[Csync2] csync -k

[Clifford Wolf]

Hi,

On Fri, Dec 09, 2005 at 09:49:55AM -0800, Discussion Lists wrote:
> Wanted to find out what I am doing wrong.  When I type "csync -k
> keyfile" it just hangs forever.  Any ideas on how to resolve this?

type some stuff on the keybord or otherwise fill the kernel entropy pool.

The device file /dev/random (which is used by 'csync -k') provides 'real'
random nomber (using pseudo random numbers would be dangerous for security
relevant applications such as generating pre shared secrets).

If no new random numbers are available, /dev/random block until there are
new numbers in the kernel entropy pool. It is a well known problem that
e.g. on diskless boxes the kernel entropy pool tends to get empty and so
block stuff such as 'csync2 -k'.

One solution would be to replace /dev/random with a symlink to /dev/urandom
on such machines. But this should only be considered if security is not an
issue...

yours,
 - clifford

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