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Configuring KMIP

  3 minute read.

Last Modified 2022-09-21 13:20 -0400
KMIP is only available for TrueNAS Enterprise licensed systems. Contact the iXsystems Sales Team to inquire about purchasing TrueNAS Enterprise licenses.

The Key Management Interoperability Protocol (KMIP) is an extensible client/server communication protocol for storing and maintaining keys, certificates, and secret objects. KMIP on TrueNAS Enterprise integrates the system within an existing centralized key management infrastructure and uses a single trusted source for creating, using, and destroying SED passwords and ZFS encryption keys.

Keys can be created on a single server and then retrieved by TrueNAS. Keys wrapped within keys, symmetric, and asymmetric keys are supported. Alternately, KMIP can be used for clients to ask a server to encrypt or decrypt data without the client ever having direct access to a key. KMIP also can be used to sign certificates.

You need to have a KMIP server available with certificate authorities and certificates you can import into TrueNAS. Have the KMIP server configuration open in a separate browser tab or copy the KMIP server certificate string and private key string to later paste into the TrueNAS web interface. This helps simplify the TrueNAS connection process.

Connecting TrueNAS to a KMIP Server

To connect TrueNAS to a KMIP server, import a Certificate Authority (CA) and Certificate from the KMIP server, then configure the KMIP options.

Log in to the TrueNAS web interface and go to System > CAs and click ADD. In the Type drop down menu, select Import CA. Enter a memorable Name for the CA, then paste the KMIP server Certificate and Private Key strings into the related fields. Leave the Passphrase empty and click Submit.

Next, go to System > Certificates and click ADD. In the Type drop down menu, select Import Certificate. Enter a memorable Name for the certificate and paste the KMIP server Certificate and Private Key strings into the related TrueNAS fields. Leave the Passphrase empty and click SUBMIT.

For security reasons, we strongly recommend protecting the CA and Certificate values.

Configuring KMIP in TrueNAS

Go to System > KMIP.

SystemKMIP

Enter the central key server Server host name or IP address and the number of an open connection Port on the key server. Select the Certificate and Certificate Authority that you imported from the central key server. To ensure the Certificate and CA chain is correct, set Validate Connection and click SAVE.

When the certificate chain verifies, choose the encryption values, SED passwords, or ZFS data pool encryption keys to move to the central key server. Set Enabled to begin moving the passwords and keys immediately after clicking SAVE.

Refresh the KMIP screen to show the current KMIP Key Status.

SystemKMIPKeyStatus

If you want to cancel a pending key synchronization, set Force Clear and click SAVE.

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