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DESCRIPTION

The caller must zero an rnd_source object before using it. Ideally the first argument rnd_source of these functions gets included in the devices' entity struct, but any means to permanently (statically) attach one such argument to one incarnation of the device is ok. Do not share rnd_source structures between two devices, and make sure to serialize all access to each rnd_source, for example with mutex(9).

rndsource_setcb(krndsource_t *rnd_source, void (*callback)(size_t, void *), void *cookie)

This function sets a callback to be invoked when the kernel entropy pool is hungry. It is optional; if used, it must be used before rnd_attach_source(), and the caller must pass RND_FLAG_HASCB to rnd_attach_source() in order for the callback to be used. The callback is invoked as callback (nbytes, cookie), where nbytes is the number of bytes requested for the entropy pool, and cookie is the cookie that was passed to rndsource_setcb(). The callback normally does one of two things:

• Sends a request to a hardware device for entropy and returns. The hardware will later return data asynchronously by an interrupt, and the callback will use rnd_add_data() or rnd_add_uint32() to add the data to the pool.
• Synchronously gathers entropy from hardware — for example, by a CPU instruction like Intel RDSEED. In this case, in order to add data to the pool before returning, the callback must use rnd_add_data_sync(), not rnd_add_data() or rnd_add_uint32().

rnd_attach_source(krndsource_t *rnd_source, char *devname, uint32_t source_type, uint32_t flags)

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 is RND_TYPE_NET for network devices, RND_TYPE_DISK for physical disks, RND_TYPE_TAPE for a tape drive, RND_TYPE_TTY for a tty, RND_TYPE_RNG for a random number generator, and RND_TYPE_ENV for an environment sensor. RND_TYPE_UNKNOWN is not to be used as a type. It is used internally to the rnd system.

flags are the logical OR of RND_FLAG_COLLECT_VALUE (mix data provided by this source into the pool) RND_FLAG_COLLECT_TIME (mix timestamps from this source into the pool) RND_FLAG_ESTIMATE_VALUE (use a delta estimator to count bits of entropy from this source's data towards the pool estimate) RND_FLAG_ESTIMATE_TIME (use a delta estimator to count bits of entropy from this source's timestamps towards the pool estimate) RND_FLAG_HASCB (caller specified a callback with rndsource_setcb()). For many devices, RND_FLAG_DEFAULT (RND_FLAG_COLLECT_VALUE | RND_FLAG_COLLECT_TIME | RND_FLAG_ESTIMATE_TIME) is the best choice. Note that devices of type RND_TYPE_NET default to RND_FLAG_COLLECT_VALUE | RND_FLAG_COLLECT_TIME (no entropy counted).

rnd_detach_source(krndsource_t *rnd_source)

This function disconnects the device from entropy collection.

rnd_add_uint32(krndsource_t *rnd_source, uint32_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_uint32() must not be used during a callback as set with rndsource_setcb(); use rnd_add_data_sync() instead.

rnd_add_data(krndsource_t *rnd_source, void *data, uint32_t len, uint32_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.

rnd_add_data() must not be used during a callback as set with rndsource_setcb(); use rnd_add_data_sync() instead.