[tor-relays] EOMA68 as a platform for trustworthy computing? / was: Exploiting firmware

[Alexander Dietrich]

Can you please move these discussions to a more appropriate mailing list 
(i.e. tor-talk or maybe tor-dev)?

Thank you,
Alexander
---
PGP Key: https://dietrich.cx/pgp | 0x52FA4EE1722D54EB

On 2016-12-08 12:11, Christian Pietsch wrote:
> On Thu, Dec 08, 2016 at 10:41:46AM +0500, Roman Mamedov wrote:
>> On AMD that's been implemented only after "Family 15h"
>> https://libreboot.org/faq/#amdbastards
>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_CPU_microarchitectures
>> 
>> Family 15h itself is safe.
>> 
>> It includes FX-series 8-core CPUs at up to 5 GHz supporting DDR3-2133 
>> RAM:
>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piledriver_%28microarchitecture%29
>> 
>> So don't handwave-away AMD with "they are doing that too", today you 
>> CAN have
>> a non-backdoored modern high-performance CPU -- from AMD.
> 
> Interesting, but this microarchitecture entered the market in 2012 and
> is probably being phased out now, I guess?
> 
> As far as modular, open hardware is concerned, I set my hopes on the
> new EOMA68 architecture. This is a draft standard for computer cards
> in the PCMCIA form factor:
> http://elinux.org/Embedded_Open_Modular_Architecture/EOMA68
> 
> Crowdfunding for the first implementation of this specification
> (EOMA68-A20) has been successful:
> https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68/micro-desktop
> I ordered one, and I convinced Digitalcourage e.V. to order three more
> that will be used for trustworthy computing – maybe Tor relays.
> 
> The performance of this first implementation will probably be
> comparable to the CubieTruck which is based on the same SoC, the
> Allwinner A20, which is an ARM Cortex-A8 design. So CPU-wise, it will
> be between the Raspberry Pi 2 and 3. Network throughput might be
> better because it does not use Raspi's peculiar design.
> 
> New implementations with more powerful hardware are in preparation
> (see the latest updates on CrowdSupply), but we are still talking
> about smartphone-like systems.
> 
> Last time I checked, Tor did not support the hardware AES acceleration
> of the A20 SoC called Security System (SS) <http://sunxi.montjoie.ovh>.
> Is this still the case?
> 
> Greetings from Bielefeld, Germany!
> Christian
> 
> 
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