RDRAND(4)

NAME
rdrand - driver for the RNG module on Intel CPUs

SYNOPSIS
To compile this driver into the kernel, place the following lines in your kernel configuration file:

device rdrand

Alternatively, to load the driver as a module at boot time, place the following line in loader.conf(5):

    rdrand_load="YES"

DESCRIPTION
WARNING: This driver is still untested.

Starting with some models of the Ivy Bridge Core i5/i7, Intel processors implement a new set of instructions called RdRand. This set of instructions uses a hardware based RNG providing high-speed true randomness.

The processor capability is reported as RDRND in the Features2 line at boot. The rdrand driver does not attach on systems that lack the required CPU capability.

The rdrand driver continuously feeds entropy to the kernel's random number generator.

SEE ALSO
intro(4), random(4)

HISTORY
The rdrand driver first appeared in DragonFly 3.1.

AUTHORS
-nosplit The rdrand driver was written by Alex Hornung <alex@alexhornung.com>.