From: Ph. Marek (philipp.marekbmlv.gv.at)
Date: Thu Jul 03 2003 - 00:10:21 CDT

• Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]

> I have found a very interesting project that boot's an executable with the
> help of the bootloader grub fron any filesystem ( windows and linux ).
> This executable then could check smartcards on the seriell or usb port
> before it starts another operating system. There would be no need to boot
> any operating system before authentication takes place.
>
> This project is actually a mini game and called "invaders" - the author is
> Erik Thiele. you can download the sources from his website:
> http://www.erikyyy.de/invaders/
> Actually, it is very interesting to read the sources -> they are very
> simple and you can learn a lot of them.
>
> The so booted executable could initialize a serial driver ( must be very
> similar to the kernels serial console ) and the driver for the smartcard
> reader. The rest would be kind of sending a fixed set of apuds to the
> seriel reader. When authentication is done the operating system will be
> booted.
> Ok, I know that is wont't be that simple ... :-)
>
> Such a thing could also be implemented in a linux bios. Then the executable
> would be on the bios chip, which would be more safe.
Well, I know that such a beast could be implemented WITHOUT any OS.
But think about the following:
- Re-implementing serial support (mostly one chipset)
- Re-implementing USB support (about 3 major chipsets)
- Implementing the various smartcard- and reader-drivers
and so on ...

That's why I suggested using linux - there everything is available, and
there'll even be new drivers as needed over time :-)

_______________________________________________
Muscle mailing list
Musclelists.musclecard.com
http://lists.musclecard.com/mailman/listinfo/muscle

• Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]