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, u_int32_t source_type_flag);
void
rnd_detach_source(rndsource_element_t *rnd_source);
void
rnd_add_data(rndsource_element_t *rnd_source, void *data, u_int32_t len, u_int32_t entropy);
void
rnd_add_uint32(rndsource_element_t *rnd_source, u_int32_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, u_int32_t source_type_flag)
    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 functions. devname is the name of the device. It is used to print a message (if the kernel is compiled with ``options RND_VERBOSE'') and also for status information printed with rndctl(8). source_type_flag 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.

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

rnd_add_uint32(rndsource_element_t *rnd_source, u_int32_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 jitter 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 accurately, 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 randomness, 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, u_int32_t len, u_int32_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 randomness, passing NULL for rnd_source is permitted, and the device does not need to be attached.

HISTORY
The random device was first made available in NetBSD 1.3.

AUTHOR
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 computers avidly avoid having true sources of randomness included. Don't expect to surpass "pretty good". This system is considered experimental in NetBSD 1.3.

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

SEE ALSO
rndctl(8), rnd(4).