Topic: unable to write 'random state'

[Paperguides]

I'm trying to set OpenVPN on a system and have just installed the contrib PHPki.  Having filled in the form and clicked the submit button I get......

==============================================================================================
Creating PHPki file store...
Writing configuration files...
Creating root certificate...
Generating certificate revocation list...

Creating 1024 bit Diffie-Hellman parameters used by OpenVPN.
Saving to /opt/phpki/phpki-store/dhparam1024.pem.
openssl dhparam -rand '/opt/phpki/phpki-store/CA/.rnd' -out '/opt/phpki/phpki-store/CA/private/dhparam1024.pem' 1024
1024 semi-random bytes loaded
Generating DH parameters, 1024 bit long safe prime, generator 2
This is going to take a long time
.....+...............................................................................................
....................................+........................+.......................................
...............................+...................+.................................................
...
.........................................................+..+........................................
........................................................................+.+..........................
....+...........................................................................................+....
...+...........................+.....................................................+...............
......................................+.............................+................................
.......................+...............................+....+..........+.............................
+........+........................................................+........+.+......+.....+..........
.............+.......................................................................................
.............................................+................+......++*++*++*
unable to write 'random state'

Creating a TLS authentication key used by OpenVPN.
Saving to /opt/phpki/phpki-store/takey.pem.
openvpn --genkey --secret '/opt/phpki/phpki-store/CA/private/takey.pem'

==========================================================================


Which definitely does not look right.
 
I've found there was a bug raised for this in 2011 (Bug 6741) but it is still with an UNCONFIRMED status. A Google search suggests that there is a problem writing the .rnd file (wrong permissions?) but I'm not confident I could unravel the system to work out what is wrong. 

So where do I go from here?

Remove the application completely and try a reinstall?
Raise another Bug report?
Add to the existing Bug report?
Get drunk and worry about it in the New Year?

I hope some-one can help but in any case the Seasons Greeting and a Prosperous New Year to all.   

Tony