[Cryptech Tech] User auditable hardware entropy source/random number generator

[Benedikt Stockebrand]

Hi folks,

at the end of the last RIPE meeting I told Randy about a somewhat
related but smaller scale project of mine and promised to let you all
know as soon as I got any consistent results.

My intention is to build a hardware random number generator which is
expressly designed to be auditable in a non-destructive way by a user
with enthusiast grade electronics equipment and knowledge.

The current prototype runs at about 20 kByte/s and just passed the tests
I currently use (FIPS140-2 and dieharder) on about 40 GB worth of
output.

The noise generator/entropy source is using the avalanche effect in a
Zener/avalanche diode, two transistors, a few passive components, and
if otherwise unavailable a 5V->12V step-up converter.

I've also spent a bit of time on how to process the analog(ish) noise
from the generator into a proper random bitstream.

However, I currently use a microcontroller instead of an FPGA, so aside
from the fact that the microcontroller appears to be the bottleneck
right now, some of my results may need some modification to be of use to
your project.  If nothing else I can tell about my results with various
extraction algorithms.

If you are interested in this, let me know and I'll provide you with
more details.


Cheers,

    Benedikt

-- 
Benedikt Stockebrand,                   Stepladder IT Training+Consulting
Dipl.-Inform.                           http://www.stepladder-it.com/

          Business Grade IPv6 --- Consulting, Training, Projects

BIVBlog---Benedikt's IT Video Blog: http://www.stepladder-it.com/bivblog/