softhsm.conf(5)

NAME
softhsm.conf - SoftHSM configuration file

SYNOPSIS
softhsm.conf

DESCRIPTION
In PKCS#11 you need tokens in order to do cryptographic operations. Tokens can be viewed as object stores where you can store e.g. private and public keys. A token must then be attached to a slot so that you can use it.

Slots and tokens are handled by the SoftHSM configuration file. The given paths in the configuration file are just an indication to SoftHSM on where it should store the information for each token. The token databases will be created when the tokens gets initialized.

FILE FORMAT
Each pair of slot and token are configured on one line. Starting with an unsigned integer as the slot ID and then a path where SoftHSM can create a SQLite database. These parameters are separated by a semicolon. It is OK to have extra space between the parameters, since these will be ignored.

    <Slot_ID>:<Path_to_the_token_database>

It is also possible to add comments in the file by using the hash sign. Anything after the hash sign will be ignored.

    #<text>

Any line that does not have the correct format will be ignored.

EXAMPLE

    0:/var/db/softhsm/slot0.db
    1:/home/user/token.database                # My own token

ENVIRONMENT

SOFTHSM_CONF
    When defined, the value will be used as path to the configuration file.

FILES

/etc/softhsm.conf
    default location of the SoftHSM configuration file

/etc/softhsm.conf.sample
    an example of a SoftHSM configuration file

AUTHOR
Written by Rickard Bellgrim.

SEE ALSO
softhsm(1), softhsm-keyconv(1).