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Date: Tue, 24 May 2005 21:13:45 -0400
From: Nicolas Blais <nb_root@videotron.ca>
To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
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Subject: srandomdev() vs srandom() vs arc4random()
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I'm developping a software that uses random generated numbers. Since these=
=20
numbers must be as "chaotic" as possible, I'm using srandomdev(). My proble=
m=20
is that I'm only able to compile my software on *BSD and certain distros of=
=20
Linux seem to be stripped of the call. This forces me to rely on=20
srandom(time(NULL)) for portability.

I would like to know how "random" (that is, how inprobable a pattern will=20
appear) if I use srandom(time(NULL)) instead of srandomdev().
Also, would arc4random() be any better in getting the least pattern creatio=
n.
=46inally, is there is a way to check if the call srandomdev() exists on ot=
her=20
OSes?

Thanks for your time,
Nicolas.
=2D-=20
=46reeBSD 6.0-CURRENT #2: Sun May 22 11:29:47 EDT 2005    =20
nicblais@clk01a:/usr/obj/usr/src/sys/CLK01A=20
PGP? : http://66.130.198.54:8081/security/nb_root.asc

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