# Generate a UUID uuidgen # using a string as a seed to produce the same UUID each time echo -n "unique_string" | openssl dgst -sha256 | sed 's/.* //' | cut -c1-36 # dashes are part of the standard, so lets add them echo -n "unique_string" | openssl dgst -sha256 | sed 's/.* //' | cut -c1-36| sed -E 's/(.{8})(.{4})(.{4})(.{4})(.{12})/\1-\2-\3-\4-\5/' # using sha256sum (which is in busybox) - also removes the need for the first sed command echo -n "unique_string" |sha256sum | cut -c1-36| sed -E 's/(.{8})(.{4})(.{4})(.{4})(.{12})/\1-\2-\3-\4-\5/'