Path: cactus.org!milano!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!mcsun!sun4nl!alchemy!accucx!
+     nevries
From: nevries@accucx.cc.ruu.nl (Nico E. de Vries)
Newsgroups: sci.crypt

Subject: Re: generating one-time pads
Message-ID: <2668@accucx.cc.ruu.nl>
Date: 20 Jun 92 08:26:02 GMT
References:  <60814@cup.portal.com>
Organization: Academic Computer Centre Utrecht
Lines: 47

In <60814@cup.portal.com> Tony_S_Patti@cup.portal.com writes:


>I hope that the following information answers your questions:

>2.  SOFTWARE can NOT generate *TRUE* random bits.

Correct. On e.g. a IBM-PC (or compatible) enough hardware is present
to generate them anyway. Email me for sources.

>3.  I designed and developed in Cryptosystems Journal a hardware random
>    number generator based on 16 crystal oscillators (typically each
>    oscillating at 20 MHz - 30 Mhz (for an aggregate frequency of 320 Mhz -
>    480 MHz).  Specifically, I published Printed Circuit Board (PCB) artwork.
>    The parts cost less than $40 (if you know where to get parts cheap and
>    etch the board and build it yourself).  Most importantly, I tested over
>    2 Billion bits using 18 statistical tests from Knuth.  The empirical
>    results are almost exactly as expected.

Why 16 crystals? 2 crystals should be enough. An IBM-PC has 2 and those
are the ones I use in my source.

>5.  The RANGER Device outputs random bits on the order of 5,000 random bits
>    per second.  Speed was a design parameter because my Galois Field-based
>    encryption software can create random crypto-keys containing 40,000,000
>    or more random bits (using for example 11 MegaBytes of extended memory
>    in a PC).

Impressive, I have to admit my routine is less fast. It generates only
about 128 random bits per second. But than again it is free and simple.

>         Tony Patti
>         Editor & Publisher
>         Cryptosystems Journal
>         P.O. Box 188
>         Newtown, PA  18940-0188 U.S.A.
>         Phone: 215-579-9888

Nico E. de Vries
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