Re: syscall(getrandom) not supported

2016-07-23 Thread Peter P.
Dear Christoph,

* Christoph Biedl <mutt.c...@manchmal.in-ulm.de> [2016-07-23 10:29]:
> Peter P. wrote ...
> 
> > When sending encrypted mail from mutt using gpg I do get the following
> > error message from gpg:
> > 
> > gpg: DBG: syscall(getrandom) not supported; errno = 38
> > 
> > The mail is sent nevertheless, but I am wondering why the error message
> > is there. A quick online search did not bring up something and I was
> > womdering if this list could help me, or tell me where to ask next.
> 
> Came across that message somewhere else, investigated and decided to
> share as your question shows up when searching it in the net, but no
> explanations.
> 
> Executive summary: It's harmless, and it will go away in the future.
Thank you! Indeed that was my experience (and I forgot to report back to
this list).
 
> Full story: A while ago, the kernel learned a new syscall "getrandom"
> that eases access to random data, something always needed when
> dealing with cryptography. The gpg programm uses the libgcrypt library
> which tries to use that syscall first, which is a good thing. Upon
> failure, it emits that warning, and falls back to the old style of
> gaining random data. Which is not perfect but it worked the last
> years.
> 
> Code:
> http://sources.debian.net/src/libgcrypt20/1.7.1-2/random/rndlinux.c/#L239
> 
> That syscall was introduced around kernel 3.16 but the Debian jessie
> kernel appearently does not have it yet. The change in libgcrypt was
> after 1.6.3 (as in Debian jessie) and at 1.7.2 (as in Debian stretch)
> the latest. I can trigger the message in Debian by running gpg on a
> jessie kernel (3.16) inside a stretch chroot.
> 
> As soon as you'll switch to a newer kernel, libgcrypt will be happy
> again.
As happy as I am today ;)
Thanks for your kind explanation!

Peter


Re: syscall(getrandom) not supported

2016-07-23 Thread Christoph Biedl
Peter P. wrote ...

> When sending encrypted mail from mutt using gpg I do get the following
> error message from gpg:
> 
> gpg: DBG: syscall(getrandom) not supported; errno = 38
> 
> The mail is sent nevertheless, but I am wondering why the error message
> is there. A quick online search did not bring up something and I was
> womdering if this list could help me, or tell me where to ask next.

Came across that message somewhere else, investigated and decided to
share as your question shows up when searching it in the net, but no
explanations.

Executive summary: It's harmless, and it will go away in the future.

Full story: A while ago, the kernel learned a new syscall "getrandom"
that eases access to random data, something always needed when
dealing with cryptography. The gpg programm uses the libgcrypt library
which tries to use that syscall first, which is a good thing. Upon
failure, it emits that warning, and falls back to the old style of
gaining random data. Which is not perfect but it worked the last
years.

Code:
http://sources.debian.net/src/libgcrypt20/1.7.1-2/random/rndlinux.c/#L239

That syscall was introduced around kernel 3.16 but the Debian jessie
kernel appearently does not have it yet. The change in libgcrypt was
after 1.6.3 (as in Debian jessie) and at 1.7.2 (as in Debian stretch)
the latest. I can trigger the message in Debian by running gpg on a
jessie kernel (3.16) inside a stretch chroot.

As soon as you'll switch to a newer kernel, libgcrypt will be happy
again.

Christoph


syscall(getrandom) not supported

2016-06-27 Thread Peter P.
When sending encrypted mail from mutt using gpg I do get the following
error message from gpg:

gpg: DBG: syscall(getrandom) not supported; errno = 38

The mail is sent nevertheless, but I am wondering why the error message
is there. A quick online search did not bring up something and I was
womdering if this list could help me, or tell me where to ask next.

thank you for all ideas!
P