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Building a Smart Card Based Linux System?

Posted by Cliff on from the training-penguins-on-new-tech dept.

Alvaro asks: "My question is rather simple: i've recently acquired a Soyo K7V Dragon+, an excellent Ahtlon XP motherboard which includes by default a smart card reader. My intention is to get this smart card reader working on Linux, but i've no idea on how to start. Is it a serial interface? Does it have an embedded controller in the MB? Does it need kernel support? Which programs should I use to access (read from/write to) the smart cards? I've searched the web to find useful information, but so far, no luck. The final idea is to use the smart cards to hold the key to decrypt an EFS (Encrypted File System), and the computer won't boot if the card isn't inserted since the BIOS also supports booting on smart card insert! Can anyone help me?"

20 comments

  1. Good place to start by whoda · · Score: 4, Informative

    Try this to start:

    http://www.scia.org/knowledgebase/aboutSmartCard s/ stand.html

    Then try this for more detailed information:

    http://www.scia.org/knowledgebase/aboutsmartcard s/ iso7816_wimages.htm

    1. Re:Good place to start by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      oops, both those links have an extra space in front of the last / in the address.

      Sorry

    2. Re:Good place to start by DeadSea · · Score: 4, Informative
      Why don't we just link them then?

      Try this to start

      Then try this for more detailed information

  2. Some links by joe52 · · Score: 4, Informative


    MUSCLE - Movement for the Use of Smart Cards in a Linux Environment looks kind of helpful.

    And to use a smartcard reader for your login here.

  3. One more time in slow motion please! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Did you ever think of getting off of your fat lazy ass and do your own research?

    1. Re:One more time in slow motion please! by pcs305 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      And this is insightfull how?? Anyhow Alvaro use XP. This is the kind of response you will get from Linux geeks! No help just drivel and verbal defecation.

    2. Re:One more time in slow motion please! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It is not insightfull at all. However it is very insightful because I used my great insight to determine that he made no effort to find out for himself how to get his smart card working. It is that laziness which I was criticizing.

      BTW, I do not use Linux. Ever. It looks like YOU are the one spewing drivel. Hell, you are probrably too stupid to figure what my first sentence meant.

  4. The SmartCard reader is ITE chip by raul · · Score: 3, Informative

    The smartcard reader is a ITE SuperIO chip and one of his chanels can work as SCR(Smart Card Reader). You can get the info how to do it from the company website(I think it is www.iteusa.com).
    I have tryed to do it but i am so busy that i only got the document to begin with it http://www.iteusa.com/pc/it8712f_SCR_v02.PDF.
    Hop e it helps you, and you can do muscle driver so i can use it :).

    Saludos y dime si te puedo ayudar en algo mas.

  5. MUSCLE - Linux Smart Card Development by storem · · Score: 4, Informative

    I was a developer in the smartcard field before. A few good places for Linux smartcard resources were: Movement for the Use of Smart Cards in a Linux Environment and the CT-API for Linux pages.

    --
    StarTrek.org Free Webmail
    1. Re:MUSCLE - Linux Smart Card Development by edbarrett · · Score: 1

      Darnit, and here I thought you were talking about Millions of Unusual Small Creatures Lurking Everywhere.

  6. RTFG by rerunn · · Score: 1


    Read the fucken google

  7. Stupid subject by Rick+the+Red · · Score: 2

    Shouldn't that be "Smart Card drivers for Linux?" rather than "Building a Smart Card Based Linux System?"
    I thought the story was about fitting Linux onto a smart card, or using a smart card to boot linux, or something interesting. The other posters are right -- Use Google!

    --
    If all this should have a reason, we would be the last to know.
  8. The SuperChip ... by ProfMoriarty · · Score: 3, Informative
    is from ITE (as other have pointed out) but is the ITE 8705F ... not the 8712F ...

    Here's are the specifications for that chip.

    The Sigma-Box plugs into the motherboard using 2 cables, 1 for the SCR, and the other USB.

    I've been trying to get it to work (PC/SC) under Win2K, but there are no drivers that appear to work. The demonstration app goes directly to the hardware to talk.

    --
    Karma? Karma? I don't need no stinkin' karma.
  9. Silly question by fm6 · · Score: 2
    Why don't we just link them then?
    Because then we would have to learn HTML!!!!
  10. Features I want everybody to implement NOW!!!!! by fm6 · · Score: 2
    • Single sign on for Unix.
    • PKI Integration.
    Imagine connecting to a LAN, VPN gateway, ISP, Email server, Web site, or online merchant, and saying "Here's my smart card. Until I tell you otherwise, consider this smartcard to be proof that I'm me." Less hassle than tracking dozens of passwords and drastically more secure. I WANT IT NOW!!!!
  11. Would You also Like a Universal ID Card? by mageben · · Score: 1

    Except smart cards are incredably easy to copy and or circumvent (given time). ;P

    --

    ---PRESS ANY KEY TO CONTINUE---
    "Now, where's the damn 'any' key?"

  12. Stolen Smarts by fm6 · · Score: 2
    Question: do you need physical access to my smart card to copy or circumvent it? If so, it's still a lot more secure than our current system of multiple passwords.

    If no, well, then I guess smartcards are evil after all. Forget what I said.

    Smartcards are different from a universal ID. A smart card identifies you when you say it does and stops identifying you when you say it doesn't. You still have to prove you are who you say you are by old-fashioned means. You just don't have to do it over and over to the same people.