---
name: "genrandom"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "bind9"
version: "1:9.11.5.P4+dfsg-5.1+deb10u7"
release: "Debian 10 (Buster)"
platforms: ["linux", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/genrandom"
---

# genrandom(8)

generate a file containing random data

## NAME

genrandom - generate a file containing random data

## SYNOPSIS

**genrandom** \[**-n** *number*\] {*size*} {*filename*}

## DESCRIPTION

**genrandom** generates a file or a set of files containing a specified quantity of pseudo-random data, which can be used as a source of entropy for other commands on systems with no random device.

## ARGUMENTS

\-n *number*

In place of generating one file, generates **number** (from 2 to 9) files, appending **number** to the name.

size

The size of the file, in kilobytes, to generate.

filename

The file name into which random data should be written.

## SEE ALSO

[**rand**(3)](/rand/3.md), [**arc4random**(3)](/arc4random/3.md)

## AUTHOR

**Internet Systems Consortium, Inc.**

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2009-2011, 2014-2016, 2018, 2019 Internet Systems Consortium, Inc. ("ISC")\