kernel -cryptographic api

denning · 10-22-2004, 06:10 PM

i am using slackware 10 (not that it is relevant to my question).

I recently compiled kernel 2.4.27 from source and while doing make xconfig, came across an option i wasn't sure about. It was in a section entitled cryptographic api. I didn't know whether I need it in the kernel or not.

I looked at the details and noticed SHA1 and MD5. SHA1 is used for ssh, isn't it? and md5 for md5 sums. So does that mean I need those in my kernel, or else ssh and md5sum will not work?

m00t00 · 10-22-2004, 07:12 PM

no. Those api's are for kernel drivers and things. Not for user level programs, which either implement it themselves, or use libc. Example: Wireless drivers. If you plan to use wep or wpa or whatnot, then you need certain algorithms from there.

denning · 10-23-2004, 03:33 AM

thank you!

so i take it that i wont need it for ipsec in the cisco vpn client since that isn't in the kernel world.