rnd(9) - NetBSD Manual Pages

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RND(9)                 NetBSD Kernel Developer's Manual                 RND(9)


NAME

     RND, rnd_attach_source, rnd_detach_source, rnd_add_data, rnd_add_uint32
     -- functions to make a device available for entropy collection


SYNOPSIS

     #include <sys/rnd.h>

     void
     rnd_attach_source(rndsource_element_t *rnd_source, char *devname,
         uint32_t source_type, uint32_t flags);

     void
     rnd_detach_source(rndsource_element_t *rnd_source);

     void
     rnd_add_data(rndsource_element_t *rnd_source, void *data, uint32_t len,
         uint32_t entropy);

     void
     rnd_add_uint32(rndsource_element_t *rnd_source, uint32_t datum);


DESCRIPTION

     These RND functions make a device available for entropy collection for
     /dev/random.

     Ideally the first argument rnd_source of these functions gets included in
     the devices' entity struct, but any means to permanently (static) attach
     one such argument to one incarnation of the device is ok.  Do not share
     rnd_source structures between two devices.

     rnd_attach_source(rndsource_element_t *rnd_source, char *devname,
               uint32_t source_type, uint32_t flags)
               This function announces the availability of a device for
               entropy collection.  It must be called before the source struct
               pointed to by rnd_source is used in any of the following func-
               tions.

               devname is the name of the device.  It is used to print a mes-
               sage (if the kernel is compiled with ``options RND_VERBOSE'')
               and also for status information printed with rndctl(8).

               source_type is RND_TYPE_NET for network devices, RND_TYPE_DISK
               for physical disks, RND_TYPE_TAPE for a tape drive, and
               RND_TYPE_TTY for a tty.  RND_TYPE_UNKNOWN is not to be used as
               a type.  It is used internally to the rnd system.

               flags are the logical OR of RND_FLAG_NO_COLLECT (don't collect
               or estimate) RND_FLAG_NO_ESTIMATE (don't estimate) to control
               the default setting for collection and estimation.  Note that
               devices of type RND_TYPE_NET default to RND_FLAG_NO_ESTIMATE.

     rnd_detach_source(rndsource_element_t *rnd_source)
               This function disconnects the device from entropy collection.

     rnd_add_uint32(rndsource_element_t *rnd_source, uint32_t datum)
               This function adds the value of datum to the entropy pool.  No
               entropy is assumed to be collected from this value, it merely
               helps stir the entropy pool.  All entropy is gathered from jit-
               ter between the timing of events.

               Note that using a constant for datum does not weaken security,
               but it does not help.  Try to use something that can change,
               such as an interrupt status register which might have a bit set
               for receive ready or transmit ready, or other device status
               information.

               To allow the system to gather the timing information accu-
               rately, this call should be placed within the actual hardware
               interrupt service routine.  Care must be taken to ensure that
               the interrupt was actually serviced by the interrupt handler,
               since on some systems interrupts can be shared.

               This function loses nearly all usefulness if it is called from
               a scheduled software interrupt.  If that is the only way to add
               the device as an entropy source, don't.

               If it is desired to mix in the datum and to add in a timestamp,
               but not to actually estimate entropy from a source of random-
               ness, passing NULL for rnd_source is permitted, and the device
               does not need to be attached.

     rnd_add_data(rndsource_element_t *rnd_source, void *data, uint32_t len,
               uint32_t entropy)
               adds (hopefully) random data to the entropy pool.  len is the
               number of bytes in data and entropy is an "entropy quality"
               measurement.  If every bit of data is known to be random,
               entropy is the number of bits in data.

               Timing information is also used to add entropy into the system,
               using inter-event timings.

               If it is desired to mix in the data and to add in a timestamp,
               but not to actually estimate entropy from a source of random-
               ness, passing NULL for rnd_source is permitted, and the device
               does not need to be attached.


FILES

     These functions are declared in src/sys/sys/rnd.h and defined in
     src/sys/dev/rnd.c.


SEE ALSO

     rnd(4), rndctl(8)


HISTORY

     The random device was introduced in NetBSD 1.3.


AUTHORS

     This implementation was written by Michael Graff <explorer@flame.org>
     using ideas and algorithms gathered from many sources, including the
     driver written by Ted Ts'o.


BUGS

     The only good sources of randomness are quantum mechanical, and most com-
     puters avidly avoid having true sources of randomness included.  Don't
     expect to surpass "pretty good".

NetBSD 4.0                     October 20, 1997                     NetBSD 4.0