Bug#631799: [squeeze] Kernel logs "name_count maxed, losing inode data" messages

[Jonathan Nieder <jrnieder@gmail.com>]

reassign 631799 src:linux linux-2.6/2.6.32-35
tags 631799 + upstream patch moreinfo
quit

Hi Rik,

Rik Theys wrote:

> On some of our servers, we periodically see "name_count maxed,
> losing inode data" messages in the kernel log.

As you mentioned, this is said to be fixed by

	commit 5195d8e217a7
	Author: Eric Paris <eparis@redhat.com>
	Date:   Tue Jan 3 14:23:05 2012 -0500

	    audit: dynamically allocate audit_names when not enough
	    space is in the names array

which is part of 3.3.

Am I correct in understanding that the wheezy kernel is affected, too?
What is the impact of this bug --- does it flood logs in some
situations, for example, or does it lose important information?  Is
the fix harmless or does it have potential downsides?

With thanks, lazily,
Jonathan