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 OpenSSL's pseudo-random number generator.

COPYRIGHT