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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 by  using  the  /dev/urandom
       feature	of Linux, with the emphasis 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
	      options --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) algo‐
	      rithm.

       --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
	      secure  passwords	 than  the  default; not only does it generate
	      predictable 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 option.  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 Linux'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  cen‐
       trally  administer  the Linux Internet Support Cooperative IRC network.
       It may potentially be of use in any situation where passwords  must  be
       secure and need not be memorized by humans.

       Colin  Watson modified it to use OpenSSL's pseudo-random number genera‐
       tor.

COPYRIGHT
       Copyright (c) 1997-1998 by lilo <lilo@linpeople.org>.  All  rights  are
       reserved	 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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