Can a private key be copied to another machine?

[R. Bradley Tilley]

On a Linux system, simply copy the .gnupg directory from your home direct=
ory.=20
Be sure to write down the permissions on all the files and the directory=20
itself before you copy it. Place the directory onto the new Linux PC usin=
g=20
the same permissions, and you're ready to go... assuming that gpg is=20
installed on both systems.

On Friday 16 August 2002 10:23 am, David Shaw wrote:
> On Thu, Aug 15, 2002 at 12:12:15PM -0500, Larry Hanrahan wrote:
> > Gnupg,
> >
> >   I have a question concerning private keys.  I currently have a priv=
ate
> > key on my laptop.  Can this same private key be copied to a desktop
> > machine and retain the ability to decrypt when I receive an encrypted
> > file or do I need to create a new private key and send the public key=
 to
> > my various users?
> >
> >   If this can be done, what is the process of copying the private key=
?
>
> Machine A>   gpg --export-secret-key (mykeyid) > mykey.gpg
> =09(copy file over, presumably in a secure manner)
> Machine B>   gpg --import mykey.gpg
>
> David