RAND_load_file(3)

RAND_load_file(3) | OpenSSL | RAND_load_file(3)

# NAME

RAND_load_file, RAND_write_file, RAND_file_name - PRNG seed file

# LIBRARY

libcrypto, -lcrypto

# SYNOPSIS

     #include <openssl/rand.h>
     const char *RAND_file_name(char *buf, size_t num);
     int RAND_load_file(const char *filename, long max_bytes);
     int RAND_write_file(const char *filename);

# DESCRIPTION

RAND_file_name() generates a default path for the random seed file. buf points to a buffer of size num in which to store the filename. The seed file is $RANDFILE if that environment variable is set, $HOME/.rnd otherwise. If $HOME is not set either, or num is too small for the path name, an error occurs.
RAND_load_file() reads a number of bytes from file filename and adds them to the PRNG. If max_bytes is non-negative, up to to max_bytes are read; starting with OpenSSL 0.9.5, if max_bytes is -1, the complete file is read.
RAND_write_file() writes a number of random bytes (currently 1024) to file filename which can be used to initialize the PRNG by calling RAND_load_file() in a later session.

# RETURN VALUES

RAND_load_file() returns the number of bytes read.
RAND_write_file() returns the number of bytes written, and -1 if the bytes written were generated without appropriate seed.
RAND_file_name() returns a pointer to buf on success, and NULL on error.

# SEE ALSO

openssl_rand(3), RAND_add(3), RAND_cleanup(3)

# HISTORY

RAND_load_file(), RAND_write_file() and RAND_file_name() are available in all versions of SSLeay and OpenSSL.

2009-07-19 | 1.0.2k