Environment:
Last Closed: 2009-01-20 20:24:35 UTC Type: ---
Regression: --- Mount Type: ---
Documentation: --- CRM:
Verified Versions: Category: ---
oVirt Team: --- RHEL 7.3 requirements from Atomic Host:
Cloudforms Team: --- Target Upstream Version:
Embargoed:
Bug Depends On:    
Bug Blocks: 432382    
Attachments:
Description Flags
/var/log/messages file
none
jwltest-mac80211-compat-module-license.patch none

Description Brian Hardbarger 2008-05-12 16:21:13 UTC
From Bugzilla Helper:
User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux x86_64; en-US; rv:1.9b5) Gecko/2008042803 Red Hat/3.0b5-0.beta5.6.el5 Firefox/3.0b5

Description of problem:
I have a Lenovo ThinkPad T61 with Intel Wireless card Intel Pro/Wireless 4965 abgn.  This hardware causes the module iwl4965 and mac80211 to be loaded, along with a module called "compat".  This "compat" module causes the following message in dmesg:

 kernel: compat: module license 'unspecified' taints kernel.

If I disable the wireless card in the BIOS, this message goes away, and the kernel is not tainted.

I found this while running hts for certification.

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):
kernel-2.6.18-92.el5

How reproducible:
Always


Steps to Reproduce:
1. Load the 5.2 GMC code. Deselect Virtualization.  Take default options.
2. Boot system.
3. Loot at dmesg | grep taint -- the module compat taints the kernel.

Actual Results:
Kernel is tainted.

Expected Results:
Kernel should not be tainted by this module.

Additional info:

Comment 1 Brian Hardbarger 2008-05-12 16:25:21 UTC
Created attachment 305143 [details]
/var/log/messages file

My /var/log/messages file -- note that on the last boot, the kernel tainted
message goes away -- this is because I prevented the iwlwifi module from
loading by disabling it in the BIOS.

Comment 2 John W. Linville 2008-05-14 21:49:15 UTC
Created attachment 305407 [details]
jwltest-mac80211-compat-module-license.patch

Comment 3 John W. Linville 2008-05-14 21:50:15 UTC
Above patch is in the test kernels here:

   http://people.redhat.com/linville/kernels/rhel5/

Do they resolve the issue?

Comment 4 Xu Bo 2008-05-15 02:55:54 UTC
John, howdy,

Would this patch be possible to be added into the RHEL5.2 GA? This bug would
affect our hardware certification process on RHEL5.2 GA.

Thanks,
/Xu

Comment 5 John W. Linville 2008-05-15 18:14:42 UTC
I think it is too late for 5.2 -- maybe Don will contradict me.

Comment 6 Don Zickus 2008-05-15 19:06:01 UTC
It is too late for 5.2.  You will have to go through SEG to get this into 5.2.z

Comment 7 John W. Linville 2008-08-14 20:07:21 UTC
New test kernels with an alternative fix are here:

   http://people.redhat.com/linville/kernels/rhel5/

Please give them a try and verify that the problem disappears...thanks!

Comment 9 Don Zickus 2008-09-03 03:39:44 UTC
in kernel-2.6.18-107.el5
You can download this test kernel from http://people.redhat.com/dzickus/el5

Comment 15 Chris Ward 2008-11-28 07:14:31 UTC
Partners, this bug should be fixed in the latest RHEL 5.3 Snapshot. We believe that you have some interest in its correct functionality, so we're making a friendly request to send us some testing feedback. 

If you have a chance to test it, please share with us your findings. If you have successfully VERIFIED the fix, please add PartnerVerified to the Bugzilla keywords, along with a description of the results. Thanks!

Comment 16 Chris Ward 2008-12-18 10:39:01 UTC
~~ Snapshot 6 is out ~~ Partners, please test and let us know if this bug has been fixed. Add PartnerVerified keyword if everything works as expected. For any new issues encountered, CLONE this bug and report the issues in the new bug.

Comment 18 errata-xmlrpc 2009-01-20 20:24:35 UTC
An advisory has been issued which should help the problem
described in this bug report. This report is therefore being
closed with a resolution of ERRATA. For more information
on therefore solution and/or where to find the updated files,
please follow the link below. You may reopen this bug report
if the solution does not work for you.

http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2009-0225.html