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Hardware RNG's
Perry Metzger asks if the hardware random-number generator I
described in a post just before the list crashed could be
modified to use serial output.
Sure. It was just easier to use the parallel port. I know
the original IBM PC stupidly omitted bidirectional ports,
but they are available now.
Roger Bryner asks if there is any ready-made hardware RNG
device.
Yes. A few years ago, at least, AT&T was selling such a
chip. The data book says:
"The T7001 Random Number Generator (RNG) integrated circuit
produces random bits based on the phase jitter of a free-
running oscillator. The output data stream is truly random,
not pseudo random. The T7001 RNG is processed in CMOS
technology, requires a single 5 V supply, and is supplied in
a 32-pin plastic DIP."
The output is 536-bit numbers, available in 8-bit bytes.
There are probably others available; I haven't looked
lately.
John A. Thomas
[email protected]
[email protected]
PGP public key available.