des_setparity - Linux

Overview

des_setparity is a utility designed to analyze and manipulate the parity bits commonly found in DES encryption keys. It calculates and sets the parity bits, ensuring the key meets the required format.

Syntax

des_setparity [options] key

Parameters

• key: The DES key value to be modified.

Options/Flags

• -d, –display: Output the modified key with parity bits highlighted.
• -e, –encrypt: Use DES algorithm to encrypt the modified key with the included key.
• -p, –parity: Specify the parity to be set (odd or even). Default is odd.
• -w, –write: Write the modified key to the specified file.

Examples

Setting Parity Bits

des_setparity 111111110000000011111111

Displaying Modified Key

des_setparity -d 111111110000000011111111

Writing Modified Key to File

des_setparity -w my_key 111111110000000011111111

Common Issues

Incorrect Parity: Ensure the desired parity is specified using -p.

Invalid Key Format: Verify that the provided key is in the correct DES key format (64 bits).

Integration

des_setparity can be incorporated into scripts for automated key generation and manipulation tasks. For example, it can be combined with openssl to generate encrypted DES keys:

key=$(des_setparity -e -p odd my_secret_key)
openssl enc -des-ede3 -in data.txt -out encrypted.txt -k "$key"

Related Commands

• des_checkparity: Verifies the parity bits of a DES key.
• openssl: Versatile tool for cryptography and secure communication.