Reverse Engineering at the Kernel Level

snowbrdrfreak · 10-20-2015, 01:21 PM

So I started doing some research into the issues with Linux -or any non-mainstream OS for that matter- and from my understanding the lack of support for bleeding-edge hardware is because the drivers must first be reverse engineered to work on the Linux OS. I got to thinking, what if there was a way to embed a software in the kernel that creates the binary drivers for the hardware installed on the machine from nothing. I assume it would take forever for this software to sniff out each and every IC, transistor, cap, etc., but what would this really take to accomplish? Does anyone know of any projects working on this currently? And can anyone point me in the direction of some educational materials so I can better understand what must be done to accomplish this? I'm in the first year of my computer engineering degree, and I think I just found my direction.

snowbrdrfreak · 10-20-2015, 02:04 PM

I'm thinking the application for this would be to build drivers for any device, possibly even smartphones. Again, I assume this would be a huge undertaking, but if I start work on it now (or find a project already working on it that I can assist) it would just be a matter of time before it's developed.

JeremyBoden · 10-20-2015, 02:51 PM

I assume you are still in the first week or two of your Computer degree?
Try something that would be actually achievable.

jefro · 10-20-2015, 05:50 PM

The original builders of ndiswrapper envisioned the program to use any windows drivers for any component.

Most driver writers have skill in making a driver. They use various tools and skills to make a driver. One of course is getting an OEM to allow you to use inside information with an agreement. Two is to use prior drivers and hunt and peck for changes. Generally there is no binary need to know what transistors are there but simply support for the chip. Some voltage may need to be known on some devices.

Get with some of the people who build drivers already and see if they wrote how they did it.

There are programs that have been created that attempt to sample devices already. It is not as useful as you'd think.

dugan · 10-20-2015, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowbrdrfreak

I got to thinking, what if there was a way to embed a software in the kernel that creates the binary drivers for the hardware installed on the machine from nothing. I assume it would take forever for this software to sniff out each and every IC, transistor, cap, etc., but what would this really take to accomplish? Does anyone know of any projects working on this currently?

Yes?

Quote:

To obtain the DSP program code requires melting the integrated circuit with nitric acid, scanning in the surface of a chip with an electron microscope, and then either staining and manually reading out or physically altering and monitoring the traces to extract the program and data ROMs. This kind of work can cost up to millions of dollars to have done professionally, depending upon the chip's complexity, due to the extremely specialized knowledge and equipment involved. Thanks to the efforts of an individual who goes by the name "Dr. Decapitator," we've been able to extract this data from nearly a dozen chips for just the cost of materials.

Accuracy takes power: one mans 3GHz quest to build a perfect SNES emulator | Ars Technica

"Each and every IC, transistor, cap, etc" is not possible for the kernel to detect. You'll know that by the end of your second year.

chrism01 · 10-20-2015, 06:29 PM

You may find this a useful reference http://www.linuxtopia.org/online_boo...2.6/index.html
(or not; its not really my area tbh)