Creating a Secondary LUKS Passphrase and LUKS Header Backup

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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.*

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Lab Info

Level

Intermediate

Last updated

Apr 08, 2025

Duration

30m

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
```

Challenge

Create a Backup of the LUKS Header

Run the following command:

cryptsetup luksHeaderBackup /dev/mapper/luks_vg-patient_lv --header-backup-file /root/luks_vg-patient_lv-LUKS-header.backup

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