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diff --git a/health/guides/entropy/lowest_entropy.md b/health/guides/entropy/lowest_entropy.md deleted file mode 100644 index b53aed2c6..000000000 --- a/health/guides/entropy/lowest_entropy.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,30 +0,0 @@ -### Understand the alert - -This alert presents the minimum amount of entropy in the kernel entropy pool in the last 5 minutes. Low entropy can lead to a reduction in the quality of random numbers produced by `/dev/random` and `/dev/urandom`. - -The Netdata Agent checks for the minimum entropy value in the last 5 minutes. The alert gets raised into warning if the value < 100, and cleared if the value > 200. - -For further information on how our alerts are calculated, please have a look at our [Documentation](https://learn.netdata.cloud/docs/agent/health/reference#expressions). - -### What is entropy and why do we need it? - -Entropy is similar to "randomness". A Linux system gathers "real" random numbers by keeping an eye on different events: network activity, hard drive rotation speeds, hardware random number generator (if available), key-clicks, and so on. It feeds those to the kernel entropy pool, which is used by `/dev/random`. - -Encryption and cryptography applications require random numbers to operate. A function or an algorithm that produces numbers -*that seem to be random*- is very predictable, if you know what function is used. - -In real life, we use our surroundings and our thoughts to produce truly random numbers. A computer can't really do this by itself, so it gathers numbers from a lot of sources. For example, it can get the CO2 levels in a room from a sensor on the system and use that as a random number. - -This way all the values are random and there is no pattern to be found among them. - -### Troubleshoot the alert - -The best tool to troubleshoot the lowest entropy alert is with `rng-tools`. - -If `rng-tools` are not available for your platform, or you run into trouble, you can use the tool `haveged` as an alternative. - -### Useful resources - -1. [Entropy](https://unixhealthcheck.com/blog?id=472) -2. [rng-tools](https://github.com/nhorman/rng-tools) -3. [How to add more entropy to improve cryptographic randomness on Linux](https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-add-more-entropy-to-improve-cryptographic-randomness-on-linux/) -4. [Haveged Installation - Archlinux Wiki](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Haveged#Installation) |