The easiest way is to have the user install a random device. There's ones out there for Solaris all the way back to version 2.5.1
However, keep in mind that all but the latest /dev/random devices out there do not generate very good random numbers, the newer ones use the Yarrow engine, but the very best ones also derive randomness from the hardware random number generators on some of the CPUs (ie: the VIA C3 Nehemiah, the Intel 82802 ie x810 chipset) or from devices like the following SG100: http://www.protego.se/sg100_en.htm Ted -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Urjit Gokhale Sent: Monday, January 07, 2008 1:06 AM To: openssl-users@openssl.org Subject: Handling missing random number generator Hello, I observed that on few platforms, the random device is missing. Due to this, the SSL_connect fails. I would have to use -rand option of s_client for successful connection. On such platforms, even my client application fails due to the missing random number generator device. For eg. On my solaris box, my client fails and truss gives the following output: ============= 0.0999 open("/dev/urandom", O_RDONLY|O_NONBLOCK|O_NOCTTY) Err#2 ENOENT 0.1003 open("/dev/random", O_RDONLY|O_NONBLOCK|O_NOCTTY) Err#2 ENOENT 0.1007 open("/dev/srandom", O_RDONLY|O_NONBLOCK|O_NOCTTY) Err#2 ENOENT 0.1013 so_socket(1, 2, 0, "", 1) = 5 0.1018 connect(5, 0xFFBEE3F8, 19, 1) Err#2 ENOENT 0.1021 close(5) = 0 0.1025 so_socket(1, 2, 0, "", 1) = 5 0.1029 connect(5, 0xFFBEE3F8, 15, 1) Err#2 ENOENT 0.1032 close(5) = 0 0.1035 so_socket(1, 2, 0, "", 1) = 5 0.1039 connect(5, 0xFFBEE3F8, 15, 1) Err#2 ENOENT 0.1041 close(5) = 0 0.1046 so_socket(1, 2, 0, "", 1) = 5 0.1050 connect(5, 0xFFBEE3F8, 14, 1) Err#2 ENOENT ============= And then the SSL_connect fails with SSL_ERROR_SYSCALL and errno set to 2. In such cases, I had thought of using RAND_write_file() followed by RAND_load_file() just after loading required libraries (SSL_load_error_strings, SSL_library_init). Do you think this is sensible approach? If not, could you suggest ways to deal with situations when the random device is missing? If yes, I have another question. How to detect, programatically if the random device is missing? The RAND_write_file() and RAND_load_file() should be used only if the random device is missing, right? Any help in understanding this is highly appriciated. Thank you, ~ Urjit DISCLAIMER ========== This e-mail may contain privileged and confidential information which is the property of Persistent Systems Ltd. It is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you are not authorized to read, retain, copy, print, distribute or use this message. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender and delete all copies of this message. Persistent Systems Ltd. does not accept any liability for virus infected mails.
