Installing GPG on W2K
Leigh S. Jones, KR6X
kr6x@kr6x.com
Thu May 9 22:35:02 2002
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_0144_01C1F75E.99CE5FB0
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Ping Kam=20
Subject: Installing GPG on W2K
Hi:
=20
According to the Readme.w32 after unzipping the download, the =
installation simply copy the gpg.exe to a directory when we store the =
binaries (which I assume any directory on the path) and create a =
directory 'c:\gnupg'.
=20
So I copy the gpg.exe to my local machine and create the 'c:\gnupg' =
directory. Then I follow the installation instruction, start a command =
window, change directory to where the gpg.exe resides and type gpg and I =
see a prompt
=20
gpg: Go ahead and type your message ...
=20
So I type something but nothing happens, I type more and still nothing =
happens. I wait for a few minutes and nothing happens. Is this normal? =
=20
=20
So I read the handbook, create a keypair, export the public key, =
import public key from somebody else. Edit, fingerprint, sign, and =
check the imported key. I can even decrypt files encrypted with my =
public key and encrypt file using their public key. But I am not sure =
if gpg is installed properly.
=20
Thanks,
Ping Kam
You were obviously just beginning to install gpg.
Read through the stuff below. It might not be
presented in the order you want, but the information
is there.
Before I go on, I'd like to point out, in case you aren't=20
aware of this, that gpg.exe for W32 is a console
application only, no window appears when gpg is
run. On Win2K you can add WinPT if you like to
get a user interface. There are a few details with an
installation like this -- the most important being that
the WinPT 5.5x release was written for GnuPG 1.0.6
and will have a few problems with the new trust
database interface in gpg 1.0.7. It doesn't prevent=20
you from using the encrypt/decrypt/sign/verify=20
functions, but some key management functions
will still have to be done at the command line with
gpg 1.0.7. WinPT still takes over the keyserver
interface, which is a good thing.
Hit <ctrl>Z if you ever start up gpg from the=20
command line without parameters and don't know
what to do next. Really, gpg wasn't intended to
be used in an interactive mode with you typing
in messages at the command line. The ability that
gpg has to accept input from "stdin" and put it's
output on "stdout" is intended for use by batch
programs.
To begin with, type=20
gpg --help
This is your way to get reminders about the=20
commands you will need to use gpg.
Your first step will be to force gpg to build a key
database at c:\gnupg\secring.gpg etc. To do
this, you type gpg --list-keys. You will get an
error message. Type gpg --list-keys again. The
key databases have been created.
Next you will need to create keys or import keys
into the database. You might really want to
customize the c:\gnupg\options file first, but this
takes some understanding of what you are doing.
If you don't have any keys to import, then perhaps
you should go right ahead and create some.
If you know what software you want gpg to=20
interact with, for instance PGP 2.63, then let us=20
know here and we'll give you some advice on how
to set up your options file before you go on. =20
Otherwise, you may not need to put anything into
the options file now, especially since on Win2k
the keyserver functions won't work.
Good luck.
------=_NextPart_000_0144_01C1F75E.99CE5FB0
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content=3D"text/html; charset=3Diso-8859-1" =
http-equiv=3DContent-Type>
<META content=3D"MSHTML 5.00.3502.4856" name=3DGENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: =
0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
<A href=3D"mailto:pkam@quikcard.com" title=3Dpkam@quikcard.com>Ping =
Kam</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Installing GPG on =
W2K</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Hi:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>According to the Readme.w32 after =
unzipping the=20
download, the installation simply copy the gpg.exe to a directory when =
we=20
store the binaries (which I assume any directory on the path) =
and create=20
a directory 'c:\gnupg'.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>So I copy the gpg.exe to my local =
machine and=20
create the 'c:\gnupg' directory. Then I follow the installation=20
instruction, start a command window, change directory to where the =
gpg.exe=20
resides and type gpg and I see a prompt</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>gpg: Go ahead and type your message=20
...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>So I type something but nothing =
happens, I type=20
more and still nothing happens. I wait for a few minutes and =
nothing=20
happens. Is this normal? </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>So I read the handbook, create a =
keypair, export=20
the public key, import public key from somebody else. Edit, =
fingerprint,=20
sign, and check the imported key. I can even decrypt files =
encrypted=20
with my public key and encrypt file using their public key. But =
I am not=20
sure if gpg is installed properly.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Thanks,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Ping Kam</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>You =
were=20
obviously just beginning to install gpg.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>Read =
through the stuff=20
below. It might not be</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>presented =
in the order=20
you want, but the information</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>is =
there.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>Before I go =
on, I'd like=20
to point out, in case you aren't </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>aware of =
this, that=20
gpg.exe for W32 is a console</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>application =
only, no=20
window appears when gpg is</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>run. =
On Win2K you=20
can add WinPT if you like to</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>get a user=20
interface. There are a few details with an</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" =
size=3D2>installation like this --=20
the most important being that</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>the WinPT =
5.5x release=20
was written for GnuPG 1.0.6</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>and will =
have a few=20
problems with the new trust</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>database =
interface in gpg=20
1.0.7. It doesn't prevent </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>you =
from</FONT><FONT=20
color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2> using the=20
encrypt/decrypt/sign/verify </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>functions, =
but some key=20
management functions</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>will still =
have to be=20
done at the command line with</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>gpg =
1.0.7. WinPT=20
still takes over the keyserver</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>interface, =
which is a=20
good thing.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>Hit =
<ctrl>Z if you=20
ever start up gpg from the </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>command =
line without=20
parameters and don't know</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>what to do =
next. =20
Really, gpg wasn't intended to</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>be used in =
an interactive=20
mode with you typing</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>in messages =
at the=20
command line. The ability that</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>gpg has to =
accept input=20
from "stdin" and put it's</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>output on =
"stdout" is=20
intended for use by batch</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" =
size=3D2>programs.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>To begin =
with, type=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" =
size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>gpg =
--help</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>This is =
your way to get=20
reminders about the </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>commands =
you will need to=20
use gpg.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>Your first =
step will be=20
to force gpg to build a key</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>database at =
c:\gnupg\secring.gpg etc. To do</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>this, you =
type gpg=20
--list-keys. You will get an</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>error =
message. Type=20
gpg --list-keys again. The</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>key =
databases have been=20
created.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>Next you =
will need to=20
create keys or import keys</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>into the =
database. =20
You might really want to</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>customize =
the=20
c:\gnupg\options file first, but this</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>takes some =
understanding=20
of what you are doing.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>If you =
don't have any=20
keys to import, then perhaps</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" =
size=3D2>you</FONT><FONT=20
color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2> should go right ahead =
and create=20
some.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>If you know =
what software=20
you want gpg to </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>interact =
with, for=20
instance PGP 2.63, then let us </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>know here =
and we'll give=20
you some advice on how</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>to set up =
your options=20
file before you go on. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>Otherwise, =
you may not=20
need to put anything into</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>the options =
file now,=20
especially since on Win2k</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>the =
keyserver functions=20
won't work.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000080 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2>Good=20
luck.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
------=_NextPart_000_0144_01C1F75E.99CE5FB0--