Getting started with key_mgmt_util - AWS CloudHSM

Getting started with key_mgmt_util

AWS CloudHSM includes two command line tools with the AWS CloudHSM client software. The cloudhsm_mgmt_util tool includes commands to manage HSM users. The key_mgmt_util tool includes commands to manage keys. To get started with the key_mgmt_util command line tool, see the following topics.

If you encounter an error message or unexpected outcome for a command, see the Troubleshooting AWS CloudHSM topics for help. For details about the key_mgmt_util commands, see key_mgmt_util command reference.

Set up key_mgmt_util

Complete the following setup before you use key_mgmt_util.

Start the AWS CloudHSM client

Before you use key_mgmt_util, you must start the AWS CloudHSM client. The client is a daemon that establishes end-to-end encrypted communication with the HSMs in your cluster. The key_mgmt_util tool uses the client connection to communicate with the HSMs in your cluster. Without it, key_mgmt_util doesn't work.

To start the AWS CloudHSM client

Use the following command to start the AWS CloudHSM client.

Amazon Linux
$ sudo start cloudhsm-client
Amazon Linux 2
$ sudo service cloudhsm-client start
CentOS 7
$ sudo service cloudhsm-client start
CentOS 8
$ sudo service cloudhsm-client start
RHEL 7
$ sudo service cloudhsm-client start
RHEL 8
$ sudo service cloudhsm-client start
Ubuntu 16.04 LTS
$ sudo service cloudhsm-client start
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
$ sudo service cloudhsm-client start
Windows
  • For Windows client 1.1.2+:

    C:\Program Files\Amazon\CloudHSM>net.exe start AWSCloudHSMClient
  • For Windows clients 1.1.1 and older:

    C:\Program Files\Amazon\CloudHSM>start "cloudhsm_client" cloudhsm_client.exe C:\ProgramData\Amazon\CloudHSM\data\cloudhsm_client.cfg

Start key_mgmt_util

After you start the AWS CloudHSM client, use the following command to start key_mgmt_util.

Amazon Linux
$ /opt/cloudhsm/bin/key_mgmt_util
Amazon Linux 2
$ /opt/cloudhsm/bin/key_mgmt_util
CentOS 7
$ /opt/cloudhsm/bin/key_mgmt_util
CentOS 8
$ /opt/cloudhsm/bin/key_mgmt_util
RHEL 7
$ /opt/cloudhsm/bin/key_mgmt_util
RHEL 8
$ /opt/cloudhsm/bin/key_mgmt_util
Ubuntu 16.04 LTS
$ /opt/cloudhsm/bin/key_mgmt_util
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
$ /opt/cloudhsm/bin/key_mgmt_util
Windows
c:\Program Files\Amazon\CloudHSM> .\key_mgmt_util.exe

The prompt changes to Command: when key_mgmt_util is running.

If the command fails, such as returning a Daemon socket connection error message, try updating your configuration file.

Basic usage of key_mgmt_util

See the following topics for the basic usage of the key_mgmt_util tool.

Log in to the HSMs

Use the loginHSM command to log in to the HSMs. The following command logs in as a crypto user (CU) named example_user. The output indicates a successful login for all three HSMs in the cluster.

Command: loginHSM -u CU -s example_user -p <PASSWORD> Cfm3LoginHSM returned: 0x00 : HSM Return: SUCCESS Cluster Error Status Node id 0 and err state 0x00000000 : HSM Return: SUCCESS Node id 1 and err state 0x00000000 : HSM Return: SUCCESS Node id 2 and err state 0x00000000 : HSM Return: SUCCESS

The following shows the syntax for the loginHSM command.

Command: loginHSM -u <USER TYPE> -s <USERNAME> -p <PASSWORD>

Log out from the HSMs

Use the logoutHSM command to log out from the HSMs.

Command: logoutHSM Cfm3LogoutHSM returned: 0x00 : HSM Return: SUCCESS Cluster Error Status Node id 0 and err state 0x00000000 : HSM Return: SUCCESS Node id 1 and err state 0x00000000 : HSM Return: SUCCESS Node id 2 and err state 0x00000000 : HSM Return: SUCCESS

Stop key_mgmt_util

Use the exit command to stop key_mgmt_util.

Command: exit