(PHP Extension) Exporting and Importing Accumulated Entropy

When a system starts, a good established source of entropy may be lacking. The Fortuna algorithm keeps 32 internal entropy pools. When AddEntropy is called, it is added to these internal pools. (The details of the Fortuna algorithm can be read elsewhere.)

This example demonstrates how the entropy that has accumulated within the internal pools can be exported (such as when an application exits) and then imported when an application starts. (It is the application's job to persist the exported entropy to a database, file, etc.)

Importing entropy helps ensure an application is beginning with an adequate source of entropy for random number generation.

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<?php

// The version number (9_5_0) should match version of the Chilkat extension used, omitting the micro-version number.
// For example, if using Chilkat v9.5.0.48, then include as shown here:
include("chilkat_9_5_0.php");

// All Chilkat classes can be unlocked at once at the beginning of a program
// by calling UnlockBundle.  It requires a Bundle unlock code.
$chilkatGlob = new CkGlobal();
$success = $chilkatGlob->UnlockBundle('Anything for 30-day trial.');
if ($success != true) {
    print $chilkatGlob->lastErrorText() . "\n";
    exit;
}

$fortuna = new CkPrng();

// Generate random data and periodically add entropy...
$success = $fortuna->AddEntropy($fortuna->getEntropy(32,'hex'),'hex');
print $fortuna->genRandom(16,'hex') . "\n";
print $fortuna->genRandom(16,'hex') . "\n";
print $fortuna->genRandom(16,'hex') . "\n";
$success = $fortuna->AddEntropy($fortuna->getEntropy(16,'hex'),'hex');
print $fortuna->genRandom(16,'hex') . "\n";
print $fortuna->genRandom(16,'hex') . "\n";
print $fortuna->genRandom(16,'hex') . "\n";
$success = $fortuna->AddEntropy($fortuna->getEntropy(16,'hex'),'hex');
print $fortuna->genRandom(16,'hex') . "\n";
print $fortuna->genRandom(16,'hex') . "\n";
print $fortuna->genRandom(16,'hex') . "\n";
$success = $fortuna->AddEntropy($fortuna->getEntropy(16,'hex'),'hex');
print $fortuna->genRandom(16,'hex') . "\n";
print $fortuna->genRandom(16,'hex') . "\n";
print $fortuna->genRandom(16,'hex') . "\n";

$exportedEntropy = $fortuna->exportEntropy();
// The application would persist the exported entropy in some way,
// such as to a file, or to a database, etc.

// Create a new PRNG object and initialize the internal entropy pools
// with the previously exported entropy:
$fortuna2 = new CkPrng();
$success = $fortuna2->ImportEntropy($exportedEntropy);

// Generate more random data, continuing to add entropy as we go along..
print $fortuna2->genRandom(16,'hex') . "\n";
print $fortuna2->genRandom(16,'hex') . "\n";
print $fortuna2->genRandom(16,'hex') . "\n";
$success = $fortuna2->AddEntropy($fortuna2->getEntropy(16,'hex'),'hex');
print $fortuna2->genRandom(16,'hex') . "\n";
print $fortuna2->genRandom(16,'hex') . "\n";
print $fortuna2->genRandom(16,'hex') . "\n";
$success = $fortuna2->AddEntropy($fortuna2->getEntropy(16,'hex'),'hex');
// ..

?>