cryptsetup-luksHeaderBackup - Linux

Overview

cryptsetup-luksHeaderBackup is a utility for backing up the LUKS header of an encrypted block device. It creates a binary file containing the header, which can be used to recover the device if the original header is damaged or lost.

Syntax

cryptsetup-luksHeaderBackup [options] --header-file=<backup file> <device>

Options/Flags

Required arguments:

• --header-file – Specifies the path to the file where the header backup will be saved.
• <device> – The encrypted block device to back up the header from.

Optional arguments:

• -v, --verbose – Enable verbose output.
• -h, --help – Display help information and exit.

Examples

Simple Usage:

cryptsetup-luksHeaderBackup --header-file=/tmp/backup.luks /dev/mapper/my_encrypted_device

Backing up header with custom filename:

cryptsetup-luksHeaderBackup --header-file=/mnt/backup/custom_header.luks /dev/mapper/my_encrypted_device

Common Issues

• Insufficient permissions: Ensure you have sufficient permissions to access and modify both the device and the backup file.
• Device not unlocked: Unlock the encrypted device before attempting to back up its header.

Integration

cryptsetup-luksHeaderBackup can be integrated with other commands for automated backups. For example, the following script creates a header backup at regular intervals:

#!/bin/bash
while true; do
   cryptsetup-luksHeaderBackup --header-file=/tmp/$(date +%F-%T).luks /dev/mapper/my_encrypted_device
   sleep 3600  # Sleep for 1 hour
done

Related Commands

• cryptsetup-luksOpen – Opens an encrypted block device.
• cryptsetup-luksClose – Closes an opened encrypted block device.
• cryptsetup-luksFormat – Formats a block device with LUKS encryption.