DNSSEC-KEYGEN linux command manual

DNSSEC-KEYGEN(8)                                           DNSSEC-KEYGEN(8)



NAME
       dnssec-keygen - DNSSEC key generation tool

SYNOPSIS
       dnssec-keygen -a algorithm -b keysize -n nametype [ -c class ]  [ -e ]
       [ -g generator ]  [ -h ]  [ -p protocol ]  [  -r  randomdev  ]   [  -s
       strength ]  [ -t type ]  [ -v level ]  name

DESCRIPTION
       dnssec-keygen  generates  keys  for DNSSEC (Secure DNS), as defined in
       RFC 2535. It can also generate keys for  use  with  TSIG  (Transaction
       Signatures), as defined in RFC 2845.

OPTIONS
       -a algorithm
              Selects  the  cryptographic  algorithm.  The value of algorithm
              must be one of RSAMD5 or RSA,  DSA,  DH  (Diffie  Hellman),  or
              HMAC-MD5. These values are case insensitive.

              Note  that  for  DNSSEC,  DSA is a mandatory to implement algo-
              rithm, and RSA is recommended. For TSIG, HMAC-MD5 is mandatory.

       -b keysize
              Specifies the number of bits in the key. The choice of key size
              depends on the algorithm used. RSA keys must be between 512 and
              2048  bits.  Diffie  Hellman  keys must be between 128 and 4096
              bits. DSA keys must be between 512 and 1024 bits and  an  exact
              multiple of 64. HMAC-MD5 keys must be between 1 and 512 bits.

       -n nametype
              Specifies the owner type of the key. The value of nametype must
              either be ZONE (for a DNSSEC zone key), HOST or ENTITY  (for  a
              key associated with a host), or USER (for a key associated with
              a user). These values are case insensitive.

       -c class
              Indicates that the DNS record containing the  key  should  have
              the specified class. If not specified, class IN is used.

       -e     If generating an RSA key, use a large exponent.

       -g generator
              If  generating  a  Diffie  Hellman  key,  use  this  generator.
              Allowed values are 2 and 5. If no  generator  is  specified,  a
              known  prime  from RFC 2539 will be used if possible; otherwise
              the default is 2.

       -h     Prints a short summary of the options and arguments to  dnssec-
              keygen.

       -p protocol
              Sets  the protocol value for the generated key. The protocol is
              a number between 0 and 255. The default is 2 (email)  for  keys
              of  type  USER  and  3 (DNSSEC) for all other key types.  Other
              possible values for this argument are listed in  RFC  2535  and
              its successors.

       -r randomdev
              Specifies  the  source  of  randomness. If the operating system
              does not  provide  a  /dev/random  or  equivalent  device,  the
              default source of randomness is keyboard input. randomdev spec-
              ifies the name of a character device or file containing  random
              data  to be used instead of the default. The special value key-
              board indicates that keyboard input should be used.

       -s strength
              Specifies the strength value of the key. The strength is a num-
              ber  between  0 and 15, and currently has no defined purpose in
              DNSSEC.

       -t type
              Indicates the use of the key. type must  be  one  of  AUTHCONF,
              NOAUTHCONF,  NOAUTH,  or  NOCONF. The default is AUTHCONF. AUTH
              refers to the ability to authenticate data, and CONF the  abil-
              ity to encrypt data.

       -v level
              Sets the debugging level.

GENERATED KEYS
       When  dnssec-keygen  completes successfully, it prints a string of the
       form Knnnn.+aaa+iiiii to the standard output. This is  an  identifica-
       tion string for the key it has generated. These strings can be used as
       arguments to dnssec-makekeyset.

       ? nnnn is the key name.

       ? aaa is the numeric representation of the algorithm.

       ? iiiii is the key identifier (or footprint).

       dnssec-keygen creates two  file,  with  names  based  on  the  printed
       string.    Knnnn.+aaa+iiiii.key   contains   the   public   key,   and
       Knnnn.+aaa+iiiii.private contains the private key.


       The .key file contains a DNS KEY record that can be  inserted  into  a
       zone file (directly or with a $INCLUDE statement).


       The  .private  file  contains  algorithm  specific fields. For obvious
       security reasons, this file does not have general read permission.


       Both .key and .private files are generated  for  symmetric  encryption
       algorithm such as HMAC-MD5, even though the public and private key are
       equivalent.


EXAMPLE
       To generate a 768-bit DSA key for the domain example.com, the  follow-
       ing command would be issued:

       dnssec-keygen -a DSA -b 768 -n ZONE example.com

       The command would print a string of the form:

       Kexample.com.+003+26160

       In    this   example,   dnssec-keygen   creates   the   files   Kexam-
       ple.com.+003+26160.key and Kexample.com.+003+26160.private

SEE ALSO
       dnssec-makekeyset(8), dnssec-signkey(8),  dnssec-signzone(8),  BIND  9
       Administrator Reference Manual, RFC 2535, RFC 2845, RFC 2539.

AUTHOR
       Internet Software Consortium



BIND9                           June 30, 2000                DNSSEC-KEYGEN(8)