Ubuntu Manpage: makepasswd - generate and/or encrypt passwords

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 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) 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 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 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 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 Bytes::Random::Secure.

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