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Security update for Linux kernel

Knowledgebase

(Last modified: 26JUN2006)


solutions Security update for Linux kernel SuSE Linux Maintenance Web (12a3164d5f6149ce1ae47420988f9a67)

Applies to

Package: kernel-s390
kernel-source
kernel-syms
Product(s): SUSE CORE 9 for IBM S/390 31bit
Patch: patch-11077
Release: 20060626
Obsoletes: c7910bbd0cc63477f583e6a6b35500ab

Indications

Everyone using the Linux Kernel should update.

Contraindications

None.

Problem description

This kernel update fixes the following security problems and the following non security bugs:
  • Unexport shrink_dcache_anon (unexported upstream on 19 Oct 2004) [#136310]
  • Don't dirty the inode if it is being freed in xfs_iunpin [#179117]
  • fusion driver might hang during error recovery [#173914]
  • fusion driver: Oops when device is taken offline under I/O [#172910]
  • fusion driver: Restore queue_depth control from before SP3 [#172910]
  • Fix IO restart on BLKPREP_DEFER [#173489]
  • Kill request on invalid sgtable mapping [#173489]
  • Fix blk_recalc_rq_segments[#] (173489)
Fixes for i586:
  • Fix oops in cifs_unlink [#173177]
  • CIFS kernel module deadlock when renaming/moving files [#173178]
Fixes for S/390:
  • mark tape_3590 as supported
Additional Infos for kernel (s390 specific)
Patchcluster 34
  • Problem-ID: 21445 - dasd: Fixed open_count usage.
  • Problem-ID: 22299 - cio: Setting devices online does not fail as expected.
  • Problem-ID: 22300 - cio: Deadlocks during machine checks.
  • Problem-ID: 22169 - kernel: iucv message limit for smsg
  • Problem-ID: 22170 - kernel: spin lock retry performance.
  • Problem-ID: 21974 - kernel: strnlen_user() may return wrong values.
  • Problem-ID: 22497 - kernel: make cmm related proc entries world readable.
  • Problem-ID: 23074 - kernel: Missing error check on signal frame setup.
  • Problem-ID: 22098 - net:ctc: The former experimental and untested tty feature of the ctc network driver shows some problems. As this feature is not known to be used it is removed now.
  • Problem-ID: 22637 - qeth: qethconf not adding IPv4 addresses.
  • Problem-ID: 22956 - qeth: tx_bytes and rx_bytes counter are not set properly.
  • Problem-ID: 22965 - qeth: setting of attribute "route6" to "primary_router" works only once.
  • Problem-ID: 22991 - qeth: /proc/qeth_perf reports negative times.
  • Problem-ID: 22772 - z90crypt: Analysis revealed unreachable code.
  • Problem-ID: 22773 - z90crypt: Analysis revealed a possible memory overlay.
Patchcluster 35
  • Problem-ID: 23146 - cio: Enable interrupts on error path.
  • Problem-ID: 23146 - cio: I/O failing after CHPID is offline despite remaining CHPIDs.
  • Problem-ID: 23355 - kernel: Signal handling bug.
  • Problem-ID: 23074 - kernel: Bug in setup_rt_frame().
  • Problem-ID: 22969 - net: initcall order.
  • Problem-ID: 22223 - qdio: I/O stall with zfcp in low-memory situation.
  • Problem-ID: 23195 - qeth: Race condition possible during device recovery.
  • Problem-ID: 23458 - qeth: System crash during data transmission.
Patchcluster 36
  • This patch provides the GPL version of 3590 tape device driver discipline
Patchcluster 37
  • Problem-ID: 22671 - kernel: software watchdog crashes.
  • Problem-ID: 17213 - lcs: Unpredictable results after cable pull/plug-in.
spin_retry Kernel parameter
With this update an additional kernel-command line parameter is provided. The default value is 0 for this parameter. Setting this parameter to 1000 has shown for most workloads on a linux runnig under z/VM that the number of DIAG 44 calls is significant reduced.
To set the parameter please add the following to the kernel command line:
spin_retry=1000
For further description of the named Problem IDs, please look at
http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/linux390/april2004_recommended.html

Solution

Please install the updates provided at the location noted below.

Installation notes

This update is provided as an RPM package that can easily be installed onto a running system by using this command:
rpm -Fvh kernel-s390x.rpm kernel-source.rpm kernel-syms.rpm zipl
When rebooting the Linux on zSeries z/VM guests, please ensure that you have installed the PTFs for APAR VM63742:
  • z/VM 4.4: UM31426
  • z/VM 5.1: UM31428
Otherwise re-boot under z/VM will not work anymore.
Finally, reboot the system with
shutdown -r now
to load the new kernel (replace "now" with the appropriate amount of time to allow local users to cleanly log out, for example "+5" for five minutes.)

links to download packages

Download Source Packages

Download the source code of the patches for maintained products.


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