From: The Deviant <deviant@pooh-corner.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Nov 1996 21:11:12 -0800 (PST)
To: "Mark M." <markm@voicenet.com>
Subject: Re: /dev/random and similar
In-Reply-To: <Pine.LNX.3.95.961122132835.505A-100000@gak.voicenet.com>
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.94.961123050656.11476B-100000@random.sp.org>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


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On Fri, 22 Nov 1996, Mark M. wrote:

> On Fri, 22 Nov 1996, Three Blind Mice wrote:
> 
> > There was a thread here a while back about /dev/random and similar devices
> > for Linux, but I managed to lose the mails and the hks.net archives still
> > aren't working (any news on that?).  If someone could tell me where I
> > could find such a driver, I would appreciate it very much.      TIA!
> 
> It's part of the kernel (as of 2.0).  All you have to do is create the devices
> /dev/random and /dev/urandom with major number 1 and minor numbers 8 and 9
> respectively.
> 
> Mark

It should be noted, however, that only /dev/random is cryptographically
pseudorandom. (or rather, can be safely treated as such).  /dev/urandom
cuts some strings to be faster, but is less reliable.

 --Deviant
   PGP KeyID = E820F015 Fingerprint = 3D6AAB628E3DFAA9 F7D35736ABC56D39

They seem to have learned the habit of cowering before authority even when
not actually threatened.  How very nice for authority.  I decided not to
learn this particular lesson.
                -- Richard Stallman


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