Cryptsetup

cryptsetup is utility used to conveniently setup disk encryption based on dm-crypt kernel module. These include plain dm-crypt volumes, LUKS volumes, loop-AES and TrueCrypt compatible format.

Example

• Create an encrypted file system on a given partition:

fdisk -cu /dev/xvde1
cryptsetup luksFormat /dev/xvde1
cryptsetup luksOpen /dev/xvde1 vault
mkfs.ext4 /dev/mapper/vault
mkdir /vault

• Edit /etc/fstab and add the following line:

/dev/mapper/vault  /vault  ext4  defaults  1 2

• Create/edit /etc/crypttab and add the following line:

vault  /dev/vda5

• Allow for automated boot with your /vault drive automatically mounted and password entered (this is a very bad idea, as it defeats the entire purpose of LUKS encrypted partitions):

echo -n "vault  /dev/xvde1  /root/vault
echo -n "your_password" > /root/vault
chown root /root/vault && chmod 600 /root/vault
cryptsetup luksAddKey /dev/xvde1 /root/vault

External links

• Official cryptsetup website