Generating an OpenPGP Key Pair | Generated by AI
Overview of the Output
This appears to be the console output from generating a new OpenPGP key pair using GPG (GNU Privacy Guard), a tool for encrypting and signing data. The process involves creating a public/private key pair for secure communication or file signing. Here’s a breakdown:
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User Confirmation: The prompt “Change (N)ame, (C)omment, (E)mail or (O)kay/(Q)uit? O” shows you confirmed the key details (name, email, etc.) by selecting ‘O’ (Okay). This locks in the user ID associated with the key.
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Entropy Warnings: The repeated messages about generating random bytes and performing actions (like typing or moving the mouse) are GPG’s way of ensuring high-quality randomness for key generation. It needs entropy (randomness from system events) to create secure cryptographic primes. This is normal and can take time on slower systems.
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Directory and File Creation: GPG created a directory (
/home/[username]/.gnupg/openpgp-revocs.d) to store revocation certificates. It then generated and saved a revocation certificate as a.revfile (e.g., something like[key-fingerprint].rev). This completes the key setup. -
Key Summary: The final block displays the new key details:
- pub: The primary public key (RSA 4096-bit, created on 2025-10-08, usable for signing and certification
[SC]). - Key Fingerprint: A unique identifier for the key (e.g., a 40-character hex string like
98...1CD). - uid: The user ID (e.g., a name like “Zhiwei Li” tied to an email like
[redacted]@gmail.com). - sub: A subkey for encryption
[E](also RSA 4096-bit).
- pub: The primary public key (RSA 4096-bit, created on 2025-10-08, usable for signing and certification
The process succeeded: “public and secret key created and signed.” Your keys are now stored in ~/.gnupg/ (public in pubring.kbx, private in private-keys-v1.d/).
What the .rev File Means
The file in question is the revocation certificate (.rev extension) stored in the openpgp-revocs.d directory. This is not your private key—it’s a special signed document that lets you (or anyone with it) revoke the key pair if it’s compromised, lost, or no longer needed.
- Purpose: Revocation proves the key is invalid, preventing its use for signing or encryption. GPG generates it automatically during key creation for safety.
- How It Works: If needed, import this file back into GPG with
gpg --import [file.rev], which publishes the revocation to keyservers or updates your keyring. - Security Note: Keep this file very secure and backed up separately (e.g., on an encrypted USB). Don’t share it unless revoking the key. It’s useless without the key itself but contains the fingerprint.
To list your keys: gpg --list-keys. For more on managing them, check the GPG docs.
GNU Privacy Guard Documentation