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ARM with built-in AES cryptographic module

Note: This was originally posted on 3rd October 2012 at http://forums.arm.com

Hi,

I want to implement a kind of dongle with an ARM and I need a processor that, given a password, generates the keying material. I am looking for an ARM with a built-in hardware encryption module. I have just found some information about the TrustZone module in some ARMs, but it has much more functionality, is more complicated than what I need and there is no information about any encryption module.

Can anyone tell me if what I am looking for exits? I have found it in AVR but I would like to use ARM if possible.

Thanks in advance!
javi
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  • Note: This was originally posted on 3rd October 2012 at http://forums.arm.com

    TrustZone is about separating "trusted" software from "untrusted" software.  So it's most useful in open systems.  Say a smart phone - separating the OS with the various downloaded app  from the payment software.  Not sure whether this fits your use case.

    In terms of the AES, it sort of depends on what you have in mind.  You could just have a software algorithm running on just about any ARM core, not an expert but should fairly easy to get hold of.  Performance is going to come down to how beefy a processor you then have.  Or you get a separate hardware accelerator, using the ARM to just do the interfacing.  In the second case, the ARM could be relatively small/low power.  As it would essentially be maintaining the USB stack and managing communication with the AES block.
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  • Note: This was originally posted on 3rd October 2012 at http://forums.arm.com

    TrustZone is about separating "trusted" software from "untrusted" software.  So it's most useful in open systems.  Say a smart phone - separating the OS with the various downloaded app  from the payment software.  Not sure whether this fits your use case.

    In terms of the AES, it sort of depends on what you have in mind.  You could just have a software algorithm running on just about any ARM core, not an expert but should fairly easy to get hold of.  Performance is going to come down to how beefy a processor you then have.  Or you get a separate hardware accelerator, using the ARM to just do the interfacing.  In the second case, the ARM could be relatively small/low power.  As it would essentially be maintaining the USB stack and managing communication with the AES block.
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