Abstract: Delivering a Direct Proof private key to a device installed in a client computer system in the field may be accomplished in a secure manner without requiring significant non-volatile storage in the device. A unique pseudo-random value is generated and stored in the device at manufacturing time. The pseudo-random value is used to generate a symmetric key for encrypting a data structure holding a Direct Proof private key and a private key digest associated with the device. The resulting-encrypted data structure is stored on a removable storage medium (such as a CD), and distributed to the owner of the client computer system. When the device is initialized on the client computer system, the system checks if a localized encrypted data structure is present in the system. If not, the system obtains the associated encrypted data structure from the removable storage medium.

Abstract: Delivering a Direct Proof private key to a device installed in a client computer system in the field may be accomplished in a secure manner without requiring significant non-volatile storage in the device. A unique pseudo-random value is generated and stored in the device at manufacturing time. The pseudo-random value is used to generate a symmetric key for encrypting a data structure holding a Direct Proof private key and a private key digest associated with the device. The resulting encrypted data structure is stored on a protected on-liner server accessible by the client computer system. When the device is initialized on the client computer system, the system checks if a localized encrypted data structure is present in the system. If not, the system obtains the associated encrypted data structure from the protected on-line server using a secure protocol.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described herein for supporting direct memory accesses between peer I/O devices. It is determined whether a guest physical address (GPA) referenced by an access generated from an I/O device, is within a range of GPAs associated with local I/O devices based at least in part on a GPA base and a GPA window size. If the GPA is within the window, then the GPA is translated to an HPA based at least in part on a base HPA associated with a local device and then forwarded to that local device. However, if the GPA is not within the window, then the access is forwarded upstream.

Abstract: Delivering a Direct Proof private key to a device installed in a client computer system in the field may be accomplished in a secure manner without requiring significant non-volatile storage in the device. A unique pseudo-random value is generated and stored in the device at manufacturing time. The pseudo-random value is used to generate a symmetric key for encrypting a data structure holding a Direct Proof private key and a private key digest associated with the device. The resulting encrypted data structure is stored on a protected on-liner server accessible by the client computer system. When the device is initialized on the client computer system, the system checks if a localized encrypted data structure is present in the system. If not, the system obtains the associated encrypted data structure from the protected on-line server using a secure protocol.

Abstract: Delivering a Direct Proof private key in a signed group of keys to a device installed in a client computer system in the field may be accomplished in a secure manner without requiring significant non-volatile storage in the device. A unique pseudo-random value is generated and stored along with a group number in the device at manufacturing time. The pseudo-random value is used to generate a symmetric key for encrypting a data structure holding a Direct Proof private key and a private key digest associated with the device. The resulting encrypted data structure is stored in a signed group of keys (e.g., a signed group record) on a removable storage medium (such as a CD or DVD), and distributed to the owner of the client computer system. When the device is initialized on the client computer system, the system checks if a localized encrypted data structure is present in the system.

Abstract: An article of manufacture is provided for securing a region in a memory of a computer. According to one embodiment, the article of manufacture comprises a machine-accessible medium including data that, when accessed by a machine, causes the machine to: halt all but one of a plurality of processing elements in a computer, where the halted processing elements enter into a special halted state; load content into the region only after the halting of all but the one of the plurality of processing elements and the region is protected from access by the halted processing elements; place the non-halted processing element into a known privileged state; and cause the halted processing elements to exit the halted state after the non-halted processing element has been placed into the known privileged state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for initiating secure operations in a microprocessor system is described. In one embodiment, one initiating logical processor initiates the process by halting the execution of the other logical processors, and then loading initialization and secure virtual machine monitor software into memory. The initiating processor then loads the initialization software into secure memory for authentication and execution. The initialization software then authenticates and registers the secure virtual machine monitor software prior to secure system operations.

Abstract: Secure storage and retrieval of a unique value associated with a device to/from a memory of a processing system. In at least one embodiment, the device needs to be able to access the unique value across processing system resets, and the device does not have sufficient non-volatile storage to store the unique value itself. Instead, the unique value is stored in the processing system memory in such a way that the stored unique value does not create a unique identifier for the processing system or the device. A pseudo-randomly or randomly generated initialization vector may be used to vary an encrypted data structure used to store the unique value in the memory.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for initiating secure operations in a microprocessor system is described. In one embodiment, one initiating logical processor initiates the process by halting the execution of the other logical processors, and then loading initialization and secure virtual machine monitor software into memory. The initiating processor then loads the initialization software into secure memory for authentication and execution. The initialization software then authenticates and registers the secure virtual machine monitor software prior to secure system operations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for initiating secure operations in a microprocessor system is described. In one embodiment, one initiating logical processor initiates the process by halting the execution of the other logical processors, and then loading initialization and secure virtual machine monitor software into memory. The initiating processor then loads the initialization software into secure memory for authentication and execution. The initialization software then authenticates and registers the secure virtual machine monitor software prior to secure system operations.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises generating a cryptographic key pair associated with a data center. The method also includes storing a private key of the cryptographic key pair within a platform. The private key is used to sign a value stored in the platform for validation of inclusion of the platform into the data center. In an embodiment, the private key is revoked upon determining that the platform has been compromised. In one embodiment, the private key may be revoked in each of the platforms of the data center.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for resetting and modifying special registers in a security token is described. In one embodiment, a register may be reset when a reset flag is true when a special transmission on a bus demonstrates the mutual locality of the associated processor and chipset. A modify flag may also be used to indicate whether the register contents may be modified. Modifications may also be dependent upon demonstration of mutual locality.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for unilaterally loading a secure operating system within a multiprocessor environment are described. The method includes disregarding a received load secure region instruction when a currently active load secure region operation is detected. Otherwise, a memory protection element is directed, in response to the received load secure region instruction, to form a secure memory environment. Once directed, unauthorized read/write access to one or more protected memory regions are prohibited. Finally, a cryptographic hash value of the one or more protected memory regions is stored within a digest information repository as a secure software identification value. Once stored, outside agents may request access to a digitally signed software identification value in order to establish security verification of secure software within the secure memory environment.

Abstract: A computer system having at least a first microprocessor for processing information and a first memory coupled to the first microprocessor via a first point-to-point interface. The first point-to-point interface provides communication of signals between the first microprocessor and the first memory irrespective of the phase of the signals received by either the first microprocessor or the first memory. The first point-to-point interface includes a first point-to-point circuit in the microprocessor for receiving the signals from the first memory. The first point-to-point circuit and the microprocessor comprise a single integrated circuit in some implemented embodiments, providing ease of construction and design of systems having a variety of topologies.