Int. Sys V crypt() algorithm

m. baker mcb at ihlpm.UUCP
Fri Jun 7 06:05:04 AEST 1985


> AT&T produced a new encrypt() algorithm for their "international version"
> of System V which provides encryption only.  Does anyone know what
> algorithm is used in this new scheme, in comparison to the almost-but-not-
> quite DES algorithm used in earlier versions of UNIX?  The issue here is
> that many of our customer sites have deemed the older DES-based password
> encryption "adequate", but are unprepared to accept the new AT&T algorithm
> without some background on what it is and how it differs from the old one.
> 
> Is the new algorithm still based on DES?
> -- 
> /Steve Dyer
> {decvax,linus,ima,ihnp4}!bbncca!sdyer
> sdyer at bbnccv.ARPA

My System V manual says:
"Crypt implements a one-rotor machine designed along the lines of the
German Enigma, but with a 256-element rotor."

This says to me that the old Crypt algorithm was not based on DES.

-- Mark
ihnp4!ihlpm!mcb
-- 

-- Mark



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