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Enabling Crypto Hardware backend feature on nRF52840

Hello,

I am using nRF52840, SDK_16.0.0, S140 SoftDevice and Segger 4.16 for flashing the image. I am using ‘ble_app_blinky’.

I have queries on enabling HW crpto accelerator and back end mode.

1) If I want to enable HW crypto accelerator then do I need to enable NRF_CRYPTO_BACKEND_CC310_ENABLED or already taken care by NRF_CRYPTO_BACKEND_CC310_BL_ENABLED ?

https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp?topic=%2Fsdk_nrf5_v16.0.0%2Flib_crypto_config.html

2) If I enable NRF_CRYPTO_BACKEND_CC310_ENABLED, whether there is no need of micro-ecc and can I disable NRF_CRYPTO_BACKEND_MICRO_ECC_ENABLED ?

a) Even whether there is no need to compile and include micro_ecc_lib_nrf52.a if HW crypto accelerator is enabled.

Whether my above assumptions are correct ?

3) If I want to enable backend crypto, then whether do I need to disable NRF_CRYPTO_ENABLED.

a) As per below statement for frontend still needs backend functionality. But if I want backend functionality, still do I need front end by enabling NRF_CRYPTO_ENABLED.

“Keep in mind that at least one of the nrf_crypto backends is required to use the API functions”

https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp?topic=%2Fsdk_nrf5_v16.0.0%2Flib_crypto_config.html&anchor=lib_crypto_config_automatic_defines_usage

4) Whether all above macros changes to be enabled only in "Secure BLE bootloader" or even at application (Ex: ble_app_blinky).

5) What is the difference between “pca10056_s140_ble_debug” and “pca10056_s140_ble” (With and without _debug).

 

6) What is the difference between cryptography library with backend and frontend

a) (Is backend mean crypto runs in hardware and frontend mean crypto runs is in software. Then in that case what is “software backend” and “hardware backend”. Bit confusion about the terminology.

 

Thanks & Regards

Vishnu Beema

Parents
  • Hi Einar,

     

    Thank a lot for your inputs and confirmation. This is what I am expecting.

     

    In Infocenter, nowhere they specify to use NRF_CRYPTO_BACKEND_CC310_BL_ENABLED and not to use NRF_CRYPTO_BACKEND_CC310_ENABLED as size will increase.

      

    Below link only mentions on how to use micro-ecc and cannot relate to nRF52840.

    https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/nordic/nordic-blog/b/blog/posts/getting-started-with-nordics-secure-dfu-bootloader

    I posted other queries in parallel. Sometimes I feel, there is lot of info in infocenter. But difficult to get necessary info (Sorry to say this).

    Struggled a lot for bringing up DFU over “BLE secure bootloader”.

    1) Issues in compiling micro-ecc library itself.

    https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/support/240266

     

    2) Issues in compiling BLE Secure bootloader by enable micro-ecc

    https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/support/240393

     

    3) Finally I realized that micro-ecc is not required with your mail.

    https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/support/240436

     

    Once again, thanks a lot for your inputs.

    My last query on above point '2a' is, without NRF_CRYPTO_BACKEND_CC310_BL_ENABLED enabled (But already enabled in secure ble bootloader), I generated ble_app_blinky package and able to do DFU over BLE secure Bluetooth. Even I enabled "Static Pass key" and tested the feature without enabling NRF_CRYPTO_BACKEND_CC310_BL_ENABLED macro. Sorry I may be confusing you.

    Thanks & Regards

    Vishnu Beema

Reply
  • Hi Einar,

     

    Thank a lot for your inputs and confirmation. This is what I am expecting.

     

    In Infocenter, nowhere they specify to use NRF_CRYPTO_BACKEND_CC310_BL_ENABLED and not to use NRF_CRYPTO_BACKEND_CC310_ENABLED as size will increase.

      

    Below link only mentions on how to use micro-ecc and cannot relate to nRF52840.

    https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/nordic/nordic-blog/b/blog/posts/getting-started-with-nordics-secure-dfu-bootloader

    I posted other queries in parallel. Sometimes I feel, there is lot of info in infocenter. But difficult to get necessary info (Sorry to say this).

    Struggled a lot for bringing up DFU over “BLE secure bootloader”.

    1) Issues in compiling micro-ecc library itself.

    https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/support/240266

     

    2) Issues in compiling BLE Secure bootloader by enable micro-ecc

    https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/support/240393

     

    3) Finally I realized that micro-ecc is not required with your mail.

    https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/support/240436

     

    Once again, thanks a lot for your inputs.

    My last query on above point '2a' is, without NRF_CRYPTO_BACKEND_CC310_BL_ENABLED enabled (But already enabled in secure ble bootloader), I generated ble_app_blinky package and able to do DFU over BLE secure Bluetooth. Even I enabled "Static Pass key" and tested the feature without enabling NRF_CRYPTO_BACKEND_CC310_BL_ENABLED macro. Sorry I may be confusing you.

    Thanks & Regards

    Vishnu Beema

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