1 | <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
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2 | <!DOCTYPE sect1 PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.5//EN"
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3 | "http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.5/docbookx.dtd" [
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4 | <!ENTITY % general-entities SYSTEM "../../general.ent">
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5 | %general-entities;
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6 | ]>
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7 |
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8 | <sect1 id="postlfs-config-random" xreflabel="Random number generation" revision="sysv">
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9 | <?dbhtml filename="random.html"?>
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10 |
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11 |
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12 | <title>Random Number Generation</title>
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13 |
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14 | <indexterm zone="postlfs-config-random">
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15 | <primary sortas="f-random">random</primary>
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16 | </indexterm>
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17 |
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18 | <para>
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19 | The Linux kernel supplies a random number generator which is accessed
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20 | through <filename class="devicefile">/dev/random</filename> and
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21 | <filename class="devicefile">/dev/urandom</filename>. Programs that utilize
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22 | the random and urandom devices, such as <application>OpenSSH</application>,
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23 | will benefit from these instructions.
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24 | </para>
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25 |
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26 | <para>
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27 | When a Linux system starts up without much operator interaction, the
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28 | entropy pool (data used to compute a random number) may be in a fairly
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29 | predictable state. This creates the real possibility that the number
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30 | generated at startup may always be the same. In order to counteract
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31 | this effect, you should carry the entropy pool information across your
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32 | shut-downs and start-ups.
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33 | </para>
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34 |
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35 | <para>
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36 | Install the <filename>/etc/rc.d/init.d/random</filename> init script
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37 | included with the <xref linkend="bootscripts"/> package.
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38 | </para>
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39 |
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40 | <screen role="root"><userinput>make install-random</userinput></screen>
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41 |
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42 | </sect1>
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