[4546] in cryptography@c2.net mail archive
Re: New Intel Celeron chip set has random number generator
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Rob Lemos)
Tue Apr 27 12:46:01 1999
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1999 09:55:01 -0700
From: Rob Lemos <Rob_Lemos@zd.com>
To: John Gilmore <gnu@toad.com>
Cc: cryptography@c2.net, gnu@toad.com, wghiii@openpgp.net
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There is more information on Intel's Web site at
http://developer.intel.com/design/chipsets/810/.
Buried in there may be information on the random number generator.
-R
------------ Previous Message from John Gilmore <gnu@toad.com> on
04/26/99 05:40:37 PM ----------
To: cryptography@c2.net, gnu@toad.com
cc: wghiii@openpgp.net
Subject: New Intel Celeron chip set has random number generator
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There have been mumbles about a random number generator in Intel
executives' statements, but no solid information (e.g. where in the
product line is this coming out?) until today. I noticed it at RSA's
web site, but there's very sketchy info at the Intel site also. No
technical details or programming information are yet available.
I'm sure we'll see instant support for this in Linux's /dev/random, as
soon as Intel tells us how to access it. There's been recent analysis
of the shortcomings of /dev/random's noise sources in
coderpunks@toad.com and linux-ipsec@clinet.fi recently, as new
applications (like IPSEC) require more random bits for high security.
There's now a rudimentary /dev/random web page at
http://www.openpgp.net/random/index.html
which is maintained by William H. Geiger III <whgiii@openpgp.net>.
John
http://www.rsa.com/pressbox/html/990426.html
> RSA and Intel to Strengthen Security Offering in New
> Intel Chipset
>
> RSA First Crypto Company to Support Intel's New
> Hardware-based Security
>
> SAN MATEO, Calif., April 26, 1999 - The industry's
> leading cryptographic development software products
> took another leap forward today as RSA Data Security,
> Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Security Dynamics
> Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SDTI) announced that it is
> updating its BSAFE=AE Crypto-C and Crypto-J development
> products to add support for the hardware-based Intel
> Random Number Generator (RNG) in the Intel 810
> Chipset, the next-generation chipset that was
> announced today. RSA's Intel-ready software
> development kits will be the first to provide the
> vital link software developers need to take full
> advantage of the power of the Intel hardware-based RNG
> to protect their critical applications.
>
> RSA's enhanced BSAFE Crypto-C 4.2 and Crypto-J 2.2
> development products are designed to offer software
> developers industry-leading security for their
> applications, support for standards as well as faster
> implementation. RSA's software is designed to access
> the Intel RNG to get the small number of
> unpredictable, high entropy bits - the random seed -
> required to ensure cryptographic security, and then
> produce the cryptographic keys that applications need
> to protect vast quantities of data. In a few
> milliseconds, the Intel RNG can produce the random
> seeds that Crypto-C or Crypto-J will use to generate
> all the keys and challenges needed by an application.
> This is intended to be a much faster, more convenient
> and secure method than software-based seeding
> mechanisms which may require user input via the mouse
> or keyboard.
> ...
>
> The Intel hardware-based Random Number Generator
> harnesses system thermal noise to generate truly
> random and indeterministic values. The generator is
> free running, accumulating random bits of data in a
> 32-bit buffer which are then accessed by RSA's
> Crypto-C or Crypto-J software through the Intel
> Security Driver. This combination of RSA's software
> with the Intel RNG produces programs or applications
> with stronger encryption, digital signing and security
> protocols.
> ...
>
> RSA BSAFE=AE Crypto-C 4.2 and Crypto-J 2.2 software will
> be available in June. Both product releases are
> coincident with the availability of systems based on
> the Intel Chipset.
=
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