NAME

Crypt::DSA::KeyChain - DSA key generation system

SYNOPSIS

    use Crypt::DSA::KeyChain;
    my $keychain = Crypt::DSA::KeyChain->new;
    my $key = $keychain->generate_params(
                    Size      => 512,
                    Seed      => $seed,
                    Verbosity => 1,
              );
    $keychain->generate_keys($key);

DESCRIPTION

Crypt::DSA::KeyChain is a lower-level interface to key generation than the interface in Crypt::DSA (the keygen method). It allows you to separately generate the p, q, and g key parameters, given an optional starting seed, and a mandatory bit size for p (q and g are 160 bits each).

You can then call generate_keys to generate the public and private portions of the key.

USAGE

$keychain = Crypt::DSA::KeyChain->new

Constructs a new Crypt::DSA::KeyChain object. At the moment this isn't particularly useful in itself, other than being the object you need in order to call the other methods.

Returns the new object.

$key = $keychain->generate_params(%arg)

Generates a set of DSA parameters: the p, q, and g values of the key. This involves finding primes, and as such it can be a relatively long process.

When invoked in scalar context, returns a new Crypt::DSA::Key object.

In list context, returns the new Crypt::DSA::Key object, along with: the value of the internal counter when a suitable prime p was found; the value of h when g was derived; and the value of the seed (a 20-byte string) when q was found. These values aren't particularly useful in normal circumstances, but they could be useful.

%arg can contain:

Size
The size in bits of the p value to generate. The q and g values are always 160 bits each.

This argument is mandatory.
Seed
A seed with which q generation will begin. If this seed does not lead to a suitable prime, it will be discarded, and a new random seed chosen in its place, until a suitable prime can be found.

This is entirely optional, and if not provided a random seed will be generated automatically.
Verbosity
Should be either 0 or 1. A value of 1 will give you a progress meter during p and q generation--this can be useful, since the process can be relatively long.

The default is 0.

$keychain->generate_keys($key)

Generates the public and private portions of the key $key, a Crypt::DSA::Key object.

AUTHOR & COPYRIGHT

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