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ARM releases free Cortex-M processor cores for FPGAs

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Re: ARM releases free Cortex-M processor cores for FPGAs

#91
post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Pretty sure they will be precompiled RTL blobs. They are. Encrypted, too.

Ugh. That's all I needed to know. (Thanks.) There goes a very large pile of potential security research out the window.

That all being said, my sources tell me that tools exist which can decrypt the .vp files. It's still not going to be particularly readable, but at least it's available for analysis.

Re: ARM releases free Cortex-M processor cores for FPGAs

#92
post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are. We're pretty close to Pentium Pro in terms of patent expiration.

Do you know of any worthwhile patent as in general enough to be reused in a different chip but advanced enough to be a current blocker and not replaced by another technique or is it just to protect i686 proprietary elements ?

Knowing about patents like that opens you to triple damages for "willful infringement".

Re: ARM releases free Cortex-M processor cores for FPGAs

#93
post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ugh. That's all I needed to know. (Thanks.) There goes a very large pile of potential security research out the window.

That all being said, my sources tell me that tools exist which can decrypt the .vp files. It's still not going to be particularly readable, but at least it's available for analysis.

Hmm. Well, I get the impression the tools you mention are probably less hens-teeth than the ARM bitstream files ever were, so this development is pretty cool then.
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