Cryptsetup hints

The cryptsetup action to set up a new dm-crypt device in LUKS encryption mode is luksFormat:

cryptsetup -v --cipher aes-xts-plain64 --key-size 256 --hash sha 256 --iter-time 2000 --use-urandom --verify-passphrase luksFormat crypt --batch-mode

where crypt is the new device located to /dev/mapper/crypt.

To open and mount to /export an encrypted device:

cryptsetup luksOpen /dev/vdb crypt

mount /dev/mapper/crypt /export

To show LUKS device info:

dmsetup info /dev/mapper/crypt

To umount and close an encrypted device:

umount /export

cryptsetup close crypt

To force LUKS volume removal:

dmsetup remove /dev/mapper/crypt

Note

Run as root.

Change LUKS password

LUKS provides 8 slots for passwords or key files. First, check, which of them are used:

cryptsetup luksDump /dev/<device> | grep Slot

where the output, for example, looks like:

Key Slot 0: ENABLED
Key Slot 1: DISABLED
Key Slot 2: DISABLED
Key Slot 3: DISABLED
Key Slot 4: DISABLED
Key Slot 5: DISABLED
Key Slot 6: DISABLED
Key Slot 7: DISABLED

Then you can add, change or delete chosen keys:

cryptsetup luksAddKey /dev/<device> (/path/to/<additionalkeyfile>)

cryptsetup luksChangeKey /dev/<device> -S 6

As for deleting keys, you have 2 options:

  1. delete any key that matches your entered password:

    cryptsetup luksRemoveKey /dev/<device>
    
  2. delete a key in specified slot:

    cryptsetup luksKillSlot /dev/<device> 6