How To Install RdRand on Fedora 34

RdRand is Library for generating random numbers using the RdRand instruction on Intel CPUs Library for generating random numbers using the RdRand instruction on Intel CPUs

Introduction

In this tutorial we learn how to install RdRand on Fedora 34.

What is `RdRand`

RdRand is an instruction for returning random numbers from an Intel on-chip hardware random number generator.RdRand is available in Ivy Bridge and later processors. It uses cascade construction, combining a HW RNG operating at 3Gbps with CSPRNG with all components sealed on CPU. The entropy source is a meta-stable circuit, with unpredictable behavior based on thermal noise. The entropy is fed into a 3 Online statistical tests are performed at this stage and only high quality random data are used as the seed for cryptograhically secure SP800-90 AES-CTR DRBG compliant PRNG. This generator is producing maximum of 512 128-bit AES blocks before it’s reseeded. According to documentation the 512 blocks is a upper limit for reseed, in practice it reseeds much more frequently. RdRand 2.1.2 4.fc34 x86_64 41 k RdRand-2.1.2-4.fc34.src.rpm fedora Library for generating random numbers using the RdRand instruction on Intel CPUs https LGPLv2+ RdRand is an instruction for returning random numbers from an Intel on-chip hardware random number generator.RdRand is available in Ivy Bridge and later processors. It uses cascade construction, combining a HW RNG operating at 3Gbps with CSPRNG with all components sealed on CPU. The entropy source is a meta-stable circuit, with unpredictable behavior based on thermal noise. The entropy is fed into a 3 Online statistical tests are performed at this stage and only high quality random data are used as the seed for cryptograhically secure SP800-90 AES-CTR DRBG compliant PRNG. This generator is producing maximum of 512 128-bit AES blocks before it’s reseeded. According to documentation the 512 blocks is a upper limit for reseed, in practice it reseeds much more frequently.

We can use yum or dnf to install RdRand on Fedora 34. In this tutorial we discuss both methods but you only need to choose one of method to install RdRand.

Install RdRand on Fedora 34 Using dnf

Update yum database with dnf using the following command.

sudo dnf makecache --refresh

The output should look something like this:

Fedora 34 - x86_64                               20 kB/s | 6.6 kB     00:00
Fedora 34 openh264 (From Cisco) - x86_64        1.4 kB/s | 989  B     00:00
Fedora Modular 34 - x86_64                       68 kB/s | 6.5 kB     00:00
Fedora 34 - x86_64 - Updates                    3.5 kB/s | 6.2 kB     00:01
Fedora Modular 34 - x86_64 - Updates             17 kB/s | 5.9 kB     00:00
Metadata cache created.

After updating yum database, We can install RdRand using dnf by running the following command:

sudo dnf -y install RdRand

Install RdRand on Fedora 34 Using yum

Update yum database with yum using the following command.

sudo yum makecache --refresh

The output should look something like this:

Fedora 34 - x86_64                               20 kB/s | 6.6 kB     00:00
Fedora 34 openh264 (From Cisco) - x86_64        1.4 kB/s | 989  B     00:00
Fedora Modular 34 - x86_64                       68 kB/s | 6.5 kB     00:00
Fedora 34 - x86_64 - Updates                    3.5 kB/s | 6.2 kB     00:01
Fedora Modular 34 - x86_64 - Updates             17 kB/s | 5.9 kB     00:00
Metadata cache created.

After updating yum database, We can install RdRand using yum by running the following command:

sudo yum -y install RdRand

How To Uninstall RdRand on Fedora 34

To uninstall only the RdRand package we can use the following command:

sudo dnf remove RdRand

RdRand Package Contents on Fedora 34

/usr/bin/rdrand-gen
/usr/lib/.build-id
/usr/lib/.build-id/04
/usr/lib/.build-id/04/debef888a4dfcac36203acb4781d5f8bab0c24
/usr/lib/.build-id/47
/usr/lib/.build-id/47/6e0632d63c22cf4a9db74a7a5caf7fd9ac085f
/usr/lib/librdrand.so.1
/usr/lib/librdrand.so.1.0.2
/usr/share/doc/RdRand
/usr/share/doc/RdRand/COPYING
/usr/share/doc/RdRand/ChangeLog
/usr/share/doc/RdRand/NEWS
/usr/share/doc/RdRand/README
/usr/share/man/man7/rdrand-gen.7.gz
/usr/bin/rdrand-gen
/usr/lib/.build-id
/usr/lib/.build-id/22
/usr/lib/.build-id/22/e29d421d9292d18fa73666719d2d7feb820613
/usr/lib/.build-id/f5
/usr/lib/.build-id/f5/ef48408c2fda98065b90c9eb1c60b5bf42c0b1
/usr/lib64/librdrand.so.1
/usr/lib64/librdrand.so.1.0.2
/usr/share/doc/RdRand
/usr/share/doc/RdRand/COPYING
/usr/share/doc/RdRand/ChangeLog
/usr/share/doc/RdRand/NEWS
/usr/share/doc/RdRand/README
/usr/share/man/man7/rdrand-gen.7.gz

References

[RdRand website](https://github.com/jirka-h/RdRand https://github.com/jirka-h/RdRand)

Summary

In this tutorial we learn how to install RdRand on Fedora 34 using yum and dnf.