PRANDOM(4)

NAME
prandom - kernel pseudo random number generator device for s390

DESCRIPTION
The character special file /dev/prandom provides an interface to the pseudo random number generator. The s390 pseudo random number generator uses the hardware accelerated cryptographic assist functions which are integrated in the CPU. /dev/prandom is available starting with the z9 processor.

Reading from /dev/prandom is non-blocking. Any amount of data could be read from the device.

The s390 pseudo random number generator provides cryptographically secure pseudo random numbers following the algorithm in ANSI X9.17. Entropy is added periodically to the generator to protect against a compromised key.

CONFIGURATION
The /dev/prandom device node is generated by udev while loading the corresponding kernel module or while booting a kernel with the generator built-in. By default /dev/prandom is readable only by root. If it should be readable by every user add the following to /etc/rules.d/50-udev.rules:
	KERNEL=="prandom",              MODE="0444", OPTIONS="last_rule"

FILES
/dev/prandom

SEE ALSO
Linux on zSeries: Device Drivers, Features and Commands