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submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by A_norny_mousse@feddit.org to c/linux@programming.dev

That's all. I just found this in a random script. Generates a random UUID every time it's called. I didn't know.

Of course I can also use uuidgen or pipe /dev/(u)random into something to get a random alphanumeric string - but this is built right into the kernel!

In /proc/sys/kernel/random/, there's also boot_id which ~~seems to do the same~~ is static, and some tweakable parameters.

❤️🐧

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[-] sorrybookbroke@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago

My guy you've just given me the same sense of wonder you got yourself. Fuck man I love linux

[-] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 3 points 2 days ago

When writing shell scripts that run in a loop I always look for files in /sys or /proc before using standard utilities. There's a lot

  • /proc/mounts instead of the mount command
  • /sys/class/..../backlight to influence screen brightness
  • /sys/class/net to get info and stats about interfaces
  • ....

Someone should make a comprehensive list I guess.

[-] lnxtx@feddit.nl 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Interesting,
non-scientific speed test:

kernel 6.1.0-37-amd64:

$ time for i in $(seq 1 100000); do cat /proc/sys/kernel/random/uuid > /dev/null; done

real    3m53,388s
user    1m37,366s
sys     2m13,847s

$ for i in $(seq 1 100000); do cat /proc/sys/kernel/random/uuid ; done | wc -l
100000

vs. uuid 1.6.2-1.5+b11:

$ time for i in $(seq 1 100000); do uuid -v4 > /dev/null; done

real    4m44,854s
user    1m37,867s
sys     3m4,414s

$ for i in $(seq 1 100000); do uuid -v4 ; done | wc -l
100000

EDIT: I'm blind (wrong result).

[-] Redjard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 points 4 days ago

boot_id seems to be static, probably set at boot.
So don't use it for a random uuid.

[-] nibbler@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 3 days ago

it's fine as long as you reboot before each call

[-] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 1 points 3 days ago

Oops you’re correct. Editing OP.

[-] bleistift2@sopuli.xyz 14 points 4 days ago

That’s what you get when you define a file system as “a system that names things”.

[-] timhh@programming.dev 10 points 4 days ago

Yeah but please don't actually use this. Use a proper UUID library that works cross-platform and lets you choose the UUID type and can be seeded etc.

[-] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Can you explain?
Use for what?
Also it is being seeded, according to the file urandom_min_reseed_secs which is also writeable. Here are the other files:

-r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 25. 5. 11:13 boot_id
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 25. 5. 11:19 entropy_avail
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 25. 5. 11:19 poolsize
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 25. 5. 11:19 urandom_min_reseed_secs
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 25. 5. 11:19 uuid
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 25. 5. 11:19 write_wakeup_threshold

edit: the type is always DCE/random

[-] notfromhere@lemmy.ml 6 points 4 days ago

I’ve used this in some bash scripts, very useful!

[-] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

That's what I mean. No more searching for ways to create shell-friendly randomness ($RANDOM does not always cut it).

[-] kionite231@lemmy.ca 6 points 4 days ago

Thank you so much for sharing this!

[-] clif@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago

This is awesome. Thank you

[-] pelya@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago

Works in Termux on Android

[-] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz -1 points 4 days ago

See also: /dev/null

It’s basically a black hole where you can throw anything.

[-] DaPorkchop_@lemmy.ml 10 points 4 days ago

Yes, but what if it were a subscription? May I present: /dev/null-as-a-Service.

[-] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 1 points 3 days ago

The most secure Bitcoin endpoint yet!

lol.

Okay, let’s be honest, it’s basically a crappy Pentium 4 box with Debian and nginx installed.

[-] victorz@lemmy.world 9 points 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)
cat /proc/sys/kernel/random/uuid > /dev/null
[-] DaPorkchop_@lemmy.ml 16 points 4 days ago

Would have to be cat /proc/sys/kernel/random/uuid > /dev/null

You can't pipe to a file, only to programs, and since /dev/null isn't an executable your command will simply give an error.

To make it more clear, consider using dd, which lets you explicitly specify an input and output file. For example: dd if=/proc/sys/kernel/random/uuid of=/dev/sda1 wait shit that wasn't the right output oh god oh fu

[-] Redjard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 days ago

dd is just cp but more confusing here.
The only thing dd can do that cp can't is stop ahead of time, which only really matters for infinite files like /dev/random

cp /proc/sys/kernel/random/uuid /dev/sda

[-] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 1 points 3 days ago

dd if=/proc/sys/kernel/random/uuid of=/dev/sda1

Peanuts. Real men do dd if=/proc/sys/kernel/random/uuid of=/dev/sda

[-] sixtoe@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 4 days ago

i saw this and came to do THE THING but you beat me too it. GOOD ANYA

[-] victorz@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Thanks, I'm overworked lately.

lol, the last part

[-] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

while :; do cat /proc/sys/kernel/random/uuid > /dev/null; done

edit: on all cores for maximum "efficiency"

[-] henfredemars@infosec.pub 3 points 4 days ago

The information will be evenly distributed upon its surface and some believe one day it will be be radiated back out into the rest of the system.

[-] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 2 points 4 days ago

That's a horrifying concept. Better not think about it.

[-] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 1 points 4 days ago

That reminds me of the CPU stress test I ran many years ago.

dd if=/dev/random of=/dev/null

If you have 8 cores, just open 8 terminals, and run that code in each of them.

[-] YerbaYerba@lemm.ee 4 points 4 days ago

/dev/urandom should stress the CPU more. /dev/random can be entropy limited

[-] victorz@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Can you guarantee that each process will run on its own core?

[-] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 2 points 3 days ago

Absolutely not, quite the opposite actually. However, the end result is close to 100% CPU load, which is good enough for some purposes. Let’s say you want to test the performance of your CPU cooler, or overclock stability, this should good enough. There are also dedicated tools for people with more advanced needs.

[-] lime@feddit.nu 3 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)
for i in {1..n}  # where n == number of cores
do
  dd if=/dev/urandom of=/dev/null &
done

# to stop:
jobs -p | xargs kill
[-] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 1 points 3 days ago

Oh yeah. This looks like a much better way to do it. My solution is pretty bare bones by comparison.

[-] lime@feddit.nu 1 points 3 days ago

the advantage of yours is that you can actually see the performance number afterwards.

this post was submitted on 24 May 2025
117 points (97.6% liked)

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