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7.116. libica

Updated libica packages that add one enhancement are now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.
The libica library contains a set of functions and utilities for accessing the IBM eServer Cryptographic Accelerator (ICA) hardware on IBM System z.

Enhancement

BZ#738835
The libica library has been modified to allow usage of new algorithms that support the Message Security Assist Extension 4 instructions in the Central Processor Assist for Cryptographic Function (CPACF) feature. For the DES and 3DES block ciphers, the new feature supports the following modes of operation:
  • Cipher Block Chaining with Ciphertext Stealing (CBC-CS)
  • Cipher-based Message Authentication Code (CMAC)
For the AES block cipher, this feature supports the following modes of operation:
  • Cipher Block Chaining with Ciphertext Stealing (CBC-CS)
  • Counter with Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code (CCM)
  • Galois/Counter (GCM)
With this acceleration of complex cryptographic algorithms, performance of IBM System z machines significantly improves.
All users of libica are advised to upgrade to these updated packages, which add this enhancement.