On 01/04/2013 11:21 AM, Jeffrey Walton wrote:
> ...
> 
> In my final application, I always link against libcrypto.a. Period. I
> never link against fipscanister.o. Period.

That is as it should be. In general the application developer should not
be referencing fipscanister.o, only the sysadmin building and installing
the OpenSSL libraries.

The exceptions we've seen are some very specialized and limited embedded
devices performing limited cryptographic functions, where the pain of
coding to the naked FIPS module interface was justified. For the typical
general purpose computer there is nothing to be gained, and much to be
lost, by attempting to reference the FIPS module directly.

> If its not intended to be used, why is it present?

So that you can build the "FIPS capable" OpenSSL.

-Steve M.

-- 
Steve Marquess
OpenSSL Software Foundation, Inc.
1829 Mount Ephraim Road
Adamstown, MD  21710
USA
+1 877 673 6775 s/b
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