Do you need to emulate /dev/random and /dev/urandom in Solaris?

Published   Read time 55 sec(s)   (984 views).  Solaris  

Sun are now providing a patch to allow the Solaris Operating Environment (OE) to emulate /dev/random and /dev/urandom as found on some Linux based systems.

NOTE: /dev/random and /dev/urandom are prerequisites if you intend to install the OpenSSH packages from sunfreeware.

Which Solaris version?

In order to have /dev/random and /dev/urandom character devices made available in the Solaris OE, follow the notes below for each of the versions of the Solaris OE you intend to use!

  • Solaris 9
    These devices are included as default in the Solaris OE (32bit & 64bit)
  • Solaris 8 / Solaris 8_x86
    Install patch 112438 (SPARC®) / patch 112439 (x86).
  • Solaris 7 / Solaris 7_x86
    Install SUNWski package (found on the "Solaris Easy Access / Sun Webserver product CDs)
  • Solaris 2.6
    Install SUNWski package (found on the "Solaris Easy Access / Sun Webserver product CDs)
WARNING: I make no warrenty on the successful use of /dev/random and /dev/urandom in earlier versions of the Solaris OE, I am just making you aware of it's availabilty — Use at your own risk!

Further Reading

See SunSolve document 27606 — "Differing /dev/random support requirements within Solaris™ Operating Environments".