# RandomSeed

A number to use as a seed for the cluster sampling algorithm.

IDOL Server uses a sample of documents to build the seeds around which clusters are formed. It usually selects a sample randomly, which means that the criteria vary over subsequent runs, and two snapshots of the same data might be slightly different. Set `RandomSeed` to ensure that the samples are the same, so that you can exactly reproduce a snapshot of the same data.

Set `RandomSeed` to `0` or above to use a sampling algorithm that does not vary over subsequent runs.

NOTE: Different values produce snapshots that are slightly different from each other, but all values produce snapshots that can be reproduced.

Set `RandomSeed` to `-1` to use the default setting (different snapshots of the same data might vary).

NOTE: The setting that you make here also applies to the algorithm that is used to produce 2-D maps. That is, a value of `0` or above ensures that 2-D maps produced from the same data are always identical.

Type: | Long
Default: | -1
Required: | No
Configuration Section: | Server
Example: | `RandomSeed=10`
See Also: |

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