SYNOPSIS

softhsm --show-slots
softhsm --init-token --slot number --label text \
        [--so-pin PIN --pin PIN]
softhsm --import path [--file-pin PIN] --slot number \
        --pin PIN --label text --id hex
softhsm --export path [--file-pin PIN] --slot number \
        --pin PIN --id hex
softhsm --optimize --slot number --pin PIN
softhsm --trusted bool --slot number [--so-pin PIN] \
        --type text [--label text || --id hex]

DESCRIPTION

softhsm is a support tool for libsofthsm. Read the sections below to get more information on the libsofthsm and PKCS#11. Most applications assumes that the token they want to use is already initialized. It is then up to the user to initialize the PKCS#11 token. This is done by using the PKCS#11 interface, but instead of writing your own tool you can use the softhsm tool.

Keys are usually created directly in the token, but the user may want to use an existing key pair. Keys can be imported to a token by using the PKCS#11 interface, but this tool can also be used if the user has the key pair in a PKCS#8 file. If you need to convert keys from BIND .private-key format over to PKCS#8, one can use softhsm-keyconv.

A key may not always be exportable through the PKCS#11 interface, but the export command can pull the key data directly from the token database.

The libary libsofthsm, known as SoftHSM, provides cryptographic functionality by using the PKCS#11 API. It was developed as a part of the OpenDNSSEC project, thus designed to meet the requirements of OpenDNSSEC, but can also work together with other software that want to use the functionality of the PKCS#11 API.

SoftHSM is a software implementation of a generic cryptographic device with a PKCS#11 interface. These devices are often called tokens. Read in the manual softhsm.conf(5) on how to create these tokens and how they are added to a slot in SoftHSM.

The PKCS#11 API can be used to handle and store cryptographic keys. This interface specifies how to communicate with cryptographic devices such as HSMs (Hardware Security Modules) and smart cards. The purpose of these devices is, among others, to generate cryptographic keys and sign information without revealing private-key material to the outside world. They are often designed to perform well on these specific tasks compared to ordinary processes in a normal computer.

OPTIONS

--show-slots

Display all the available slots and their current status.

--init-token

Initialize the token at a given slot. If the token is already initialized then this command will reinitialize it, thus erasing all the objects in the token. The matching Security Officer (SO) PIN must also be provided when doing reinitialization.
Use with --slot, --label. --so-pin, and --pin.

--import path

Import a key pair from the given path. The file must be in PKCS#8-format.
Use with --file-pin, --slot, --pin, --label, and --id.

--export path

Export a key pair to the given path. The file will be written in PKCS#8-format. Cannot be used in combination with --module, since the keys are extracted from the SoftHSM database, thus not using PKCS#11.
Use with --file-pin, --slot, --pin, and --id.

--optimize

Clean up leftovers (session objects in the database) from applications that haven't closed down properly. Cannot be used in combination with --module.
Use with --slot and --pin.

--trusted bool

Mark the object as trusted. true or false.
Use with --slot, --so-pin, --type, and ( --id, or --label).

--file-pin PIN

The PIN will be used to encrypt or decrypt the PKCS#8 file depending if we are writing or reading. If not given then the PKCS#8 file is assumed to be unencrypted.

--force

Use this option to override the warnings and force the given action.

--help, -h

Show the help information.

--id hex

Choose an ID of the key pair. The ID is in hexadecimal with a variable length. Use with --force when importing a key pair if the ID already exists.

--label text

Defines the label of the object or the token.

--module path

Use another PKCS#11 library than SoftHSM.

--pin PIN

The PIN for the normal user.

--slot number

The slot where the token is located.

--so-pin PIN

The PIN for the Security Officer (SO).

--type text

The type of object. CKO_PUBLIC_KEY or CKO_CERTIFICATE.

--version, -v

Show the version info.

EXAMPLES

The token can be initialized using this command:

softhsm --init-token --slot 1 --label "A token"

A key pair can be imported using the softhsm tool where you specify the path to the key file, slot number, label and ID of the new objects, and the user PIN. The file must be in PKCS#8 format.

softhsm --import key1.pem --slot 1 --label "My key" \


       --id A1B2 --pin 123456

(Add, --file-pin PIN, if the key file is encrypted.)

All keys can be exported from the token database by using the softhsm tool. The file will be exported in PKCS#8 format.

softhsm --export key2.pem --slot 1 --id A1B2 --pin 123456

(Add, --file-pin PIN, if you want to output an encrypted file.)

A token can be backed up by issuing the command:

sqlite3 <PATH TO YOUR TOKEN> ".backup copy.db"

Move the file "copy.db" to a secure location. To restore the token, just copy the file back to the system and add it to a slot in the configuration (softhsm.conf).

FILES

/etc/softhsm/softhsm.conf

This configuration file handles the slots and the tokens. See softhsm.conf(5) for more information.

AUTHOR

Written by Rickard Bellgrim.