Re: enable dual rng on VIA C7

From: Andrew Morton
Date: Tue Nov 27 2007 - 15:52:33 EST


On Tue, 27 Nov 2007 13:50:53 -0500
Dave Jones <davej@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> On Tue, Nov 27, 2007 at 05:08:26PM +0100, Udo van den Heuvel wrote:
> > Dave Jones wrote:
> > > On Mon, Nov 26, 2007 at 06:02:39PM +0100, Udo van den Heuvel wrote:
> > >
> > > > I did not know we are already that far ;-)
> > > > I mean: can this patch be aplied without hurting C3/C7 CPU's with just
> > > > one RNG? Maybe an expert needs to test/answer?
> > > > Maybe some logic needs to be applied around the extra bit?
> > >
> > >>From the padlock spec..
> > >
> > > "SRC Bits[9:8] Noise source select (I): These bits control the two noise
> > > sources on the processor that input bits to the accumulation buffers.
> > > On Nehemiah processors prior to stepping 8, these bits are reserved
> > > and undefined. The default RESET state is both bits = 0."
> > >
> > > Something like this perhaps ?
> >
> > Yes, I think that's a big step in the right direction!
> >
> > But I am no expert and cannot really judge how necessary or correct the
> > implementation is w.r.t. the 'undefined' function bits for CPU's that
> > lack a certain feature.
>
> The checks at the end of the patch for the x86_mask/model ensure
> we only enable the 2nd noise source on CPUs documented to have it,
> so we should be safe.
>
> Andrew, want to throw that in the -mm pile for a while?
>

Did that, renamed to "via-rng: enable secondary noise source on CPUs where
it is present".

Has anyone tested it?
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