Re: IP: NSA RESPONSE TO KEY LENGTH REPORT

[mpd@netcom.com (Mike Duvos)]

Matt Blaze <mab@research.att.com> writes:

 > Finally, the NSA report offers estimates of the time
 > required to perform exhaustive search using a Cray model T3D
 > supercomputer.  This is a curious choice, for as our report
 > notes, general-purpose supercomputers of this type make poor
 > (and uneconomical) key search engines.

A tiny nit to pick here.  The Cray T3D and T3E computers are
massively parallel machines consisting of DEC Alpha chips hooked
up in a 3D Torus configuration.  They would probably make pretty
decent key search engines, as opposed to the general purpose
vector supercomputers Cray is better known for.

 > Table 3 are out estimates based on our experience with a
 > Cray T3D supercomputer with 1024 nodes.  This machine costs
 > $30 million.

 > [Tables 1, 2, and 3 not transcribed here.]

You left out the most interesting part!

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     Mike Duvos         $    PGP 2.6 Public Key available     $
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