---
name: "safe"
section: "4"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/safe/4"
---

# safe(4)

SafeNet SafeXcel 1141/1741 crypto accelerator

## NAME

**safe** – SafeNet SafeXcel 1141/1741 crypto accelerator

## SYNOPSIS

To compile this driver into the kernel, place the following lines in your kernel configuration file:

**device crypto** **device cryptodev** **device safe**

Alternatively, to load the driver as a module at boot time, place the following line in [loader.conf(5)](/loader.conf/5.md):

```
safe_load="YES"
```

In [sysctl.conf(5)](/sysctl.conf/5.md):

**hw.safe.debug** **hw.safe.dump** **hw.safe.rnginterval** **hw.safe.rngbufsize** **hw.safe.rngmaxalarm**

## DEPRECATION NOTICE

The **safe** driver is deprecated and is scheduled for removal in FreeBSD 16.0.

## DESCRIPTION

The **safe** driver supports cards containing SafeNet crypto accelerator chips.

The **safe** driver registers itself to accelerate AES, SHA1-HMAC, and NULL operations for [ipsec(4)](/ipsec/4.md) and [crypto(4)](/crypto/4.md).

On all models, the driver registers itself to provide random data to the [random(4)](/random/4.md) subsystem. Periodically the driver will poll the hardware RNG and retrieve data for use by the system. If the driver detects that the hardware RNG is resonating with any local signal, it will reset the oscillators that generate random data. Three [sysctl(8)](/sysctl/8.md) settings control this procedure: *hw.safe.rnginterval* specifies the time, in seconds, between polling operations, *hw.safe.rngbufsize* specifies the number of 32-bit words to retrieve on each poll, and *hw.safe.rngmaxalarm* specifies the threshold for resetting the oscillators.

When the driver is compiled with SAFE\_DEBUG defined, two [sysctl(8)](/sysctl/8.md) variables are provided for debugging purposes: *hw.safe.debug* can be set to a non-zero value to enable debugging messages to be sent to the console for each cryptographic operation, *hw.safe.dump* is a write-only variable that can be used to force driver state to be sent to the console. Set this variable to “ring” to dump the current state of the descriptor ring, to “dma” to dump the hardware DMA registers, or to “int” to dump the hardware interrupt registers.

## HARDWARE

The **safe** driver supports the following SafeXcel chips:

| | |
| --- | --- |
| SafeNet 1141 | The original chipset. |
| SafeNet 1741 | A faster version of the 1141. |

## SEE ALSO

[crypt(3)](/crypt/3.md), [crypto(4)](/crypto/4.md), [intro(4)](/intro/4.md), [ipsec(4)](/ipsec/4.md), [random(4)](/random/4.md), [crypto(7)](/crypto/7.md), [crypto(9)](/crypto/9.md)

## HISTORY

The **safe** driver first appeared in FreeBSD 5.2. It is deprecated in FreeBSD 15.0 and removed in FreeBSD 16.0.

## BUGS

Public key support is not implemented.