How does OS recognize and deal with an encrypted filesysten

I just made an encrypted partition with Yast and it seems to work. However I have no clue as to how OpenSuse deals with encrypted file systems or how they are encrypted and decrypted. I tried to get clues from google but everything I read seems like a tribute to Yast and offers no more then a cryptic description of how the encryption configuration is actually set up and how the de/encrypt process works.
My main worry is that I might not be able to open the partition with another OS. Are there any standards involved?
Could someone point me to a link that gives some more information?

On 2010-10-10 11:06, ssouffri wrote:
>
> I just made an encrypted partition with Yast and it seems to work.
> However I have no clue as to how OpenSuse deals with encrypted file
> systems or how they are encrypted and decrypted. I tried to get clues
> from google but everything I read seems like a tribute to Yast and
> offers no more then a cryptic description of how the encryption
> configuration is actually set up and how the de/encrypt process works.
> My main worry is that I might not be able to open the partition with
> another OS. Are there any standards involved?
> Could someone point me to a link that gives some more information?

Yes, there are some standards. Linux standards :-p

Do a search for “LUKS”.

Run “file -s /dev/sd*”, you will see a partition of “LUKS” type, your new partition.

You can encrypt an usb stick, and both gnome and kde should ask for the password when you plug it,
on any linux computer. Should.

Read material… ah, here:

<http://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Using_the_Crypto_File_System>
<http://encryptionhowto.sourceforge.net/> (Last modified: Oct 04, 2000. )
<http://en.opensuse.org/Encrypted_Root_File_System> <===
<http://www.suse.de/~lnussel/hdencryption/hdencryption.html> <— the suse way
<http://localhost/usr/share/doc/manual/opensuse-manual_en/manual/cha.cryptofs.html>
<http://luks.endorphin.org/> (LUKS - Linux Unified Key
Setup )
<http://www.saout.de/misc/dm-crypt/>
<http://www.saout.de/tikiwiki/tiki-index.php> (Welcome to the dm-crypt
wiki)
<http://www.saout.de/tikiwiki/tiki-index.php?page=LUKS> (Linux Unified Key Setup)

Some are links to the “old” wiki. If they don’t appear, use “old-en.opensuse…” instead.

And some mails in the security mail list archive.


Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 11.2 x86_64 “Emerald” at Telcontar)