11 - The Initialization and Low-Level Command Suite

Abstract

There are two basic forms of Trusted Platform Module (TPM) initialization—one that is used during application development based on compliance vectors, and one used to prepare the TPM for field deployment. This chapter focuses on TPM initialization using the compliance vectors. It is noted that providing predictable results is a huge benefit when developing applications leveraging the functionality that the TPM provides. Thus, it is necessary to initialize the TPM so as to utilize the compliance vectors, which can give predictable results to TPM command execution. It is important to perform a basic initialization sequence, essentially pertaining to compliance state only, before executing higher-order TPM commands. The TPM_StartUp initializes the TPM and performs a series of internal self-test functions. After the TPM executes this command, the corresponding output message block, if successful, is defined. Depending on the version of TPM and the vendor, there can also be an additional self-test-based command that can be required to execute within the TPM.