linux-kernel - Re: entropy gathering (was Re: Why does reading from /dev/urandom deplete entropy so much?)

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Date:	Sat, 08 Dec 2007 15:47:40 -0500
From:	Jeff Garzik <jeff@...zik.org>
To:	Theodore Tso <tytso@....edu>, Matt Mackall <mpm@...enic.com>,
	Mike McGrath <mmcgrath@...hat.com>,
	Jon Masters <jonathan@...masters.org>,
	Alan Cox <alan@...rguk.ukuu.org.uk>,
	Ray Lee <ray@...rabbit.org>, Adrian Bunk <bunk@...nel.org>,
	Marc Haber <mh+linux-kernel@...schlus.de>,
	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org, hmh@...ian.org
Subject: Re: entropy gathering (was Re: Why does reading from /dev/urandom
 deplete entropy so much?)

Theodore Tso wrote:
> I think the userspace config problems were mainly due to the fact that
> there wasn't a single official userspace utility package for the
> random number package.  Comments in drivers/char/random.c for how to
> set up /etc/init.d/random is Just Not Enough.

Absolutely.


> If we had a single, official random number generator package that
> contained the configuration, init.d script, as well as the daemon that
> can do all sorts of different things that you really, Really, REALLY
> want to do in userspace, including:
> 
>   * FIPS testing (as Jeff suggested --- making sure what you think is 
>     randomness isn't 60Hz hum is a Really Good Idea :-)
>   * access to TPM (if available --- I have a vague memory that you may
>     need access to the TPM key to access any of its functions, and the
>     the TPM key is stored in the filesystem)

+1 agreed

(not volunteering, but I will cheer on the hearty soul who undertakes 
this endeavor...)

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