DES Challenge Solver
Copyright (c) Rocke Verser, 1986, 1997
All Rights Reserved.

***** FOR USE IN THE USA AND CANADA ONLY *****
*************** NOT FOR EXPORT ***************


For the latest news and information about DESCHALL, check the website at:

  <URL:http://www.frii.com/~rcv/deschall.htm>

Other information about the contest can be found at:

  <URL:http://www.rsa.com/rsalabs/97challenge>
  <URL:http://www.eskimo.com/~joelm/des.html>


                                           
(March 12, 1997, revised April 25th)
This file is the README.TXT that should be distributed with all of the
client software archives. 


Platform Notes
==============

For Windows, OS/2, Linux, BSD variants, and SolarisX86, there are separate
clients, each optimized for the 486, Pentium, or PentiumPro processors. 
Please choose the correct optimization for your hardware.  The wrong
optimization can cost you as much as 50% in performance! 

If you have a non-Intel processor or a non-standard Intel processor, you
should probably try each optimization with the "-m" (measure) option. 
Pick the client that gives the best performance.  Current benchmarks are
at the DESCHALL Web-site listed above. 

The Windows clients are contained in DESWIN32.ZIP, and should run on
Windows 95 or Windows NT.  The clients have 8.3 filenames.  The OS/2
clients are contained in DESCHOS2.ZIP, and should run on OS/2 Warp
(version 3) or above.  The clients have 8.3 filenames. 

There is a "universal" Sparc client that works with most relatively modern
Sun boxes and operating systems. Sun boxes using the SuperSparc or
UltraSparc should use the versions tuned for those processors for better
performace. 

The other clients are each available seperately. The platform and
optimization should be apparent from the filename. 


Installing and Running
======================

To run a client, unzip the archive(s) as necessary to extract your client. 
Then type the command name with the domain name of the DESCHALL server. 
Here are some examples: 

  deschall-linux-P5  keymaster.verser.frii.com     or
  deschal5  keymaster.verser.frii.com     or

The clients run at a low priority, and I have attempted to keep them from
being big resource hogs. They use very little memory (RAM), so having alot
of RAM (or a fast harddrive, videocard, etc) won't help their performance. 
You may want to consider automatically starting the clients whenever your
system boots. For scripts and help to make doing this easy (especially on
large numbers of systems), check the DESCHALL mailinglist, mailinglist
archive, and DESCHALL Web site. 

Aside from the possibility that the clients will become obsolete, and you
may have to download a newer client, they should run pretty much without
human intervention.  (Assuming you have a well-connected box!) 

The software is provided AS-IS.  No warranty of performance or function is
expressed or implied.  Use the software at your own risk.  The author
expressly disclaims any responsibility, obligation, or association with
the "contest", which is sponsored by RSA Data Security, Inc. 

Additionally, since this software requires a "well-connected"  box, you
should frequently check the Web pages at: 
     <URL:http://www.frii.com/~rcv/deschall.htm>
for additional disclaimers and rules regarding use of this software. 


Software Integrity
==================

This archive was originally distributed with a PGP signature, using my
personal PGP key, identified below.  Additionally MD5 hash values are
posted at the "www.frii.com" Web site, listed above.  Prudence requires
that you check the signature and MD5 hash values before running this
software. 

Good luck!

-- Rocke Verser, rcv@frii.com
-- PGP Fingerprint           PGP ID = 1025/00000001
-- EE 73 A9 78 60 9C BA CA  DF FC 68 37 CD 73 F3 96