ECDL-PPC

Elliptic Curve Discrete Logarithms


This program is part of the effort organised by Robert Harley to take on the Certicom ECC Challenge.  By running this program on your machine you can contribute to this effort.

It is derived from Brian Gladman's variant of Robert J. Harley's original code.
It uses 'EudoraLib' by Alan Staniforth.
It was ported to Macintosh by Ian Miller.
The archive is at http://www.bifroest.demon.co.uk/ecdl/ecdl.sea.hqx(77k).

Instructions

The program is only usable with a PowerPC Macintosh.  Even the fastest 68k are unlikely to find more than a few points per week, so I have not bothered building a 68k variant, and won't unless specifically asked.

The archive is in BinHex (.hqx) format.  Once this is converted to a Macintosh file, you have a self-expanding archive.  The archive should expand into a single folder containing two files:-

ecdl-ppc
The program itself.
ecdl-ppc.html
The instructions [, this file].
It is recommend that ecdl-ppc remains in its own folder as it creates a couple of files:-
ecdl.log
This file is a cumulative log of all of the output.
saved.state.new.format
This file stores the state of the program to allow it to continue from where it finished last time.
Once installed in an appropriate folder.  It merely needs to be started.  On being run for the first time it will report being unable to find saved.state.new.format.  Ignore this it is expected, on the first run.  It is a problem if you get it more than once.

Consider adding it to the machine's startup folder to make this automatic on start-up.

  1. Open folder Startup Items which is inside the System Folder on your startup (probably only) disc.
  2. Holding down the <alt> and <command> keys, drag ecdl-ppc from the ecdl folder to the Startup Items folder.
Once running it should have little effect on the system or other applications.

Menus

Initially most of the menus are grayed out.  Most of the menu items are concerned with extracting the results information, and there are not enabled until there are some results to extract.
The File menu also has two permanently grayed out items which display the number of iterations and the number of points found.
There are three methods of extracting results:-
  1. The Cut and Copy operations in the Edit menu can be used to cut-and-paste the results into any other application.  Normally the results should be e-mail to win-ecdl2-97@pauillac.inria.fr.  As one would expect, Cut deletes the current results, Copy does not.
  2. For users of Eudora only, the Cut to Mail and Copy to Mail operations, will place the results in the generation of a ready to send queued e-mail in Eudora.  Eudora must already be running for this to work.
  3. The results can be extracted from the ecdl.log. Again they should be e-mailed to win-ecdl2-97@pauillac.inria.fr.  This is the only method available of extracting results after the program has been shutdown.  It is generally easier to extract the results while the program is still running.

Machine Adjustments

Username and Machine Name

ECDL-PPC automatically extracts the name of the machine and the name of the user from MacOS.  If you want to change the either of these you need to:-
  1. Open the File Sharing control panel.
  2. Select the Start/Stop tab.
  3. In the Network Identity section, change the Owner Name and Computer Name.
  4. Close the Control Panel

Running Unattended

If you intend to leave the ECDL-PPC running while the machine is unattended (e.g. overnight), it may be necessary to adjust the energy saving settings to prevent it going to sleep.  To do this:-
  1. Open the Energy Saver Control Panel.
  2. Select "Sleep Setup".
  3. If the button at the bottom right reads "show details", click on it so it reads "Hide details".
  4. Check both the "Separate Timing for ..." check-boxes.
  5. Set the "Put system to sleep whenever it's inactive for" to 'never'.
  6. Close the Control Panel.

Customising

It is also possible to change an number of the strings in the program.  This includes a few of the other values that are sent will the results, and for e-mailing the address the results are sent to and the subject line.  To change any of these you will have need the program ResEdit (and someone who knows how to use it).  If you do know how to use it, it is a simple matter of adjusting the values of the 'STR ' resource.  If you change the Team Name please e-mail me with the new team name.  I would like to know which teams are using my software.

License

Short Answer

This program is freeware and may be used by anyone for non-commerical purposes.

Long Answer

Both Robert Harley's ECDL code, and my Macintosh Toolbox code are GPL.  However I also use Alan Staniforth's Eudoralib which has a "no commerical use" limitation.  As such the program is not strictly valid under the GPL.  Robert has kindly allowed a one-off exemption for this executable.  Accordingly the executable is freely distributable and usable for any non-commerical purpose. (It is difficult to see what you could use if for other than the challenge, but you never know.)

In accordance with GPL source is available on demand.  Please e-mail me if you would like it.