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.

❤️🐧

  • @DaPorkchop_@lemmy.ml
    16•15 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
      2•14 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

    • Victor
      1•14 days ago

      Thanks, I’m overworked lately.

      lol, the last part