Add a FAQ on how to check the authenticity of the openSSL distribution.

[openssl.git] / FAQ

diff --git a/FAQ b/FAQ
index 42844d58d0c0c51759d514b9986903700376744d..24f4de7727028aefcaf97b9a55dc338b7a72d200 100644 (file)
--- a/FAQ
+++ b/FAQ
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ OpenSSL  -  Frequently Asked Questions
 * Where can I get a compiled version of OpenSSL?
 * Why aren't tools like 'autoconf' and 'libtool' used?
 * What is an 'engine' version?
 * Where can I get a compiled version of OpenSSL?
 * Why aren't tools like 'autoconf' and 'libtool' used?
 * What is an 'engine' version?

+* How do I check the authenticity of the OpenSSL distribution?

 
 [LEGAL] Legal questions
 
 
 [LEGAL] Legal questions
 


@@ -36,9 +37,13 @@ OpenSSL  -  Frequently Asked Questions
 * Why does the linker complain about undefined symbols?
 * Why does the OpenSSL test fail with "bc: command not found"?
 * Why does the OpenSSL test fail with "bc: 1 no implemented"?
 * Why does the linker complain about undefined symbols?
 * Why does the OpenSSL test fail with "bc: command not found"?
 * Why does the OpenSSL test fail with "bc: 1 no implemented"?

+* Why does the OpenSSL test fail with "bc: stack empty"?

 * Why does the OpenSSL compilation fail on Alpha Tru64 Unix?
 * Why does the OpenSSL compilation fail with "ar: command not found"?
 * Why does the OpenSSL compilation fail on Win32 with VC++?
 * Why does the OpenSSL compilation fail on Alpha Tru64 Unix?
 * Why does the OpenSSL compilation fail with "ar: command not found"?
 * Why does the OpenSSL compilation fail on Win32 with VC++?

+* What is special about OpenSSL on Redhat?
+* Why does the OpenSSL compilation fail on MacOS X?
+* Why does the OpenSSL test suite fail on MacOS X?

 
 [PROG] Questions about programming with OpenSSL
 
 
 [PROG] Questions about programming with OpenSSL
 


@@ -61,7 +66,7 @@ OpenSSL  -  Frequently Asked Questions
 * Which is the current version of OpenSSL?
 
 The current version is available from <URL: http://www.openssl.org>.
 * Which is the current version of OpenSSL?
 
 The current version is available from <URL: http://www.openssl.org>.

-OpenSSL 0.9.6d was released on May 9, 2002.
+OpenSSL 0.9.6g was released on August 9, 2002.

 
 In addition to the current stable release, you can also access daily
 snapshots of the OpenSSL development version at <URL:
 
 In addition to the current stable release, you can also access daily
 snapshots of the OpenSSL development version at <URL:


@@ -132,6 +137,19 @@ hardware. This was realized in a special release '0.9.6-engine'. With
 version 0.9.7 (not yet released) the changes were merged into the main
 development line, so that the special release is no longer necessary.
 
 version 0.9.7 (not yet released) the changes were merged into the main
 development line, so that the special release is no longer necessary.
 

+* How do I check the authenticity of the OpenSSL distribution?
+
+We provide MD5 digests and ASC signatures of each tarball.
+Use MD5 to check that a tarball from a mirror site is identical:
+
+   md5sum TARBALL | awk '{print $1;}' | cmp - TARBALL.md5
+
+You can check authenticity using pgp or gpg. You need the OpenSSL team
+member public key used to sign it (download it from a key server). Then
+just do:
+
+   pgp TARBALL.asc
+

 [LEGAL] =======================================================================
 
 * Do I need patent licenses to use OpenSSL?
 [LEGAL] =======================================================================
 
 * Do I need patent licenses to use OpenSSL?


@@ -217,8 +235,13 @@ For Solaris 2.6, Tim Nibbe <tnibbe@sprint.net> and others have suggested
 installing the SUNski package from Sun patch 105710-01 (Sparc) which
 adds a /dev/random device and make sure it gets used, usually through
 $RANDFILE.  There are probably similar patches for the other Solaris
 installing the SUNski package from Sun patch 105710-01 (Sparc) which
 adds a /dev/random device and make sure it gets used, usually through
 $RANDFILE.  There are probably similar patches for the other Solaris

-versions.  However, be warned that /dev/random is usually a blocking
-device, which may have some effects on OpenSSL.
+versions.  An official statement from Sun with respect to /dev/random
+support can be found at
+  http://sunsolve.sun.com/pub-cgi/retrieve.pl?doc=fsrdb/27606&zone_32=SUNWski
+However, be warned that /dev/random is usually a blocking device, which
+may have some effects on OpenSSL.
+A third party /dev/random solution for Solaris is available at
+  http://www.cosy.sbg.ac.at/~andi/

 
 
 * Why do I get an "unable to write 'random state'" error message?
 
 
 * Why do I get an "unable to write 'random state'" error message?


@@ -396,6 +419,17 @@ and compile/install it.  GNU bc (see http://www.gnu.org/software/software.html
 for download instructions) can be safely used, for example.
 
 
 for download instructions) can be safely used, for example.
 
