NAME

       apg - generates several random passwords

SYNOPSIS

       apg  [-a  algorithm]  [-M  mode]  [-E  char_string] [-n num_of_pass] [-m min_pass_len] [-x
       max_pass_len] [-r dictfile] [-b filter_file] [-p min_substr_len] [-s]  [-c  cl_seed]  [-d]
       [-y] [-l] [-t] [-q] [-h] [-v]

DESCRIPTION

       apg  generates  several  random  passwords. It uses several password generation algorithms
       (currently two) and a built-in pseudo random number generator.

       Default algorithm is pronounceable password generation algorithm designed by Morrie Gasser
       and  described  in  A Random Word Generator For Pronounceable Passwords National Technical
       Information Service (NTIS) AD-A-017676.  The original paper is very old and had never been
       put online, so I have to use NIST implementation described in FIPS-181.

       Another  algorithm is simple random character generation algorithm, but it uses four user-
       defined symbol sets to produce random password. It means that  user  can  choose  type  of
       symbols  that  should  appear in password. Symbol sets are: numeric symbol set (0,...,9) ,
       capital letters symbol set (A,...,Z) , small letters  symbol  set  (a,...,z)  and  special
       symbols symbol set (#,@,!,...).

       Built-in  pseudo  random  number  generator is an implementation of algorithm described in
       Appendix C of ANSI X9.17 or RFC1750 with exception that it uses CAST or SHA-1  instead  of
       Triple  DES.   It uses local time with precision of microseconds (see gettimeofday(2)) and
       /dev/random (if available) to produce initial random seed.

       apg also have the ability to check generated password quality using  dictionary.  You  can
       use  this  ability  if you specify command-line options -r dictfile or -b filtername where
       dictfile is the dictionary file name and filtername is the name of Bloom filter  file.  In
       that  dictionary  you  may  place words (one per line) that should not appear as generated
       passwords. For example: user names, common words,  etc.  You  even  can  use  one  of  the
       dictionaries  that  come  with  dictionary password crackers.  Bloom filter file should be
       created with apgbfm(1) utility included in apg distribution. In future releases I plan  to
       implement  some other techniques to check passwords (like pattern check) just to make life
       easier.

OPTIONS

   Password generation modes options
       -a algorithm
              use algorithm for password generation.
              0 - (default) pronounceable password generation
              1 - random character password generation

       -n num_of_pass
              generate num_of_pass number of passwords. Default is 6.

       -m min_pass_len
              generate password with minimum length min_pass_len.  If min_pass_len > max_pass_len
              then max_pass_len = min_pass_len.  Default minimum password length is 8.

       -x max_pass_len
              generate password with maximum length max_pass_len.  If min_pass_len > max_pass_len
              then max_pass_len = min_pass_len.  Default maximum password length is 10.

       -M mode
              Use symbolsets specified with mode for password generation.  mode is a text  string
              consisting of characters S, s, N, n, C, c, L, l. Where:

              S      generator must use special symbol set for every generated password.

              s      generator should use special symbol set for password generation.

              N      generator must use numeral symbol set for every generated password.

              n      generator should use numeral symbol set for password generation.

              C      generator must use capital symbol set for every generated password.

              c      generator should use capital symbol set for password generation.

              L      generator  must  use  small  letters symbol set for every generated password
                     (always present if pronounceable password generation algorithm is used).

              l      generator should use small letters symbol set for password generation.

              R,r    not supported any more. Use -E char_string option instead.
              mode can not be more than 4 characters in length.

              Note:
              Usage of L, M, N, C will slow down password generation process.

              Examples:
              -M sncl or -M SNCL or -M Cn

       -E char_string
              exclude  characters  in  char_string   from   password   generation   process   (in
              pronounceable  password  generation  mode  you  can  not exclude small letters). To
              include special symbols that can be recognized by shell (apostrophe, quotes, dollar
              sign, etc.) in char_string use the backslashed versions.

              Examples:

              Command  apg  -a 1 -M n -n 3 -m 8 -E 23456789 will generate a set of passwords that
              will look like this
              10100110
              01111000
              11011101

              Command apg -a 1 -M nc -n 3 -m 26 -E GHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ will generate  a  set  of
              passwords that will look like this
              16A1653CD4DE5E7BD9584A3476
              C8F78E06944AFD57FB9CB882BC
              8C8DF37CD792D36D056BBD5002

   Password quality control options
       -r dictfile
              check generated passwords for their appearance in dictfile

       -b filter_file
              check  generated  passwords for their appearance in filter_file. filter_file should
              be created with apgbfm(1) utility.

       -p min_substr_len
              this option tells apg(1) to check every substring of  the  generated  password  for
              appearance  in  filter_file.  If  any  of  such  substrings  would  be found in the
              filter_file then generated password would be  rejected  and  apg(1)  will  generate
              another  one.   min_substr_len  specifies  minimum substring length to check.  This
              option is active only if -b option is defined.

   Pseudo random number generator options
       -s     ask user for random sequence for password generation

       -c cl_seed
              use cl_seed as a random seed for password generation. I  use  it  when  i  have  to
              generate passwords in a shell script.

   Password output options
       -d     do  NOT  use  any  delimiters  between generated passwords. I use it when i have to
              generate passwords in a shell script.

       -y     print generated passwords and crypted passwords (see man crypt(3))

       -q     quiet mode (do not print warnings)

       -l     spell genetated passwords. Useful when you  want  to  read  generated  password  by
              telephone.
              WARNING: Think twice before read your password by phone.

       -t     print pronunciation for generated pronounceable password

       -h     print help information and exit

       -v     print version information and exit

DEFAULT OPTIONS

       apg -a 0 -M sncl -n 6 -x 10 -m 8 (new style)

       If you want to generate really secure passwords, you should use option -s. To simplify apg
       usage, you can write a small shell script. For example:
       [begin]----> pwgen.sh
       #!/bin/sh
       /usr/local/bin/apg -m 8 -x 12 -s
       [ end ]----> pwgen.sh

EXIT CODE

       On successful completion of its task, apg will complete with exit code 0.  An exit code of
       -1 indicates an error occurred.  Textual errors are written to the standard error stream.

DIAGNOSTICS

       If /dev/random is not available, apg will display a message about it.

FILES

       None.

BUGS

       None.  If you've found one, please send bug description to the author.

SEE ALSO

       apgbfm(1)

AUTHOR

       Adel I. Mirzazhanov, <a-del@iname.com>
       Project home page: http://www.adel.nursat.kz/apg/