NAME Crypt::OpenSSL::Random - Routines for accessing the OpenSSL pseudo-random number generator using the openSSL libraries SYNOPSIS use Crypt::OpenSSL::Random; Crypt::OpenSSL::Random::random_seed($good_random_data); Crypt::OpenSSL::Random::random_egd("/tmp/entropy"); Crypt::OpenSSL::Random::random_status() or die "Unable to sufficiently seed the random number generator". my $ten_good_random_bytes = Crypt::OpenSSL::Random::random_bytes(10); my $ten_ok_random_bytes = Crypt::OpenSSL::Random::random_pseudo_bytes(10); DESCRIPTION Crypt::OpenSSL::Random provides the ability to seed and query the OpenSSL library's pseudo-random number generator. EXPORT None by default. Static Methods random_bytes (IV num_bytes) This function, returns a specified number of cryptographically strong pseudo-random bytes from the PRNG. If the PRNG has not been seeded with enough randomness to ensure an unpredictable byte sequence, then a false value is returned. random_pseudo_bytes (IV num_bytes) This function, is similar to c, but the resulting sequence of bytes are not necessarily unpredictable. They can be used for non-cryptographic purposes and for certain purposes in cryptographic protocols, but usually not for key generation etc. random_seed (PV random_bytes_string) This function seeds the PRNG with a supplied string of bytes. It returns true if the PRNG has sufficient seeding. Note: calling this function with non-random bytes is of limited value at best! random_egd (PV egd_string) This function seeds the PRNG with data from the specified entropy gathering daemon. Returns the number of bytes read from the daemon on success, or -1 if not enough bytes were read, or if the connection to the daemon failed. random_status () This function returns true if the PRNG has sufficient seeding. BUGS Because of the internal workings of OpenSSL's random library, the pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) accessed by Crypt::OpenSSL::Random will be different than the one accessed by any other perl module. Hence, to use a module such as Crypt::OpenSSL::Random, you will need to seed the PRNG used there from one used here. This class is still advantageous, however, as it centralizes other methods, such as "random_egd", in one place. AUTHOR Ian Robertson, "iroberts@cpan.com" Now maintained by Reini Urban, "rurban@cpan.org" LICENSE This module is available under the same licences as perl, the Artistic license and the GPL. SEE ALSO perl(1), rand(3), RAND_add(3), RAND_egd(3), RAND_bytes(3).