Its specialized cryptographic electronics, along with a microprocessor, memory, and random number generator are housed within a tamper-responding environment to provide a highly secure subsystem in which data processing and cryptography can be performed. The 4758 coprocessor, along with its internal real-time operating system, secure configuration and bootstrap software, and custom software development tools, was developed at the IBM Thomas J Watson Research Center in the Secure Systems and Smart Cards group. In addition to the research group under the direction of Elaine Palmer, this project has been supported by groups within IBM's Internet Division, Software Group, and Server Group, along with various professional services provided by IBM Global Services. While the 4758 has now evolved into a mature product offered by IBM's Server Group, and is now at the heart of many IBM and third party security solutions, it was based on over fifteen years of research in the secure systems area of the IBM Thomas J Watson Research Center. The various groups and personnel involved in this effort are continuously researching the uses and applications of these devices and how they can be used to achieve privacy, confidentiality, and secure e-commerce solutions.
Further details are available on the product web site.
A CVS repository contains the latest version of the Linux device driver for the 4758 as well as the host library source code and documentation. CVS is a system that lets groups of people work simultaneously on groups of files. Reporting Problems Jitterbug is the system for tracking 4758 device driver bugs and feature requests . The core team and contributors have read-write access to this database. The community at large has read access through a Web interface.