Well, I've finished my prototype version of my hardware random number generator. According to preliminary work the numbers are truely random and evenly distributed. The circuit plugs into the parallel port(bi-directional mode) and presents 8 bits of data on the data lines. You can quickly generate 10k bytes of data with this device. I am intrested in hearing from anyone that wishes to take a look at some data to measure the randomness of the data. If anyone is interested I will provide two sets of data, one from my random number generator and one from a pseudo-random number generator. The circuit uses some 555based timers and some RC networks. A lot of people will not believe that this circuit is truely random, but it works out to be, under some conditions. It boils down using two variable, independent, periodic functions to generate one bit. Due to temperature effects, oscillator stability, circuit noise, and some other factors, the error in frequency and phase of the two oscillators is larger effect than the measurable characteristics of the circuit. In this circuit, I use the 555 timers as the oscillators (with the restistors and capacitors determining the frequency). The second periodic functions is the PC in a loop polling the parallel port. The whole circuit can be built for $5-$10 worth of parts. It should also be possible to rig it up as a passthrough device, in case you don't have an extra parallel port. -- | Jeremy Porter ----------------- Dell Computer Corp. ---- | Systems Engineering --- jerry@terminus.us.dell.com -------- |------------------------------------------------------------- | Support your Second Amendment rights to encryption technology.