[OTR-users] Gaim Crashing when Generating Key on FC4

[E. M. Recio]

Ian Goldberg wrote:

> Unless the packager for FC5 did something funny, it should also be
> opening /dev/random.  libgcrypt recommends using GCRY_VERY_STRONG_RANDOM
> (i.e. /dev/random) for long-term keys, and GCRY_STRONG_RANDOM (i.e.
> /dev/urandom) for session keys.  If your machine is freezing up, it
> means that for some reason, /dev/random hasn't accumulated enough
> entropy, and is blocking the app (i.e. gaim) until it does.  So things
> like jiggling the mouse, disk accesses, etc. should make it go at some
> point.  However, it's been noted before that some implementations of
> virtual private servers have a broken /dev/random that never returns
> anything.  Is your FC4 maybe running on one of those?


Thanks for the feedback. It's a real box, but, well apparently I wasn't 
waiting long enough. Your suggestion about not enough entropy was 
probably correct. I started up some audio apps, setiathome, and a bunch 
of other apps, and even then it took about 15 seconds.

Thanks!
-E