[4556] in cryptography@c2.net mail archive
Re: New Intel Celeron chip set has random number generator
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Michael Motyka)
Wed Apr 28 15:17:56 1999
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1999 18:29:40 -0700
From: Michael Motyka <mmotyka@lsil.com>
Reply-To: mmotyka@lsil.com
To: M Taylor <mctylr@privacy.nb.ca>
Cc: Rob Lemos <Rob_Lemos@zd.com>, cryptography@c2.net
> The Firmware Hub integrates a Random Number Generator (RNG) using thermal
> noise generated from inherently random quantum mechanical properties of
> silicon. When not generating new random bits the RNG circuitry will enter a
> low power state. Intel will provide a binary software driver to give third
> party software access to our RNG for use as a security feature.
>
> At this time, the RNG is only to be used with a system in an OS-present state.
>
I really don't understand this: it's just a piece of HW - shouldn't
there be a spec for how to start/stop/read it? Maybe it's nice and has
its own DMA. Still pretty simple. What does an OS-present have to do
with it?
Mike
