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makepasswd(1)		      UNIX Reference Manual		   makepasswd(1)

NAME
     makepasswd - generate and/or encrypt passwords

SYNOPSIS
     makepasswd  [  --chars  N	] [ --clearfrom file ] [ --count N ] [ --crypt |
     --nocrypt | --crypt-md5 ] [ --cryptsalt N ] [ --help ] [ --maxchars N  ]  [
     --minchars  N  ]  [  --randomseed N ] [ --rerandom N ] [ --repeatpass N ] [
     --string string ] [ --verbose | --noverbose ]

DESCRIPTION
     makepasswd generates true random passwords using /dev/urandom, with the em-
     phasis on security over pronounceability.	It can	also  encrypt  plaintext
     passwords given on the command line.

OPTIONS
     --chars N
	    Generate  passwords  with  exactly N characters (do not use with op-
	    tions --minchars and --maxchars).

     --clearfrom FILE
	    Use password from FILE instead of  generating  passwords.	Requires
	    the  --crypt  or the --crypt-md5 options; may not be used with these
	    options:  --chars,	--maxchars,   --minchars,   --count,   --string,
	    --nocrypt.	 Trailing  newlines are removed but other white space is
	    not.

     --count N
	    Produce a total of N passwords (the default is one).

     --crypt
	    Produce encrypted passwords.

     --crypt-md5
	    Produce encrypted passwords using the MD5 digest (hash) algorithm.

     --cryptsalt N
	    Use crypt() salt N, a positive number <= 4096.  If random seeds  are
	    desired, specify a zero value (the default).

     --help
	    Ignore other operands and produce only a help display.

     --maxchars N
	    Generate passwords with at most N characters (default = 10).

     --minchars N
	    Generate passwords with at least N characters (default = 8).

     --nocrypt
	    Do not encrypt the generated password(s) (the default).

     --noverbose
	    Display no labels on output (the default).

     --randomseed N
	    Use  random  number  seed  N,  between 0 and 2^32 inclusive.  A zero
	    value results in a real-random seed.  This generates much  less  se-
	    cure  passwords  than  the	default;  not only does it generate pre-
	    dictable passwords due to the fixed seed, but the range of available
	    seeds is 32 bits rather than the default of 256 bits, and cannot  be
	    changed  without breaking expectations of previous users of this op-
	    tion.  If possible, do not use this option.

     --rerandom N
	    Set the random seed value every N values used.  Specify zero to  use
	    a  single  seed  value (the default). Specify one to get true-random
	    passwords, though note that doing this too frequently  will  deplete
	    the supply of entropy available in the kernel's entropy pool.

     --repeatpass N
	    Use  each  password  N  times (4096 maximum, --crypt must be set and
	    --cryptsalt may not be set).

     --string STRING
	    Use the characters in STRING to generate random passwords.

     --verbose
	    Display labelling information on output.

HISTORY
     makepasswd was originally part of the mkircconf program used  to  centrally
     administer  the Linux Internet Support Cooperative IRC network.  It may po-
     tentially be of use in any situation where passwords  must  be  secure  and
     need not be memorized by humans.

     Colin Watson modified it to use Bytes::Random::Secure.

COPYRIGHT
     Copyright	(c)  1997-1998 by lilo <lilo@linpeople.org>.  All rights are re-
     served by the author.  This program may be used under the terms of  version
     2 of the GNU Public License.

SEE ALSO
     passwd(5)

Debian Distribution		 1998 February 9		   makepasswd(1)

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