NAME

       nbdkit-random-plugin - plugin to serve random data

SYNOPSIS

        nbdkit random [size=]SIZE [seed=SEED]

DESCRIPTION

       "nbdkit-random-plugin" is a plugin for nbdkit(1) which serves random data.  This plugin is mainly good
       for testing NBD clients.  This plugin creates a non-sparse random disk, for a sparse random disk see
       nbdkit-sparse-random-plugin(1).  For a plugin containing a predictable test pattern see
       nbdkit-pattern-plugin(1).

       The size of the virtual disk must be specified using the "size" parameter.  If you specify the "seed"
       parameter then you will get the same random data over multiple runs with the same seed.

       The random data is generated using an insecure method.

   Writes and testing copying
       Writing to the disk is possible.  If you do this the plugin will check that what you are writing exactly
       matches what would be read at the same offset (if not, it returns EIO error).  You can use this to test
       copying programs by making the source and destination NBD URIs be the same:

        nbdkit random size=100M --run 'nbdcopy "$uri" "$uri"'

       "qemu-img convert" could be used in place of nbdcopy.  See also nbdkit-checkwrite-filter(1).

PARAMETERS

       [size=]SIZE
           Specify the virtual size of the disk image.

           This parameter is required.

           "size=" prefix may be omitted in most cases.  See "Magic parameters" in nbdkit(1).

       seed=SEED
           Specify the random seed to get repeatable data over multiple runs.

           If not specified then a random seed is chosen.

FILES

       $plugindir/nbdkit-random-plugin.so
           The plugin.

           Use "nbdkit --dump-config" to find the location of $plugindir.

VERSION

       "nbdkit-random-plugin" first appeared in nbdkit 1.4.

SEE ALSO

       nbdkit(1),   nbdkit-plugin(3),   nbdkit-data-plugin(1),   nbdkit-full-plugin(1),   nbdkit-null-plugin(1),
       nbdkit-ones-plugin(1), nbdkit-pattern-plugin(1),  nbdkit-sparse-random-plugin(1),  nbdkit-zero-plugin(1),
       nbdcopy(1), qemu-img(1).

AUTHORS

       Richard W.M. Jones

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright Red Hat

LICENSE

       Redistribution  and  use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided
       that the following conditions are met:

       •   Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list  of  conditions  and
           the following disclaimer.

       •   Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and
           the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.

       •   Neither  the  name  of  Red  Hat  nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote
           products derived from this software without specific prior written permission.

       THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY RED HAT AND CONTRIBUTORS ''AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS  OR  IMPLIED  WARRANTIES,
       INCLUDING,  BUT  NOT  LIMITED  TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
       PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL RED HAT OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE  FOR  ANY  DIRECT,  INDIRECT,
       INCIDENTAL,  SPECIAL,  EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
       SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
       ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT  LIABILITY,  OR  TORT  (INCLUDING  NEGLIGENCE  OR
       OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
       DAMAGE.

nbdkit-1.42.6                                      2025-08-01                            nbdkit-random-plugin(1)