Provided by: makepasswd_1.10-14_all bug

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.

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)