Loongson Security Engine hardware random number generator
A hardware random number generator built into the Security Engine block of Loongson's LoongArch processors, such as the 3A6000 desktop chip and 3C6000 server chip. It feeds entropy from the SoC into the kernel's randomness pool on Loongson-based machines, which are sold mainly into the Chinese embedded, desktop, and server markets.
recommendation
It should stay in the kernel because it was only added in July 2025 to support a current, actively-shipping product line. Loongson is still selling 3A6000 desktop/server CPUs and growing its 3C6000 server ecosystem in 2025, and there is no upstream discussion suggesting the driver is unwanted or superseded.
repository signals
sources
- lore.kernel.org
Upstream evidence shows this driver was newly added in July 2025 as Loongson RNG support, with review and maintainer sign-off; no removal discussion was found.
- loongson.cn
Loongson 3A6000 is a current Loongson processor marketed for embedded computers, desktops, and servers, indicating the platform family is still current rather than legacy.
- loongson.cn
Loongson reported active 3C6000 server-platform ecosystem expansion in July 2025, supporting continued new deployments of contemporary Loongson hardware.
- loongson.cn
Loongson published ongoing 2025 LoongArch platform adaptation activity across many products, indicating active ecosystem deployment rather than end-of-life status.
codex reasoning notes (technical)
Directory contains a real platform RNG driver (`module_platform_driver`) backed by `MFD_LOONGSON_SE`, not a helper library. The only in-tree substantive change is its introduction, obtained via `exec_command` on `git log`, which also exposed the lore URL for the posting thread. A follow-up web `search_query` for lore removal/deprecation terms returned no results, so there is no evidence of active upstream removal talk. Deployment evidence came from Loongson product/news pages found with web `search_query`: current 3A6000/3C6000 products and 2025 ecosystem-growth announcements imply the hardware family is still being sold and deployed, though likely niche in Linux overall outside Loongson-focused markets. Because this is a new 2025 driver for current hardware with no replacement and no removal signal, `keep` is the defensible recommendation.