Messages in this thread | | | Subject | Re: CONFIG_RANDOM option for 1.99.2 | From | Mark Eichin <> | Date | 16 May 1996 01:26:09 -0400 |
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> numbers. Consider a simulation using the Monte Carlo method--pseudorandom > numbers might produce misleading results.
In fact, Monte Carlo tests are done *specifically* using pseudorandom sequences so that they can be repeated and validated against different models -- nothing as spectrally poor as linear-congruential, but still repeatable.
/dev/random is for the times when you want *real* physical entropy... and since the whole *point* of a kernel is to hide you from physical variation, the only practical way to get it is with cooperation from the kernel. That's why I'd argue that /dev/random is *special* and should at best be a strongly worded default=yes option.
As for portability: I've heard of at least one named-pipe based user-space portable implementation of /dev/random. Also, Ted's kernel code has been ported (or has inspired related implementations) to several other platforms...
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