Difference between revisions of "Hardware random overview"
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This article gives information about the Linux® hardware random framework.
Contents
1 Article Purpose[edit]
This article gives information about the hardware random (HWRNG) framework.
2 Framework purpose[edit]
The Hardware random framework is integrated in the kernel. It provides access to RNG peripherals and focuses on supporting the hardware number generator.
3 System overview[edit]
The HW random framework allows retrieving random numbers in userland.
3.1 Component description[edit]
-
HW random core (Kernel space)
Generic interface in kernel space. This layer is in charge of creating the character device (char device) and sysfs to access hw_random.
- RNG (Kernel space)
Hardware random Linux® drivers handling the HW blocks.
- RNG (Hardware)
HW blocks handling the RNG peripheral.
3.2 API description[edit]
The Hardware random framework uses char device API[1] ioctl operations. For additional information, refer to:
- sysfs interface.
- Kernel Documentation directory[2]
4 Configuration[edit]
4.1 Kernel configuration[edit]
The Hardware random support is activated by default in ST deliveries. No specific configuration is required apart from enabling or disabling peripheral support using Linux® Menuconfig tool. Refer to Menuconfig or how to configure kernel and select:
[*] Device Drivers --->
[*] Character devices --->
[*] Hardware Random Number Generator Core support --->
[*] STMicroelectronics STM32 random number generator
4.2 Device tree configuration[edit]
DT configuration can be done thanks to the STM32CubeMX.
A detailed device tree configuration is described in RNG device tree configuration.
5 How to use the framework[edit]
The framework provides external interfaces from userland : How to control RNG.
5.1 How to use from char device[edit]
The community tool for using Hardware random framework is rng_tools[3] which provides a complete set of utilities related to random number generators:
- rngd: runs a background daemon that opens /dev/hwrng file (default) to connect and retrieve random numbers.
- rngtest: runs different tests that check the entropy and verify the compliance regarding FIPS 140-2 standard.
5.2 How to use from sysfs[edit]
Available devices compatible with Hardware framework can be listed using sysfs commands:
cat /sys/class/misc/hw_random/rng_available stm32-rng
The selected device is shown here:
cat /sys/class/misc/hw_random/rng_current stm32-rng
To select a different device:
echo "stm32-rng"> /sys/class/misc/hw_random/rng_current
6 How to trace and debug the framework[edit]
Light information on the framework can be accessed by using sysfs.
By default, the framework does not provide any specific debug output or dynamic debugging tool.
7 Source code location[edit]
Hardware random drivers and framework are available here[4].
8 To go further[edit]
Code examples are directly available from rng-tools[3] github.
9 References[edit]
<noinclude>{{ApplicableFor |MPUs list=STM32MP13x,STM32MP15x |MPUs checklist=STM32MP13x, STM32MP15x }}</noinclude> This article gives information about the Linux<sup>®</sup> hardware random framework. ==Article Purpose== This article gives information about the hardware random (HWRNG) framework. ==Framework purpose== The Hardware random framework is integrated in the kernel. It provides access to RNG peripherals and focuses on supporting the hardware number generator. ==System overview== The HW random framework allows retrieving random numbers in userland. [[File:hwrngapi.png|thumb|center|766px|link=|alt=Alternate text|Hw Random]] ===Component description=== * '''HW random core''' (Kernel space) <br> Generic interface in kernel space. This layer is in charge of creating the character device (char device) and sysfs to access hw_random. * '''RNG''' (Kernel space) Hardware random Linux<sup>®</sup> drivers handling the HW blocks. * '''RNG''' (Hardware) HW blocks handling the RNG peripheral. ===API description=== The Hardware random framework uses char device API<ref>https://bootlin.com/doc/legacy/accessing-hardware/accessing-hardware.pdf</ref> ioctl operations. For additional information, refer to: * sysfs interface. * Kernel Documentation directory<ref>{{CodeSource | Linux kernel | Documentation/admin-guide/hw_random.rst}}</ref> ==Configuration== ===Kernel configuration=== The Hardware random support is activated by default in ST deliveries. No specific configuration is required apart from enabling or disabling peripheral support using Linux<sup>®</sup> Menuconfig tool. Refer to [[Menuconfig or how to configure kernel | Menuconfig or how to configure kernel ]] and select:<pre> [*] Device Drivers ---> [*] Character devices ---> [*] Hardware Random Number Generator Core support ---> [*] STMicroelectronics STM32 random number generator</pre> ===Device tree configuration=== DT configuration can be done thanks to the [[STM32CubeMX]]. A detailed device tree configuration is described in [[RNG device tree configuration]]. == How to use the framework == The framework provides external interfaces from userland : [[How_to_control_a_RNG_in_userspace|How to control RNG]]. === How to use from char device === The community tool for using Hardware random framework is rng_tools<ref name=rngtools>[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/utils/kernel/rng-tools/rng-tools.git/ Rng_tools source code]</ref> which provides a complete set of utilities related to random number generators: * '''rngd''': runs a background daemon that opens /dev/hwrng file (default) to connect and retrieve random numbers. * '''rngtest''': runs different tests that check the entropy and verify the compliance regarding FIPS 140-2 standard. === How to use from sysfs === Available devices compatible with Hardware framework can be listed using sysfs commands: {{Board$}} cat /sys/class/misc/hw_random/rng_available '''stm32-rng''' The selected device is shown here: {{Board$}} cat /sys/class/misc/hw_random/rng_current '''stm32-rng''' To select a different device: {{Board$}} echo "stm32-rng"> /sys/class/misc/hw_random/rng_current ==How to trace and debug the framework== Light information on the framework can be accessed by using [[#How_to_use_from_sysfs|sysfs]]. By default, the framework does not provide any specific debug output or dynamic debugging tool. ==Source code location== Hardware random drivers and framework are available here<ref>{{CodeSource | Linux kernel | drivers/char/hw_random}}, Hw_random sources</ref>. ==To go further== Code examples are directly available from rng-tools<ref name=rngtools/> github. ==References== <references /> <noinclude> {{ArticleBasedOnModel | Framework overview article model}} {{PublicationRequestId | 9410 | 2018-10-24 | AnneJ}} [[Category:Security]]</noinclude>
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This article gives information about the Linux<sup>®</sup> hardware random framework. |
This article gives information about the Linux<sup>®</sup> hardware random framework. |
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