> > My next question (assuming you've read this far heh heh) is whether > > an external, serial-based ChipDrive is capable of acting as a > > programmer for the atmel-based smartcards like the Funcard? My > > first instinct is to say "no". > > It is not possible. You need special control of the two lower, in > normal smart cards unused contacts, which the Towitoko or any other > normal IFD does not provide.
Got it. Thank you for the clarification. > > So, then, where to find a programmer? > > Either at the shops, where you can buy the Funcards or build one > yourself. It is just an interface for RS-232 to the SPI interface > used on Atmel controllers. I think building one for myself would probably be the next step after getting hold of some actual cards themselves. It looks much simpler than I thought it was. :) I mean, I'd heard that Atmel reprogrammers were just a couple of components on a circuitboard, but geez! :) > Ok ... what you should know about the Funcard platform: > > 1) These are not secure controlers, but COTS controlers with nearly > no security. (They do have internal lock bits for internal code > and data, but the protection is nearly as good as what you can get > from secure controlers.) Ah, the lockbits are purely for the CPU unit itself--reading the memory chips usually included on these cards, I imagine, would probably be much easier. Makes sense. > 2) The Funcard has not big integer unit. So it can't do any RSA. Ouch. I was jumping right in with an (almost) new STK500, too, to begin my adventures. And here I'd managed to get some primitive communication via the I/O ports and the LEDs and switches on the STK, and also some very simple encryption (just XOR) for testing while I find a reputable supplier for my funcards. (My STK is pretending to be kit from knight rider at the moment. :) > So, what is SOSSE good for if there is not good platform? Learning > and experimenting. SOSSE has been used for e.g.: > > 1) Analyzing DPA > > 2) Platform for implementing AES in a university lab course Got it! So the basic AES is possible, but not RSA. I imagine it would be with some heavy kludging.. Okay then, I'll stop being stubborn--in place of Funcards, does anyone have a recommendation for good general purpose smartcard that can be entirely reprogrammed and has decent documentation available? I suppose what I'm looking for is a recommendation from anyone who's some experience developing applications for smartcards. Pros, cons, what you think is decent non-buggy hardware that doesn't get in your way, that sort of thing. Much obliged for all the messages, the response here has been just tremendous. _______________________________________________ Muscle mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.musclecard.com/mailman/listinfo/muscle
