NAME
mcookie – generate magic cookies for xauthSYNOPSIS
mcookie [options]DESCRIPTION
mcookie generates a 128-bit random hexadecimal number for use with the X authority system. Typical usage:- xauth add :0 . `mcookie`
The "random" number generated is actually the output of the MD5 message digest fed with random information from one of the sources /dev/urandom, /dev/random, or libc pseudo-random functions in this preference order.
OPTIONS
- -f, –file=FILE
- Use additional file as a macig cookie random seed. When file is defined as ‘-‘ character input is read from stdin.
- -m, –max-size=number
- Read form FILE only number of bytes. This option is meant to be used when reading additional randomness from a device.
- The number argument may be followed by the multiplicative suffixes KiB=1024, MiB=1024*1024, and so on for GiB, TiB, PiB, EiB, ZiB and YiB (the "iB" is optional, e.g., "K" has the same meaning as "KiB") or the suffixes KB=1000, MB=1000*1000, and so on for GB, TB, PB, EB, ZB and YB.
- -v, –verbose
- Inform where randomness originated, with amount of entropy read from each source.
- -V, –version
- Display version information and exit.
- -h, –help
- Display help text and exit.
BUGS
It is assumed that none of the randomness sources will block.FILES
/dev/urandom/dev/random
Willie
Willie has over 15 years of experience in Linux system administration and DevOps. After managing infrastructure for startups and enterprises alike, he founded Command Linux to share the practical knowledge he wished he had when starting out. He oversees content strategy and contributes guides on server management, automation, and security.