getrpml@moscito.org wrote:
> For an application, I need a random seed with about 25000 bits
> of randomness from time to time. Unfortunately, /dev/random in
> the standard kernel only stocks 512 bytes of randomness. Can I
> enlarge it with no ill effect merely by changing one variable
> in the kernel's random.c? [Here core memory is no problem.] I
> have read the source but am loathe to try anything on a running
> machine with a duty. Thanks.
> Also, can some kind soul inform me how quickly is the stock of
> randomness replenished in a `typical' machine, assuming there
> to be such a beast? The machine running my program will likely
> have 512MB of ram, 9Gx3 RAID-5 SCSI drives, and dual PIII's.
Randomness is replenished through irregular events like SCSI/kbd/mouse
interrupts.
But if you need a lot of randomness, you should get hardware built
specifically for that. I wrote a driver for the i810 built-in random
number generator, but you probably want something a lot better (and not
built into the motherboard) for a large quantity of random values.
i810 driver at http://gtf.org/garzik/drivers/
Jeff
-- Jeff Garzik | Liberty is always dangerous, but Building 1024 | it is the safest thing we have. MandrakeSoft, Inc. | -- Harry Emerson Fosdick- To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.rutgers.edu Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/
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