Re: PIII kernel support- hardware randomizer

Alan Cox (alan@lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk)
Thu, 14 Oct 1999 17:45:26 +0100 (BST)


> interest I have in the PIII and above is the hardware random number
> generator (using thermal noise). I have seen discussion of PIII kernel
> patches, but not about the random number generator. Does support for

I was under the impression the random number generator is one of the features
of the up coming (or ever delaying) 820 chipsets not of the CPU itself.

> IMHO, the hardware random generator might improve cryptography somewhat,
> and is the only feature desirable to me that the Althon lacks (AFAIK,
> anyway).

The Linux /dev/random is effectively a hardware RNG. It uses entropy data
from keyboard timings and other interrupts that depend on your typing
timing, the disk timings etc

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