Messages in this thread | | | Subject | Re: [DUMB]: Is kernel oops always a kernel bug ??? | From | Valdis.Kletnieks@vt ... | Date | Fri, 17 Jan 2003 01:18:35 -0500 |
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On Fri, 17 Jan 2003 11:33:46 +0530, Linux Geek <bourne@ToughGuy.net> said: > If a kernel oops, then is the problem always with the kernel ? Can't a > user proggie ( running as root ) do something insane and make the > kernel oops ?
At least in theory, there should be *nothing* that can happen in user space that will kill the kernel. However, in practice, if a program is running as root, it can definitely blortch things up. This is mostly due to the assumption that the root user has a clue, and that if they are (for instance) opening /proc/kcore for writing, that they know what they're doing. Similarly, if a program opens /dev/hda1 for writing and scribbles over the superblock, it may be a bit difficult to mount the filesystem.
So in general, yes, the root user can screw things up in the kernel. On the other hand, the root user can also 'rm -rf /' which doesn't require any extraordinary kernel assistance, just the unlink() system call. The only solution here is to not give root to clueless bozos, and to take regular backups. ;) -- Valdis Kletnieks Computer Systems Senior Engineer Virginia Tech
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