On Fri, 5 Nov 2004, Kevin H. Hobbs wrote:
Is it possible, or easy, to use the GSL random number distributions with
true random number devices? I'm thinking of a generator that really
just reads from /dev/random or a device driver for one of the really
fancy hardware random number devices.
It is pretty easy, really. I wrapped /dev/random in the GSL-style
wrapper some time ago as part of an effort I had underway to write a
random number tester that was fully integrated with the GSL (which
exists and works, BTW, although I quit before re-implementing e.g. all
of diehard). The tester also times the various GSL routines. This is
one of the biggest problems with /dev/random -- it is s l o o o o w. It
has to accumulate enough entropy to replenish the rands it returns, and
its sources have a very definitely finite and system-state dependent
rate of generating entropy.