From owner-freebsd-current Tue Oct 29 10:12:17 1996 Return-Path: owner-current Received: (from root@localhost) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.7.5/8.7.3) id KAA14220 for current-outgoing; Tue, 29 Oct 1996 10:12:17 -0800 (PST) Received: from grumble.grondar.za (grumble.grondar.za [196.7.18.130]) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.7.5/8.7.3) with ESMTP id KAA14212 for ; Tue, 29 Oct 1996 10:12:04 -0800 (PST) Received: from grumble.grondar.za (mark@localhost.grondar.za [127.0.0.1]) by grumble.grondar.za (8.8.2/8.7.3) with ESMTP id UAA25523 for ; Tue, 29 Oct 1996 20:11:30 +0200 (SAT) Message-Id: <199610291811.UAA25523@grumble.grondar.za> To: current@freebsd.org Subject: Sources of entropy in the kernel? Date: Tue, 29 Oct 1996 20:11:29 +0200 From: Mark Murray Sender: owner-current@freebsd.org X-Loop: FreeBSD.org Precedence: bulk Hi I am busy updating the entropy (/dev/random) device, and I am looking for some sources of randomness in the kernel. I have a copy of Ted Ts'o's code for Linux, an I am busy hammering it into shape. In order to improve on its value, I would like to be able to stir in various bits of kernel activity. To this end, I would appreciate some input, please. (I have very little kernel knowledge, and not much experience there, so please be patient...) I am looking for dynamic tables in the kernel that could be "stirred in" when a user reads entropy, things like process tables, vm status, etc. (It is important to note that these will only get read when the user reads /dev/random, not at each "stir" of the pool of entropy). (This represents a change in my sentiments - I previously believed that these tables were attackable) SO... Which tables are available? (Preferably arrays of "stuff" that can get linearly read. What are their names, and where are they? vm_page_queues in vm_page.h? ALSO... I'd like to make the option (via an ioctl) to hook block devices for randomness. (The position of an HD's head is a nice source). Any ideas here? M -- Mark Murray 46 Harvey Rd, Claremont, Cape Town 7700, South Africa +27 21 61-3768 GMT+0200 Finger mark@grondar.za for PGP key