ThunderBolt
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Developed by Intel with collaboration of Apple
Why ThunderBolt?
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Large data loads on set and in post production-
4K Display
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Massive data movement requirements-
Data transfers for backup, sharing, and editing
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How fast is ThunderBolt?
Working
one simple port and a cable that carries
DisplayPort
PCI Express data
Working
Protocol Architecture
Protocol Architecture
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Based on switched fabric architecture with full duplex link
Protocol Architecture
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Full bandwidth of the link in both direction
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Cables
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Uses an active cable
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boost the power of the signal
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error checking of the incoming transmissions
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Electrical
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Connections upto 3 meters
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Up to 10W of power deliverable to a bus-powered device
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Optical
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Longer Range
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Electrical/ Optical Layer
Controller Architecture
Frame Format
Works in Daisy Chain
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Supports up to seven chained devices
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Five devices and two Thunderbolt-based displays
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Six devices and one Thunderbolt-based display
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Six devices and one display via mini-DisplayPort adapter
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Five devices, one Thunderbolt-based display, and one display via mini-DisplayPort adapter
Features Summary
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10Gbps bi-directional, dual channel data transfer
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Data & Video on single cable with Dual-protocol (PCI Express and DisplayPort)
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Daisy chain up to six devices
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Compatible with existing DisplayPort devices
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Low latency with highly accurate time synchronization
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Uses native PCIe and DisplayPort protocol software drivers
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Power over cable for bus-powered devices (electrical cables only)
What Next?
ThunderBolt 2
Vulnerability
DMA attacks
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If users extend the PCI Express bus
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Allows very low-level access to a computer system
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System-bus devices usually have unlimited access to memory
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Could be used to compromise security by performing DMA attacks
Option ROM attacks
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When a system with Thunderbolt boots,
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It loads and executes Option ROMs from attached devices.
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Malware can begin execution before OS.
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Unless The BIOS or UEFI firmware has some sort of Trusted Boot protection.
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Such as
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Enforcing signatures on Option ROMs
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Whitelisted hashes for known good ROMs
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What is ThunderBolt
By Bhushan Sonawane