 

+* Why does the OpenSSL test fail with "bc: stack empty"?
+
+On some DG/ux versions, bc seems to have a too small stack for calculations
+that the OpenSSL bntest throws at it.  This gets triggered when you run the
+test suite (using "make test").  The message returned is "bc: stack empty".
+
+The best way to deal with this is to find another implementation of bc
+and compile/install it.  GNU bc (see http://www.gnu.org/software/software.html
+for download instructions) can be safely used, for example.
+
+

 * Why does the OpenSSL compilation fail on Alpha Tru64 Unix?
 
 On some Alpha installations running Tru64 Unix and Compaq C, the compilation
 * Why does the OpenSSL compilation fail on Alpha Tru64 Unix?
 
 On some Alpha installations running Tru64 Unix and Compaq C, the compilation


@@ -460,6 +494,64 @@ under 'Program Files').  This needs to be done prior to running NMAKE,
 and the changes are only valid for the current DOS session.
 
 
 and the changes are only valid for the current DOS session.
 
 

+* What is special about OpenSSL on Redhat?
+
+Red Hat Linux (release 7.0 and later) include a preinstalled limited
+version of OpenSSL. For patent reasons, support for IDEA, RC5 and MDC2
+is disabled in this version. The same may apply to other Linux distributions.
+Users may therefore wish to install more or all of the features left out.
+
+To do this you MUST ensure that you do not overwrite the openssl that is in
+/usr/bin on your Red Hat machine. Several packages depend on this file,
+including sendmail and ssh. /usr/local/bin is a good alternative choice. The
+libraries that come with Red Hat 7.0 onwards have different names and so are
+not affected. (eg For Red Hat 7.2 they are /lib/libssl.so.0.9.6b and
+/lib/libcrypto.so.0.9.6b with symlinks /lib/libssl.so.2 and
+/lib/libcrypto.so.2 respectively).
+
+Please note that we have been advised by Red Hat attempting to recompile the
+openssl rpm with all the cryptography enabled will not work. All other
+packages depend on the original Red Hat supplied openssl package. It is also
+worth noting that due to the way Red Hat supplies its packages, updates to
+openssl on each distribution never change the package version, only the
+build number. For example, on Red Hat 7.1, the latest openssl package has
+version number 0.9.6 and build number 9 even though it contains all the
+relevant updates in packages up to and including 0.9.6b.
+
+A possible way around this is to persuade Red Hat to produce a non-US
+version of Red Hat Linux.
+
+FYI: Patent numbers and expiry dates of US patents:
+MDC-2: 4,908,861 13/03/2007
+IDEA:  5,214,703 25/05/2010
+RC5:   5,724,428 03/03/2015
+
+
+* Why does the OpenSSL compilation fail on MacOS X?
+
+If the failure happens when trying to build the "openssl" binary, with
+a large number of undefined symbols, it's very probable that you have
+OpenSSL 0.9.6b delivered with the operating system (you can find out by
+running '/usr/bin/openssl version') and that you were trying to build
+OpenSSL 0.9.7 or newer.  The problem is that the loader ('ld') in
+MacOS X has a misfeature that's quite difficult to go around.
+Look in the file PROBLEMS for a more detailed explanation and for possible
+solutions.
+
+
+* Why does the OpenSSL test suite fail on MacOS X?
+
+If the failure happens when running 'make test' and the RC4 test fails,
+it's very probable that you have OpenSSL 0.9.6b delivered with the
+operating system (you can find out by running '/usr/bin/openssl version')
+and that you were trying to build OpenSSL 0.9.6d.  The problem is that
+the loader ('ld') in MacOS X has a misfeature that's quite difficult to
+go around and has linked the programs "openssl" and the test programs
+with /usr/lib/libcrypto.dylib and /usr/lib/libssl.dylib instead of the
+libraries you just built.
+Look in the file PROBLEMS for a more detailed explanation and for possible
+solutions.
+

 [PROG] ========================================================================
 
 * Is OpenSSL thread-safe?
 [PROG] ========================================================================
 
 * Is OpenSSL thread-safe?


@@ -627,10 +719,10 @@ SSL_CTX_set_verify() function to enable the use of client certificates.
 
 * Why does compilation fail due to an undefined symbol NID_uniqueIdentifier?
 
 
 * Why does compilation fail due to an undefined symbol NID_uniqueIdentifier?
 

-For OpenSSL 0.9.7 the OID table was extended and corrected. uniqueIdentifier
-was incorrectly used for X.509 certificates. The correct name according to
-RFC2256 (LDAP) is x500UniqueIdentifier. Change your code to use the new
-name when compiling against OpenSSL 0.9.7.
+For OpenSSL 0.9.7 the OID table was extended and corrected. In earlier
+versions, uniqueIdentifier was incorrectly used for X.509 certificates.
+The correct name according to RFC2256 (LDAP) is x500UniqueIdentifier.
+Change your code to use the new name when compiling against OpenSSL 0.9.7.

 
 
 ===============================================================================
 
 
 ===============================================================================