linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH 0/2] Add support for Qualcomm's PRNG

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Message-ID: <20131003165130.GA11974@thunk.org>
Date:	Thu, 3 Oct 2013 12:51:30 -0400
From:	Theodore Ts'o <tytso@....edu>
To:	Stanimir Varbanov <svarbanov@...sol.com>
Cc:	Rob Herring <rob.herring@...xeda.com>,
	Pawel Moll <pawel.moll@....com>,
	Mark Rutland <mark.rutland@....com>,
	Stephen Warren <swarren@...dotorg.org>,
	Ian Campbell <ijc+devicetree@...lion.org.uk>,
	Matt Mackall <mpm@...enic.com>,
	Herbert Xu <herbert@...dor.hengli.com.au>,
	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org, Rob Landley <rob@...dley.net>,
	devicetree@...r.kernel.org, linux-doc@...r.kernel.org,
	Greg Kroah-Hartman <gregkh@...uxfoundation.org>,
	linux-arm-msm@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: [PATCH 0/2] Add support for Qualcomm's PRNG

On Thu, Oct 03, 2013 at 05:52:33PM +0300, Stanimir Varbanov wrote:
> This patch set adds hardware RNG driver wich is used to control the
> Qualcomm's PRNG hardware block.
> The first patch document the DT bindings needed to sucessfuly probe
> the driver and the second patch adds the driver.

Is this really a PRNG (pseudo-random number generator)?  What are the
guarantees which Qualcomm is providing for the PRNG?  If it's really a
PRNG such as AES(i++, NSA_KEY), then kudo to Qualcomm for being
honest.

If it is supposed to be (or at least claimed to be) a secure random
number generator ala RDRAND suitable for use in cryptographic
applications, calling it a PRNG is going to be a bit misleading.

Cheers,

						- Ted
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