Random password generator: many, in columns, on command line, in Linux

Question

A while back, I came across a random password generator for the command line that displayed a grid of "memorable" passwords. Output was something like this:

adam@host:~$ CantRememberThisCommand
lkajsdf   aksjdfl
kqwrupo   qwerpoi
qwerklw   zxlkelq

The idea was that you could run this utility while someone was looking over your shoulder, and still pick a password with some level of secrecy due to the large number of choices.

I cannot remember what this utility was called. Oh interwebs, can you help?

Answer 1

Sounds like you want pwgen.

There are also some interesting ways to do this without installing additional software, but the 5-letter command is a bit easier to remember :)

Answer 2

No need to install extra packages as OpenSSL should be installed on most machines. we can use the following code to generate an random password:

openssl rand -base64 10

Answer 3

According to your example output pwgen is a good guess (see the answer of John T). But there are many such tools available:

• pwgen - generate pronounceable passwords
• gpw - program to generate pronounceable passwords
• apg - generates several random passwords

Also password managers such as KeePassX provide a passwort generator (but it does not focus on commandline usage nor on pronouncable passwords).

Answer 4

Check out deepsix at http://ericandresen.me/technology/deepsix/ It is cross-platform developed in C and works on every platform I have tested it on, macOS, x86 & 64-bit Windows, and Linux. Just as you describe it offers -cNumber of Chars and -iIterations and at present offers uppercase, lowercase and numeric symbols.