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dnssec-keygen - DNSSEC key generation tool
dnssec-keygen {-a algorithm} {-b keysize} {-n nametype} [-c class] [-e]
[-f flag] [-g generator] [-h] [-k] [-p protocol]
[-r randomdev] [-s strength] [-t type] [-v level] {name}
dnssec-keygen generates keys for DNSSEC (Secure DNS), as defined in RFC
2535 and RFC <TBA\>. It can also generate keys for use with TSIG
(Transaction Signatures), as defined in RFC 2845.
-a algorithm
Selects the cryptographic algorithm. The value of algorithm must
be one of RSAMD5 (RSA) or RSASHA1, DSA, DH (Diffie Hellman), or
HMAC-MD5. These values are case insensitive.
Note 1: that for DNSSEC, RSASHA1 is a mandatory to implement
algorithm, and DSA is recommended. For TSIG, HMAC-MD5 is
mandatory.
Note 2: HMAC-MD5 and DH automatically set the -k flag.
- -b keysize
-
Specifies the number of bits in the key. The choice of key size
depends on the algorithm used. RSAMD5 / RSASHA1 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 (KEY/DNSKEY)), HOST or
ENTITY (for a key associated with a host (KEY)), USER (for a key
associated with a user(KEY)) or OTHER (DNSKEY). 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 RSAMD5/RSASHA1 key, use a large exponent.
- -f flag
-
Set the specified flag in the flag field of the KEY/DNSKEY
record. The only recognized flag is KSK (Key Signing Key)
DNSKEY.
- -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.
- -k
- Generate KEY records rather than DNSKEY records.
- -p protocol
-
Sets the protocol value for the generated key. The protocol is a
number between 0 and 255. The default is 3 (DNSSEC). 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 specifies the
name of a character device or file containing random data to be
used instead of the default. The special value keyboard
indicates that keyboard input should be used.
- -s strength
-
Specifies the strength value of the key. The strength is a
number 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 ability
to encrypt data.
- -v level
-
Sets the debugging level.
When dnssec-keygen completes successfully, it prints a string of the
form Knnnn.+aaa+iiiii to the standard output. This is an identification
string for the key it has generated.
? 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.
To generate a 768-bit DSA key for the domain example.com, the following
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
Kexample.com.+003+26160.key and Kexample.com.+003+26160.private
dnssec-signzone(8)
, BIND 9 Administrator Reference Manual, RFC 2535,
RFC 2845, RFC 2539.
Internet Systems Consortium
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