From owner-freebsd-hackers Sat Nov 28 23:41:48 1998 Return-Path: Received: (from majordom@localhost) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.8/8.8.8) id XAA02491 for freebsd-hackers-outgoing; Sat, 28 Nov 1998 23:41:48 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from owner-freebsd-hackers@FreeBSD.ORG) Received: from gratis.grondar.za (gratis.grondar.za [196.7.18.65]) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.8/8.8.8) with ESMTP id XAA02486 for ; Sat, 28 Nov 1998 23:41:42 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from mark@grondar.za) Received: from greenpeace.grondar.za (IDENT:CwN2DzFmjwqpvAetNi8muvrnJ8yi2Kj7@greenpeace.grondar.za [196.7.18.132]) by gratis.grondar.za (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP id JAA16372; Sun, 29 Nov 1998 09:41:30 +0200 (SAST) (envelope-from mark@grondar.za) Received: from grondar.za (IDENT:ShCVU8W/dBwXBSdStJLVBv7WAIw0grcm@localhost [127.0.0.1]) by greenpeace.grondar.za (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP id JAA15510; Sun, 29 Nov 1998 09:41:29 +0200 (SAST) (envelope-from mark@grondar.za) Message-Id: <199811290741.JAA15510@greenpeace.grondar.za> To: zhihuizhang cc: hackers Subject: Re: random number and primitive polynomial In-Reply-To: Your message of " Sat, 28 Nov 1998 22:21:56 EST." References: Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 09:41:27 +0200 From: Mark Murray Sender: owner-freebsd-hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Precedence: bulk X-Loop: FreeBSD.ORG zhihuizhang wrote: > Hi, I am now interested in how a truly random number is generated. The > source code is contained in file random_machdep.c. Can anyone tell me > where I can find good reference on how the primitive polynomial is related > to random number generation (i.e., its properties and role in a random > number generator). Dig through the RFC's; there is one that describes RNGs quite well (Its name is obvious enough). The polynomial is used to "stir" the "entropy pool", to make sure that the numbers have a decent probability spectrum. M -- Mark Murray Join the anti-SPAM movement: http://www.cauce.org To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-hackers" in the body of the message