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.