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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 by  using  the  /dev/urandom
       feature  of Linux, 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 Linux’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

       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)