Re: random number generator

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#454

From: Aidan Karley
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 02:53

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In article <3bc2c286.3@webcrossing.la2eafNXanI>,  wrote:
> So, you have to supply your own seed, presumably "at random"? 
> I have solved this problem by using Perl to generate a file 
> of random numbers
>
       I haven't noticed what sort of system you're working on. 
Most unix-alikes (Unices, BSDs, OS-X for Macs, Linuxens, and 
names too numerous to mention) have a system device that 
accumulates randomness from timing of system events (keystrokes, 
mouse movements, network packets), stores randomness in a system 
parameter across re-boots, and generally provides quite good 
quality randomness for the asking without the user needing to go 
into making their own randomness. 
dd -if /dev/random -of /path/to/destination [various parameters]
       
       Windows also provides such services, but they don't seem 
to be as user-visible as on the unices. See for example 
msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.random(VS.80).aspx 
(it's a damned slow page to load).

-- 
 Aidan Karley, FGS
 Aberdeen, Scotland
 Written at Wed, 10 Jan 2007 01:55 GMT, but posted later.

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From: Aidan Karley <name1_name2@email.provider.invalid>
Newsgroups: adobe.postscript.programming
Subject: Re: random number generator
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 02:53:36 GMT
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