NAME

       softhsm2-util - support tool for libsofthsm2

SYNOPSIS

       softhsm2-util --show-slots

       softhsm2-util --init-token --slot number --label text \
              [--so-pin PIN --pin PIN]

       softhsm2-util --import path [--file-pin PIN] --slot number \
              [--pin PIN --no-public-key] --label text --id hex

DESCRIPTION

       softhsm2-util  is a support tool mainly for libsofthsm2. It can also be used with other PKCS#11 libraries
       by using the option --module

       Read the sections below to get more information  on  the  libsofthsm2  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 softhsm2-util 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 softhsm2-keyconv.

       The  libary libsofthsm2, 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 softhsm2.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.

ACTIONS

       --help, -h
              Show the help information.

       --import path
              Import a key pair from the given path.  The file must be in PKCS#8-format.
              Use with --file-pin, --slot, --pin, --no-public-key, --label, and --id.

       --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 or --free, --label, --so-pin, and --pin.

       --show-slots
              Display all the available slots and their current status.

       --version, -v
              Show the version info.

OPTIONS

       --file-pin PIN
              The PIN will be used to decrypt the PKCS#8 file.  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.

       --free Initialize the first free token.

       --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.

       --no-public-key
              Do not import the public key.

       --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).

EXAMPLES

       The token can be initialized using this command:

              softhsm2-util --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.

              softhsm2-util --import key1.pem --slot 1 --label "My key" \
                     --id A1B2 --pin 123456
              (Add, --file-pin PIN, if the key file is encrypted.)

AUTHORS

       Written by Rickard Bellgrim, Francis Dupont, René Post, and Roland van Rijswijk.

SEE ALSO

       softhsm2-keyconv(1), softhsm2-migrate(1), softhsm2.conf(5)

SoftHSM                                          29 October 2014                                SOFTHSM2-UTIL(1)