NAME

       nbdkit-random-plugin - plugin to serve random data

SYNOPSIS

        nbdkit random [size=]SIZE [seed=SEED]

DESCRIPTION

       "nbdkit-random-plugin" is a plugin for nbdkit(1) which serves random data.  This plugin is mainly good
       for testing NBD clients.  This plugin creates a non-sparse random disk, for a sparse random disk see
       nbdkit-sparse-random-plugin(1).

       The size of the virtual disk must be specified using the "size" parameter.  If you specify the "seed"
       parameter then you will get the same random data over multiple runs with the same seed.

       The random data is generated using an insecure method.

   Writes and testing copying
       Writing to the disk is possible.  If you do this the plugin will check that what you are writing exactly
       matches what would be read at the same offset (if not, it returns EIO error).  You can use this to test
       copying programs by making the source and destination NBD URIs be the same:

        nbdkit -U - random size=100M --run 'nbdcopy "$uri" "$uri"'

       "qemu-img convert" could be used in place of nbdcopy.  See also nbdkit-checkwrite-filter(1).

PARAMETERS

       [size=]SIZE
           Specify the virtual size of the disk image.

           This parameter is required.

           "size=" is a magic config key and may be omitted in most cases.  See "Magic parameters" in nbdkit(1).

       seed=SEED
           Specify the random seed to get repeatable data over multiple runs.

           If not specified then a random seed is chosen.

FILES

       $plugindir/nbdkit-random-plugin.so
           The plugin.

           Use "nbdkit --dump-config" to find the location of $plugindir.

VERSION

       "nbdkit-random-plugin" first appeared in nbdkit 1.4.

SEE ALSO

       nbdkit(1),   nbdkit-plugin(3),   nbdkit-data-plugin(1),   nbdkit-full-plugin(1),   nbdkit-null-plugin(1),
       nbdkit-pattern-plugin(1), nbdkit-sparse-random-plugin(1), nbdkit-zero-plugin(1), nbdcopy(1), qemu-img(1).

AUTHORS

       Richard W.M. Jones

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright (C) 2018-2020 Red Hat Inc.

LICENSE

       Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are  permitted  provided
       that the following conditions are met:

       •   Redistributions  of  source  code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and
           the following disclaimer.

       •   Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and
           the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.

       •   Neither the name of Red Hat nor the names of its contributors may  be  used  to  endorse  or  promote
           products derived from this software without specific prior written permission.

       THIS  SOFTWARE  IS  PROVIDED BY RED HAT AND CONTRIBUTORS ''AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES,
       INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND  FITNESS  FOR  A  PARTICULAR
       PURPOSE  ARE  DISCLAIMED.  IN  NO EVENT SHALL RED HAT OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
       INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,  PROCUREMENT  OF
       SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
       ON  ANY  THEORY  OF  LIABILITY,  WHETHER  IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR
       OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
       DAMAGE.

nbdkit-1.24.1                                      2021-01-20                            nbdkit-random-plugin(1)