Re: entropy gathering (was Re: Why does reading from /dev/urandom deplete entropy so much?)

Jeff Garzik
2007-12-08T20:48:52Z

Theodore Tso wrote:
> I think the userspace config problems were mainly due to the fact that
> there wasn't a single official userspace utility package for the
> random number package. Comments in drivers/char/random.c for how to
> set up /etc/init.d/random is Just Not Enough.

Absolutely.

> If we had a single, official random number generator package that
> contained the configuration, init.d script, as well as the daemon that
> can do all sorts of different things that you really, Really, REALLY
> want to do in userspace, including:
>
> * FIPS testing (as Jeff suggested --- making sure what you think is
> randomness isn't 60Hz hum is a Really Good Idea :-)
> * access to TPM (if available --- I have a vague memory that you may
> need access to the TPM key to access any of its functions, and the
> the TPM key is stored in the filesystem)

+1 agreed

(not volunteering, but I will cheer on the hearty soul who undertakes
this endeavor...)