Boston Linux & UNIX was originally founded in 1994 as part of The Boston Computer Society. We meet on the third Wednesday of each month, online, via Jitsi Meet.

BLU Discuss list archive


[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

[Discuss] How do I add entropy?



On 9/6/2014 4:17 PM, Bill Ricker wrote:
> On Sat, Sep 6, 2014 at 4:00 PM, Bill Horne<bill at horne.net>  wrote:
>> 2. Does "doing other things" on the system contribute to the entropy pool? In
>> other words, does Linux acquire randomness by monitoring the time between
>> keystrokes or mouse movements or similar "normal" events?
>
> Yes. Noise-bits from timing of Mouse, keyboard, and disk access are
> likely all to be harvested.
>

Thanks, that's nice to know.

Is there any way to speed the process? Short of putting up an antenna 
and counting bits of static, how can I accumulate random bits more 
quickly that by typing or moving the mouse?

Long story short, must I tough it out and copy "War and Peace" by hand 
in order to get enough  entropy for a new key?

TIA.

Bill

-- 
E. William Horne
William Warren Consulting
339-364-8487




BLU is a member of BostonUserGroups
BLU is a member of BostonUserGroups
We also thank MIT for the use of their facilities.

Valid HTML 4.01! Valid CSS!



Boston Linux & Unix / webmaster@blu.org