Re: [SLUG] svnadmin hangs - apparently I need more entropy :-(

[Michael Lake <Mike.Lake@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Michael Lake wrote:
> I have 'svnadmin create /var/lib/svn/TheProject' hanging on a Debian 
> stable box running subversionn 1.1.4. Googling finds that the problem is 
> that there is not enough entropy and suggests a recompile of I think 
> libapr0. 

I have found it in Debian Bug report logs - #285708 (subversion: svnserve hangs if 
little entropy for /dev/random) but this dates from 2004.
It suggesed this:
> Perhaps also make rng-tools a suggested package. This solved the problem 
> for me, but I think it would need a comment as to *why* rng-tools is 
> suggested. Also, rng-tools won't work on all machines - it needs the 
> hw_random kernel module or equivalent.

On the server the package rng-tools is available but how do i tell if the kernel 
supports hw_random or whatever is required? Has anyone used this package and would it 
help?

I also found this dated Jan 2006: http://blogs.herod.net/steven/archives/category/
> The solution is to:
>    1. download source version of subversion
>    2. Configure it to use /dev/urandom not /dev/random
>    3. make and then install
> And it will work!

But I don't want to recompile as then I will have packages that are not updated.

Mike
--
Michael Lake
Science Faculty, UTS
Ph: 9514 8232 Fx: 9514 1460