Working with master keys

• Resetting the master key using tmsh

• Guidelines for creating strong passwords or passphrases

Resetting the master key using tmsh

You can reset the BIG-IP system’s master key using tmsh, which prompts you for a new password or passphrase. Choose a strong password or passphrase. The BIG-IP system then stores the new password or passphrase in the directory /config/bigip/kstore.

Important: If your system is provisioned for vCMP, reset the master key using the procedure in the section titled vCMP and BIG-IP VE considerations in this document.

1. Using a program such as PuTTY, open a console window on the system.

2. Log in to the system.

3. At the BIG-IP system prompt, access the TMOS Shell by typing this command: tmsh

4. As an option, you can view the BIG-IP system’s current master key by typing this command: show sys crypto master-key

   The command output appears similar to the following:

   Copy

   Sys::Master-Key
   master-key hash <peG9W+X/fittfJA65hlDGpiGbYOp+GlvnOmHE0puZEbKY107MVZpaBKwbOOO+8BItsk99BXUXNN/anDSTZnTbA==>
   previous hash <>

5. Reset the BIG-IP system’s master key by typing this command: modify sys crypto master-key prompt-for-password

   The command displays a prompt to enter a new unencrypted password: enter password:

6. Type a new password.

   The system displays the prompt again: enter password:

7. Type the new password again.

8. Type this command to save the configuration: save sys config

9. View the BIG-IP system’s new master key by typing this command:show sys crypto master-key

   The system output appears similar to the following:

   Copy

    Sys::Master-Key
   master-key hash <4X2mgPNwBG2EJv7Sm4QA9SyXTXehiaSgUzIYuG8+WhrgsOTRf8RlWyEUuXFaqfvxs5uib5UzXrLwxfAr/3KExg==>
   previous hash <peG9W+X/fittfJA65hlDGpiGbYOp+GlvnOmHE0puZEbKY107MVZpaBKwbOOO+8BItsk99BXUXNN/anDSTZnTbA==>

10. If the BIG-IP system is in a Device Service Clustering (DSC) device group configuration, synchronize the configuration, which synchronizes the device’s master key to all other devices, by using this tmsh command syntax: run cm config-sync to-group *name*

    For example, to synchronize the device group named example_dg, type this command: run cm config-sync to-group example_dg

After you complete this task, the master key is reset and becomes the master key for all devices in a DSC device group.

Guidelines for creating strong passwords or passphrases

The following list shows the recommended criteria that a strong password or passphrase should contain:

• 10 or more characters
• One or more capital letters
• One or more lowercase letters
• One or more numbers
• One or more special, non-null characters