Generate Key Pairs
The Handle protocol provides two forms of authentication, public key
and secret key. This window will enable the generation of a public
key pair. This requires two keys: a public key and a private key.
Public key generation uses the DSA or RSA algorithm.
The public key is stored in a handle. It may be publicly readable as
it cannot be compromised without the private key. The private key should
be stored on the computer with the handle client that will be authenticated.
To prevent unauthorized use of a private key it can be encrypted using
a symmetric algorithm.
To generate key pairs:
- Select 'Setup' from the main Handle Administration Tool menu.
- Select 'Generate Key Pairs'.
- Enter the paths of the private and public key files in the
corresponding text fields or use the 'Browse' button to find
the files.
- Select the Algorithm to be used.
- Enter the Strength of the key pair to be generated. The default is
1024 bits. The longer the length, the stronger the key pairs.
- Select 'Encrypt' or 'Nocrypt' of the private key. Encryption
of the private key requires that you choose a secret passphrase
that will need to be entered whenever authenticating using this
key pair.
- Click 'GenKeys'.
- If 'Encrypt' was selected, a window will prompt you to enter
your secret passphrase.
- A message will confirm the generation of the keys. Click 'Close'
to exit the 'Generate Key Pair' window.
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