NAME

Crypt::DSA::Key - DSA key

SYNOPSIS

    use Crypt::DSA::Key;
    my $key = Crypt::DSA::Key->new;

    $key->p($p);

DESCRIPTION

Crypt::DSA::Key contains a DSA key, both the public and private portions. Subclasses of Crypt::DSA::Key implement read and write methods, such that you can store DSA keys on disk, and read them back into your application.

USAGE

Any of the key attributes can be accessed through combination get/set methods. The key attributes are: p, q, g, priv_key, and pub_key. For example:

    $key->p($p);
    my $p2 = $key->p;

$key = Crypt::DSA::Key->new(%arg)

Creates a new (empty) key object. All of the attributes are initialized to 0.

Alternately, if you provide the Filename parameter (see below), the key will be read in from disk. If you provide the Type parameter (mandatory if Filename is provided), be aware that your key will actually be blessed into a subclass of Crypt::DSA::Key. Specifically, it will be the class implementing the specific read functionality for that type, eg. Crypt::DSA::Key::PEM.

Returns the key on success, "undef" otherwise. (See Password for one reason why new might return "undef").

%arg can contain:

Type
The type of file where the key is stored. Currently the only option is PEM, which indicates a PEM file (optionally encrypted, ASN.1-encoded object). Support for reading/writing PEM files comes from Convert::PEM; if you don't have this module installed, the new method will die.

This argument is mandatory, if you're either reading the file from disk (ie. you provide a Filename argument) or you've specified the Content argument.
Filename
The location of the file from which you'd like to read the key. Requires a Type argument so the decoder knows what type of file it is. You can't specify Content and Filename at the same time.
Content
The serialized version of the key. Requires a Type argument so the decoder knows how to decode it. You can't specify Content and Filename at the same time.
Password
If your key file is encrypted, you'll need to supply a passphrase to decrypt it. You can do that here.

If your passphrase is incorrect, new will return "undef".

$key->write(%arg)

Writes a key (optionally) to disk, using a format that you define with the Type parameter.

If your $key object has a defined priv_key (private key portion), the key will be written as a DSA private key object; otherwise, it will be written out as a public key. Note that not all serialization mechanisms can produce public keys in this version--currently, only PEM public keys are supported.

%arg can include:

Type
The type of file format that you wish to write. PEM is one example (in fact, currently, it's the only example).

This argument is mandatory, unless your $key object is already blessed into a subclass (eg. Crypt::DSA::Key::PEM), and you wish to write the file using the same subclass.
Filename
The location of the file on disk where you want the key file to be written.
Password
If you want the key file to be encrypted, provide this argument, and the ASN.1-encoded string will be encrypted using the passphrase as a key.

$key->size

Returns the size of the key, in bits. This is actually the number of bits in the large prime p.

AUTHOR & COPYRIGHTS

Please see the Crypt::DSA manpage for author, copyright, and license information.