Subject: rnd(4) not using network entropy source
To: None <netbsd-help@netbsd.org>
From: Paul Chakravarti <pc000@passtheaardvark.com>
List: netbsd-help
Date: 07/19/2001 13:35:05
I used rndctl to enable collection of timing & entropy data from my network
device (ex0) however this doesnt seem to be contributing any data - ie.

[root:norbert] /etc # rndctl -l  
Source                 Bits Type      Flags
fd0                       0 disk estimate, collect
pms0                      0 tty  estimate, collect
pckbd0                  896 tty  estimate, collect
ex0                       0 net  estimate, collect
cd1                       0 disk estimate, collect
cd0                       0 disk estimate, collect
wd0                  505662 disk estimate, collect

The network is reasonably busy (I run multiple ssh sessions to the host) and
even running a couple of big ftp's didnt help.

I am trying to run gale (IM system) which seems to use entropy prodigously
and frequently blocks as a result - as the system is remote (well downstairs)
the only real contributor to the entropy pool is wd0 which typically
isnt heavily used (hence the desire to use ex0 to help out)

I am running NetBSD 1.5T (i386)

Thanks,

Paul