Virtio-rnd

virtio-rnd provides a hardware random source for UOS. The virtual random device is based on virtio user mode framework and simulates a PCI device based on virtio specification.

Figure 174 shows the Random Device Virtualization Architecture in ACRN. virtio-rnd is implemented as a virtio legacy device in the ACRN device model (DM), and is registered as a PCI virtio device to the guest OS (UOS).

When the FE driver requires some random bytes, the BE device will place bytes of random data onto the virtqueue.

Tools such as od can be used to read randomness from /dev/random. This device file in UOS is bound with frontend virtio-rng driver (The guest kernel must be built with CONFIG_HW_RANDOM_VIRTIO=y). The backend virtio-rnd reads the HW randomness from /dev/random in SOS and sends them to frontend.

../../_images/virtio-hld-image61.png

Figure 174 Virtio-rnd Architecture on ACRN

To launch the virtio-rnd device, use the following virtio command:

-s <slot>,virtio-rnd

To verify the correctness in user OS, use the following command:

od /dev/random