linux-kernel - Re: Entropy Pool Contents

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Message-ID: <456C7603.7030005@cfl.rr.com>
Date:	Tue, 28 Nov 2006 12:46:43 -0500
From:	Phillip Susi <psusi@....rr.com>
To:	Martin Mares <mj@....cz>
CC:	David Wagner <daw-usenet@...erner.cs.berkeley.edu>,
	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: Entropy Pool Contents

Martin Mares wrote:
> I'm adding entropy, but unless I record the exact amount of entropy when
> dumping the pool, I don't know how much I am adding, so using any fixed
> number is obviously wrong.

You aren't dumping and restoring the entropy pool; you are dumping 
random data generated by the pool, and using that data to stir the new 
entropy pool after the next boot.  There is no direct relationship 
between the entropy of the old and new pools.  The kernel needs to 
decide how much entropy you added based on how much random data you 
provide it with to stir the pool.

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