#!/bin/bash

#
# Generate a random string of alphanumeric characters.
#
# Usage: ranstr numchars 
#
# This will generate a random string of numchars alphanumeric characters
#

# array of valid charachters
chars=( 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z )
num_chars=36
num_to_generate=$1

s=""
for (( i=0 ; i < $num_to_generate; i++ )) 
do 
   x=`expr $RANDOM % $num_chars`
   # BEGIN DEBUG
   #echo foo
   #echo $x
   # END DEBUG
   s=${s}${chars[$x]}
done

echo $s