NIST Logo and ITL Banner Link to the NIST Homepage Link to the ITL Homepage Link to the NIST Homepage
Search CSRC:

Download Documentation and Software

  • Download the Revised NIST Special Publication 800-22, " A Statistical Test Suite for the Validation of Random Number Generators and Pseudo Random Number Generators for Cryptographic Applications, " that describes the test suite. (This document was modified on May 15, 2001. An errata sheet of those changes is available here.)
  • Download the NIST Statistical Test Suite.

    The code is provided in two forms. The first is for UNIX based platforms and contains all the code necessary to run the Statistical Test Suite. The second form of the distribution is for PC based platforms and contains the same code as the UNIX distribution plus a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI assists in configuring the various tests as well as providing graphical output for analysis of the derived test data. Additionally, sample data derived from various sources (e.g., the expansion of e, the square root of 2, and the Blum-Blum-Shub pseudorandom bit generator) is also provided. The source code for the UNIX based test suite is 5.5 MBytes. The source code for the PC based test suite is 8.7 MBytes. The sample data is 43.8 MBytes. The sample data should be extracted and placed in the /data directory.

December 9, 2004: A new version of the Statistical Test Suite (Version 1.7) has been released. This version is intended for use on PC based platforms and, due to the apparent interest level, will become the default (and only supported platform) for future releases. Primary changes for this release are as follows:

  • Removal of Lempel-Ziv Test.
  • Update of values in Spectral Test.
  • Additional parameter check before invokation of the actual statistical tests.
  • Additional SHA-based generators added.

March 22, 2005: A new version of the Statistical Test Suite (Version 1.8) has been released. This version is minor update that provides better error messages during the parameter checks.

Software disclaimer: "This software was developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology by employees of the Federal Government in the course of their official duties. Pursuant to title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code this software is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. The NIST Statistical Test Suite is an experimental system. NIST assumes no responsibility whatsoever for its use by other parties, and makes no guarantees, expressed or implied, about its quality, reliability, or any other characteristic. We would appreciate acknowledgment if the software is used."

The NIST Statistical Test Suite source code is being made available under the 'Technology and software - unrestricted' (TSU) license exception of §740.13 of the updated January 14, 2000 Export Administration Regulations (EAR). In accordance with EAR §740.17, (g) (5), NIST has notified the Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) of the location of this code.