Ubuntu: How to create a lot of entropy for GPG key generation from command line

Desktop Ubuntu users may have several ways to generate entropy relatively secure GPG keys (=>2048 bits), usually by moving the mouse and by typing random words. However this creates certain problem, for command-line user (especially those who are connecting through remote VPS connection).

Here’s a tip on how to produce enough entropy for GPG key generation:

  • apt-get install rng-tools
  • rngd -r /dev/urandom
  • then, proceed to generate GPG keys as usual: gpg –gen-key

Hopefully this tips will help you get by generating GPS keys over those VPS connections!