Perry Metzger asks if the hardware random-number generator I described in a post just before the list crashed could be modified to use serial output. Sure. It was just easier to use the parallel port. I know the original IBM PC stupidly omitted bidirectional ports, but they are available now. Roger Bryner asks if there is any ready-made hardware RNG device. Yes. A few years ago, at least, AT&T was selling such a chip. The data book says: "The T7001 Random Number Generator (RNG) integrated circuit produces random bits based on the phase jitter of a free- running oscillator. The output data stream is truly random, not pseudo random. The T7001 RNG is processed in CMOS technology, requires a single 5 V supply, and is supplied in a 32-pin plastic DIP." The output is 536-bit numbers, available in 8-bit bytes. There are probably others available; I haven't looked lately. John A. Thomas b858jt@utarlvm1.uta.edu 75236.3536@compuserve.com PGP public key available.