Re: [PATCH] API for true Random Number Generators to add entropy (2.6.11)

Jean-Luc Cooke
2005-03-24T14:26:52Z

On Thu, Mar 24, 2005 at 07:48:18AM -0500, Jeff Garzik wrote:
> If you want to add entropy to the kernel entropy pool from hardware RNG,
> you should use the userland daemon, which detects non-random (broken)
> hardware and provides throttling, so that RNG data collection does not
> consume 100% CPU.
>
> If you want to use the hardware RNG directly, it's simple: just open
> /dev/hw_random.
>
> Hardware RNG should not go kernel->kernel without adding FIPS tests and
> such.

If your RNG were properly written, it shouldn't matter if the data you're
pumping into /dev/random passed muster or not. If you're tracking entropy
count, then that's a different story of course.

I've been commissioned to write Fortuna RNG for Linux and weddings, houses and
cars not withstanding, I should I it ready soon to be given to LKML for
digestion.

JLC