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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

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LUKS decrypt at boot over SSH? (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 days ago by clif@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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I've done a little research but curious about first hand experience.

I've got a little home server that is full disk encrypted with LUKS (+LVM, of course). It's headless (no display, no keyboard, etc) and just lives attached to the back of my desk, out of the way.

If it gets rebooted due to a power outage, I can plug in a keyboard, wait long enough for it to get to the LUKS password prompt, enter password, hit enter, and assume it worked if I see the disk activity light blinking. Worst case scenario, I can move it to a monitor and plug it in to get display too.

Because lazy, I'd prefer to be able to enter the decrypt password remotely. "Dropbear" seems to be a common suggestion but I haven't tried it yet.

So, asking for your experience or recommendations.

I'll start. Recommendation #1 - get a UPS : D ... But besides that.

Addendum: either way, I currently need to be home to do this because I access it remotely via tailscale along with my desktop. Since both are full disk encrypted, neither will boot to the point of starting tailscale without intervention. But, I might repurpose a nonencrypted RPi with SSHd to act as a "auto restarts with tailscale so I can SSH to it, then SSH to server to enter the LUKS password" jump point.

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[–] SirMaple__@lemmy.ca 16 points 2 days ago (2 children)

On my Debian systems I use mandos to unlock LUKS during boot. All done over WireGuard which is loaded inside initramfs.

https://www.recompile.se/mandos

https://github.com/r-pufky/wireguard-initramfs

[–] clif@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

This is interesting, another one I hadn't heard of yet. And, the server is running Debian : )

I enjoy the intro too :

You know how it is. You’ve heard of it happening. The Man comes and takes away your servers, your friends’ servers, the servers of everybody in the same hosting facility. The servers of their neighbors, and their neighbors’ friends. The servers of people who owe them money. And like that, they’re gone. And you doubt you’ll ever see them again. That is why your servers have encrypted root file systems

[–] TMP_NKcYUEoM7kXg4qYe@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

Cool! I might install something like this someday.

Do you use secure boot? What device is your server? I would use my laptop for that, but not sure if that's how it should work.