Featured resource
2025 Tech Upskilling Playbook
Tech Upskilling Playbook

Build future-ready tech teams and hit key business milestones with seven proven plays from industry leaders.

Check it out
  • Lab
    • Libraries: If you want this lab, consider one of these libraries.
    • Cloud
    • Security
Google Cloud Platform icon
Labs

Creating a Secondary LUKS Passphrase and LUKS Header Backup

In this hands-on lab, we will create a secondary passphrase for a LUKS-encrypted volume, which can be used to recover the volume's encrypted data if the primary passphrase ever becomes corrupted. Then we'll create a backup of the entire LUKS header, which can be used to recover the encrypted data if the entire LUKS header ever becomes corrupted. *This course is not approved or sponsored by Red Hat.*

Google Cloud Platform icon
Lab platform
Lab Info
Level
Intermediate
Last updated
Apr 08, 2025
Duration
30m

Contact sales

By filling out this form and clicking submit, you acknowledge our privacy policy.
Table of Contents
  1. Challenge

    Create a Secondary LUKS Passphrase
    1. We first need to identify what volume group the patient_lv volume is part of. When a LUKS-encrypted volume is created, its original name includes the volume group name. Run the following command, and look for the device name in the output:
    cryptsetup -v status patient_lv
    
    1. Next, check the LUKS header for the next available key slot (it should be key slot 1).
    cryptsetup luksDump /dev/mapper/luks_vg-patient_lv
    
    1. Add the new secondary passphrase using the following command:
    cryptsetup luksAddKey --key-slot 1 /dev/mapper/luks_vg-patient_lv
    
    1. Enter the primary passphrase (Pinehead1!) at the prompt.
    2. Next, enter the secondary passphrase (BackupsRGood!) at the prompt.
    3. Confirm the new secondary passphrase by entering BackupsRGood! at the passphrase confirmation prompt.
    4. Run the following command, and verify that there is now a value in key slot 1:
    cryptsetup luksDump /dev/mapper/luks_vg-patient_lv
    
  2. Challenge

    Create a Backup of the LUKS Header
    1. Run the following command:
    cryptsetup luksHeaderBackup /dev/mapper/luks_vg-patient_lv --header-backup-file /root/luks_vg-patient_lv-LUKS-header.backup
    
About the author

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

Real skill practice before real-world application

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Learn by doing

Engage hands-on with the tools and technologies you’re learning. You pick the skill, we provide the credentials and environment.

Follow your guide

All labs have detailed instructions and objectives, guiding you through the learning process and ensuring you understand every step.

Turn time into mastery

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you take time to practice. Hands-on labs set you up for success to make those skills stick.

Get started with Pluralsight