Index: modules/system/system.module
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvs/drupal/drupal/modules/system/system.module,v
retrieving revision 1.602
diff -u -r1.602 system.module
--- modules/system/system.module	7 May 2008 19:17:50 -0000	1.602
+++ modules/system/system.module	10 May 2008 15:57:14 -0000
@@ -625,6 +625,12 @@
     'access arguments' => array('administer site configuration'),
     'type' => MENU_CALLBACK,
   );
+  $items['admin/reports/status/cron-key'] = array(
+    'title' => 'Generate cron key',
+    'page callback' => 'system_generate_cron_key',
+    'access arguments' => array('administer site configuration'),
+    'type' => MENU_CALLBACK,
+  );  
   $items['admin/reports/status/php'] = array(
     'title' => 'PHP',
     'page callback' => 'system_php',
Index: modules/system/system.admin.inc
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvs/drupal/drupal/modules/system/system.admin.inc,v
retrieving revision 1.76
diff -u -r1.76 system.admin.inc
--- modules/system/system.admin.inc	10 May 2008 07:32:02 -0000	1.76
+++ modules/system/system.admin.inc	10 May 2008 15:56:44 -0000
@@ -1787,6 +1787,16 @@
 }
 
 /**
+ * Menu callback: generate a cron key.
+ */
+function system_generate_cron_key() {
+  $cron_key = md5(mt_rand());
+  variable_set('cron_key', $cron_key);
+  drupal_set_message(t('Cron key generated. To run cron from outside the site, go to <a href="!cron">!cron</a>', array('!cron' => url('cron.php', array('absolute' => true, 'query' => 'cron_key=' . $cron_key)))));
+  drupal_goto('admin/reports/status');
+}
+
+/**
  * Menu callback: return information about PHP.
  */
 function system_php() {
Index: modules/system/system.install
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvs/drupal/drupal/modules/system/system.install,v
retrieving revision 1.253
diff -u -r1.253 system.install
--- modules/system/system.install	7 May 2008 19:34:24 -0000	1.253
+++ modules/system/system.install	10 May 2008 15:57:01 -0000
@@ -172,7 +172,8 @@
 
     $description .= ' ' . $t('You can <a href="@cron">run cron manually</a>.', array('@cron' => url('admin/reports/status/run-cron')));
     $description .= '<br />' . $t('To run cron from outside the site, go to <a href="!cron">!cron</a>', array('!cron' => url('cron.php', array('absolute' => true, 'query' => 'cron_key=' . variable_get('cron_key', 'drupal')))));
-
+    $description .= '<br /> '. $t('You can <a href="@cron-key">generate a new cron key</a>.', array('@cron-key' => url('admin/reports/status/cron-key')));
+    
     $requirements['cron'] = array(
       'title' => $t('Cron maintenance tasks'),
       'severity' => $severity,