topic Re: Tainted kernel - hpasm driver in Operating System - Linux

Tainted kernel - hpasm driver

Brian Shepard — Fri, 04 Jun 2004 13:22:46 GMT

The kernel is indeed tainted by the HP Health driver (hpasm). I just did an lsmod and it clearly shows it being tainted. Does anyone know if this will void my RedHat support agreement? If not, could RedHat support blow me off and say somthing like "sorry, your kernel is tainted and we cannot help you."
Anyone? Thoughts?

Re: Tainted kernel - hpasm driver

Mark Grant — Fri, 04 Jun 2004 15:42:38 GMT

Brian,

I don't know for sure but considering a Red Hat kernel is (and I quote from a recent linux magazine) "patched, in the eyes of many linux users, far beyond what is acceptabe" I think Red Hat would be hard pushed to refuse support for a tainted kernel.

A tainted kernel is only one that is currently running a non-fully GPL module. Many modules a re non-gpl, vmware modules for example, even nvidia graphics drivers are. I don't think Red Hat would suggest you weren't able to run either of these.

Re: Tainted kernel - hpasm driver

dirk dierickx — Mon, 07 Jun 2004 01:23:07 GMT

I think it will be voided. Indeed the RH kernel is patched but all changes are _open_ and thus available to everybody. Clearly RH will support their own kernel, but they can _not_ be expected to go and support problems when customers are using closed or other drivers not included by default in the kernel package.

If i go and patch my apache, RH will not support that either, and that is just the web server we are talking about.

Re: Tainted kernel - hpasm driver

Wing Tung Leung — Mon, 07 Jun 2004 02:44:52 GMT

You can always ask Redhat support, even if you're using a tainted module. Or you might remove the module temporarily and try to reproduce the problem, before contacting them.

Just rmmod might do the trick.

Re: Tainted kernel - hpasm driver

Roberto Polli — Mon, 07 Jun 2004 04:43:59 GMT

HP machines+RH are certified so you don't have to worry.
The kernely tainting, as suggested, is due to proprietary modules.

Enjoy,
R.

Re: Tainted kernel - hpasm driver

Don_89 — Mon, 07 Jun 2004 13:59:01 GMT

Red Hat support isn't that good for what you pay for. 6 months ago, you used to get a technician on the phone towork with you. Now, they have people taking calls and techs get back to you through their web portal. I would suggest calling HP and working with their Unix techs since they would have more knowledge of this issue and RH.

Re: Tainted kernel - hpasm driver

Brian Shepard — Tue, 08 Jun 2004 12:59:11 GMT

RedHat says they will not support any kernel related issues, but will indeed support all other non kernel related issues.