Ian Lepore
2017-09-13 16:34:34 UTC
While looking into updating the hardware rng driver for RPi 3 I
discovered that on the original wimpy RPi we're feeding
random_harvest_queue() with 16 bytes of generated data, 82 times a
second. That seems like a lot of work for a wimpy processor, and
probably more than needed for good random numbers.
I looked at some other rng drivers, and I see them feeding in a few
bytes at a time at rates ranging from 100 Hz to once every 5 seconds.
So no clear concensus there. Some have this comment:
/* MarkM: FIX!! Check that this does not swamp the harvester! */
A comment block above random_harvest_queue() warns, in part:
* It is also illegal (and morally reprehensible) to insert any
* high-rate data here.
So is there any simple "X bytes per second is good and more than Y is
wasted/harmful" advice available?
-- Ian
discovered that on the original wimpy RPi we're feeding
random_harvest_queue() with 16 bytes of generated data, 82 times a
second. That seems like a lot of work for a wimpy processor, and
probably more than needed for good random numbers.
I looked at some other rng drivers, and I see them feeding in a few
bytes at a time at rates ranging from 100 Hz to once every 5 seconds.
So no clear concensus there. Some have this comment:
/* MarkM: FIX!! Check that this does not swamp the harvester! */
A comment block above random_harvest_queue() warns, in part:
* It is also illegal (and morally reprehensible) to insert any
* high-rate data here.
So is there any simple "X bytes per second is good and more than Y is
wasted/harmful" advice available?
-- Ian