Query: getentropy
OS: mojave
Section: 2
Format: Original Unix Latex Style Formatted with HTML and a Horizontal Scroll Bar
GETENTROPY(2) BSD System Calls Manual GETENTROPY(2)NAMEgetentropy -- get entropySYNOPSIS#include <sys/random.h> int getentropy(void *buf, size_t buflen);DESCRIPTIONgetentropy() fills a buffer with random data, which can be used as input for process-context pseudorandom generators like arc4random(3). The maximum buffer size permitted is 256 bytes. If buflen exceeds this, an error of EIO will be indicated. getentropy() should be used as a replacement for random(4) when random data derived directly from the kernel random byte generator is required. Unlike the random(4) pseudo-devices, it is not vulnerable to file descriptor exhaustion attacks and is available when sandboxed or in a chroot, making it more reliable for security-critical applications. However, it should be noted that getentropy() is primarily intended for use in the construction and seeding of userspace PRNGs like arc4random(3) or CC_crypto(3). Clients who simply require random data should use arc4random(3), CCRandomGenerateBytes() from CC_crypto(3), or SecRandomCopyBytes() from the Security framework instead of getentropy() or random(4)RETURN VALUESUpon successful completion, the value 0 is returned; otherwise the value -1 is returned and the global variable errno is set to indicate the error.ERRORSgetentropy() will succeed unless: [EINVAL] The buf parameter points to an invalid address. [EIO] Too many bytes requested, or some other fatal error occurred.SEE ALSOarc4random(3) CC_crypto(3) random(4)HISTORYThe getentropy() function appeared in OSX 10.12BSDOctober 2 2015 BSD
Related Man Pages |
---|
getrandom(2) - linux |
arc4random_uniform(3) - freebsd |
arc4random_addrandom(3) - mojave |
getentropy(3) - plan9 |
getentropy(3) - sunos |
Similar Topics in the Unix Linux Community |
---|
CLHep 2.0.4.0 (Default branch) |
pls help! complex find and replace |
Methods for Random Number Tracking |