Re: Putting a random translator into the Hurd directly?

[Constantine Kousoulos]

Michael Casadevall wrote:
> I've recently started hacking on Hurd again, and I'm curious why a 
> random translator isn't included by default in the Hurd. Looking at the 
> wiki, there are at least two different translators; we should have one 
> of these included out of the box because without /dev/(u)random, its 
> impossible to have SSH and a bunch of other programs.
>
> I'm still somewhat new around here, so if anyone wants to explain to me 
> the proper process for having something added to the CVS repository 
> (such as the random translator), I'm all ears.

Hello Michael,

In order to use a random translator, we need a good entropy 
gathering source. The best way to gather entropy is to trap 
(keyboard, mouse and other) interrupts from the kernel. In other 
words, the GNU Mach kernel needs to be modified.

There is also the user space application egd, but i think that is 
too slow to use and not trustworthy for serious cryptografic 
operations.

Ragards,
Constantine