"authentication" key flag

[Werner Koch]

On Fri, 17 Dec 2004 02:49:14 -0500 (EST), Atom 'Smasher' said:

> can anyone tell me how/what gpg authentication may be used for? rfc
> 2440bis-12 doesn't mention any details other than mentioning (in
> "5.2.3.21. Key Flags") that such capability exists.

It is currently only used to tell gpg not to use this key for signing
(if is does not also has the "s" capability).  The idea is to use such
keys for SSH and similar.  The OpenPGP card features a key dedicated
to that purpose.

> any use that i can think of for such a key seems like it could be
> handled by a ~regular~ signing key...

The general rule is to use one key for one purpose.


Salam-Shalom,

   Werner