RFC 2628 (rfc2628) - Page 2 of 30

Simple Cryptographic Program Interface (Crypto API)

RFC 2628                       Crypto API                      June 1999


   3.7.6. For CRYPTO_TYPE_UNCOMPRESS Algorithm Type . . . . . . . . . 18
   3.7.7. For CRYPTO_TYPE_HASH Algorithm Type . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
   3.7.8. For CRYPTO_TYPE_RANDOM Algorithm Type.  . . . . . . . . . . 21
   3.8. Cryptographic Context Control Function. . . . . . . . . . . . 22
   4. Cryptoplugin Registration Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
   5. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
   6. References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
   7. Author's Address  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
   Appendix A. The interface specification as a C header file . . . . 25
   Full Copyright Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

1. Introduction

1.1. Summary

   Nowadays internet applications that require cryptographic functions
   at the level of operating system kernel, use the method that assumes
   the libraries must be compiled/linked together with the module
   (driver) which provides product functionality. For the sake of
   possibility of independent development of the cryptographic modules
   and in order to provide a simple, effective and universal (suitable
   for application and as well kernel level of operating system)
   solution this specification offers the method to extract encrypting
   algorithms to the separate cryptographic modules.

   This document describes simple open interface (Crypto API) to
   external cryptographic libraries optimized both for the application
   and kernel level of the operating system.

1.2. Terminology

   Cryptoplugin

      Operation system unit (driver, shared library, module) that
      provides cryptographic functions via well-defined (but OS-
      specific) interface.

   Cryptolibrary

      Part of cryptoplugin that provides its cryptographic functionality
      via Crypto API.

   Wrapper

      Part of cryptoplugin that provides interfaces translation between
      Crypto API and OS-specific interface.





Smyslov                      Informational