RE: [partial-reconfig] Partial Reconfiguration Area Constraints

["Javier" <jcastillo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>One experiment I heard about was the idea of burning unique patterns
>into the FPGA as a kind of security mechanism. Deliberately cook certain
>CLBs or routes, then you could tie a particular bitstream to a specific
>FPGA device, burned with that key.  An interesting idea, but the main
>point was that it was very, very difficult to actually cause physical
>damage, even when you are trying.

Currently I am working on cryptographic applications using
self-reconfiguration, and one of the major problems I had is how to hide an
encryption key inside the bitstream. I am using a quite simple idea. I am
mixing the key with random data and spread the registers over the FPGA
disordered. In this way an attacker, using for example JBits, will face a
very hard work to get the key. But cooking some CLBs of the FPGA will be a
great way of store a secret key inside the FPGA. The problem as you say is
that not seem very easy. Maybe I can play with some old spartan2 boards we
had, but I don't know how to start, any idea?

Javier Castillo



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