Random password generator: many, in columns, on command line, in Linux

Question

A while back, I came across a random password generator for the command line that displayed a grid of "memorable" passwords. Output was something like this:

adam@host:~$ CantRememberThisCommand
lkajsdf   aksjdfl
kqwrupo   qwerpoi
qwerklw   zxlkelq

The idea was that you could run this utility while someone was looking over your shoulder, and still pick a password with some level of secrecy due to the large number of choices.

I cannot remember what this utility was called. Oh interwebs, can you help?

Not quite an answer to your question, but Steve Gibson has something like this available online at https://www.grc.com/ppp.htm — Tom A, Feb 15 '10 at 19:20

score 29 · Accepted Answer · edited Aug 24 '11 at 04:54

29

Sounds like you want pwgen.

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There are also some interesting ways to do this without installing additional software, but the 5-letter command is a bit easier to remember :)

edited Aug 24 '11 at 04:54

Gaff

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answered Feb 15 '10 at 19:23

John T

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You're more than welcome :) – John T Feb 15 '10 at 20:49
I keep coming back to this page because roughly every 6 months I need to generate a password but forget the command! Thanks! – spikeheap Jun 05 '13 at 10:53

score 5 · Answer 2 · edited Mar 01 '16 at 12:21

5

No need to install extra packages as OpenSSL should be installed on most machines. we can use the following code to generate an random password:

openssl rand -base64 10

edited Mar 01 '16 at 12:21

Florian Brucker

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answered Jun 20 '14 at 07:03

Jackliusr

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This is very handy, but strictly speaking taking random bytes and encoding them as base64 string does not necessarily mean a random string. E.g. all 10 char passwords generated like this will end in '=' (because of padding). Also the only other non alpha numeric characters included in these are + and /, which may not be optimal. – Timo Oct 26 '16 at 12:25
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Use a value that is a multiple of 3 (e.g. `openssl rand -base64 12`) and there will be no trailing `=` or `==`. – Daniel Earwicker Mar 08 '18 at 09:57
add `alias newpass="openssl rand -base64 12"` to shell config ie. _~/.zshrc_ for quick generation of random strings with `newpass` command – Sharak Feb 04 '19 at 11:39

score 4 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 23 '13 at 10:10

According to your example output pwgen is a good guess (see the answer of John T). But there are many such tools available:

pwgen - generate pronounceable passwords
gpw - program to generate pronounceable passwords
apg - generates several random passwords

Also password managers such as KeePassX provide a passwort generator (but it does not focus on commandline usage nor on pronouncable passwords).

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered May 03 '20 at 18:48

Check out deepsix at http://ericandresen.me/technology/deepsix/ It is cross-platform developed in C and works on every platform I have tested it on, macOS, x86 & 64-bit Windows, and Linux. Just as you describe it offers -cNumber of Chars and -iIterations and at present offers uppercase, lowercase and numeric symbols.

Random password generator: many, in columns, on command line, in Linux

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