Re: Our lead over SolNet...?

Charles E. Novitski (c.novitski@cmich.edu)
Fri, 2 May 1997 21:24:06 -0400

I have a few naive questions. Are both (all) groups starting from the
smallest keys and working up? (So the slower group's work is always
redundant?)
a) Why don't the groups work cooperatively, checking non-overlapping keys
sets first?
b) If cooperation isn't possible, why doesn't one group select keys by an
alternative method, ie. either at random, or starting from the other end?

(I gather from their web page that one group, the DES Violation group has
given up in response to SolNet progress.)

>>(A quick aside before the main body of my
>>email: How is SolNet managing
>>2GKeys/sec with only 4000 hosts reporting
>>for that time period (7:00pm EDT today)?
>>They must be running a richer mix of machines by
>>a long shot, even if you consider that some
>>of our hosts/day are from dynamic IP's.)
>>
>>All arguements about competition/cooperation
>>aside, I did some quick calculations to see
>>how long our lead over SolNet will last under
>>a few (bad) assumptions:
>>
>>1) That we worked today (Friday) at the same rate as
>>on Thursday.
>>
>>2) That we and SolNet will continue to work at the same
>>rates we are now (As I said, _bad_ (but easier) assumptions).
>>
>>Under those assumptions, I calculate that our lead will
>>last 600800 seconds, or 6 days, 23 hours.
>>
>>We are unlikely to find the key in that time period :)
>>
>>So let's recruit like crazy this weekend, and get those
>>2GKey/sec 64bit bitslice clients out!
>>
>>Or, we could all enjoy the beautiful weather and
>>go rollerblading or participate in our outdoor activity
>>of choice.
>>
>>
>>----------------------------------------------
>>Ethan O'Connor |Does cracking DES seem like too
>>zudark@mit.edu |easy a challenge? Join the
>> |Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search
>> |http://www.mersenne.org/
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