random(3)
NAME
Crypt::OpenSSL::RSA - RSA encoding and decoding, using the openSSL
libraries
Crypt::OpenSSL::Random - Routines for accessing the OpenSSL pseudo-random number generator
SYNOPSIS
use Crypt::OpenSSL::Random;
Crypt::OpenSSL::Random::random_seed($good_random_data);
Crypt::OpenSSL::Random::random_egd("/tmp/entropy");
Crypt::OpenSSL::Random::random_status() or
die "Unable to sufficiently seed the random number generator".
my $ten_good_random_bytes = Crypt::OpenSSL::Random::random_bytes(10);
my $ten_ok_random_bytes = Crypt::OpenSSL::Random::random_pseudo_bytes(10);
DESCRIPTION
Crypt::OpenSSL::Random provides the ability to seed and query the
OpenSSL library's pseudo-random number generator
EXPORT
None by default.
Static Methods
random_bytes
This function, returns a specified number of cryptographically strong pseudorandom bytes from the PRNG. If the PRNG has not been seeded with enough randomness to ensure an unpredictable byte sequence, then a false value is
returned.
random_pseudo_bytes
This function, is similar to c<random_bytes>, but the resulting sequence of
bytes are not necessarily unpredictable. They can be used for non-cryptographic purposes and for certain purposes in cryptographic protocols, but usually not for key generation etc.
random_seed
This function seeds the PRNG with a supplied string of bytes. It returns true
if the PRNG has sufficient seeding. Note: calling this function with non-random bytes is of limited value at best!
random_egd
This function seeds the PRNG with data from the specified entropy gathering
daemon. Returns the number of bytes read from the daemon on succes, or -1 if
not enough bytes were read, or if the connection to the daemon failed.
random_status
This function returns true if the PRNG has sufficient seeding.
BUGS
Because of the internal workings of OpenSSL's random library, the
pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) accessed by Crypt::OpenSSL::Random will be different than the one accessed by any other perl module.
Hence, to use a module such as Crypt::OpenSSL::Random, you will need to
seed the PRNG used there from one used here. This class is still
advantageous, however, as it centralizes other methods, such as random_egd, in one place.
AUTHOR
Ian Robertson, iroberts@cpan.com