Table of Contents
Advertisement
Using Netscape Signing Tool with Smart Cards
Using Netscape Signing Tool with Smart Cards
This section describes how to use smart cards from within Netscape Signing Tool
to digitally sign files.
•
What Is a Smart Card?
•
Setting Up a Smart Card
•
Using the -M Option to List Smart Cards
•
Using Netscape Signing Tool and a Smart Card to Sign Files
What Is a Smart Card?
A smart card (sometimes called a token) is a credit-card-sized card, a key, or other
easily removable device that can be used for cryptographic operations and for
storing certificates. Smart cards are portable and must be physically inserted in an
appropriate smart card reader attached to a computer for use with Communicator
software running on that computer. Smart cards extend the private-key protection
provided by Communicator, since private keys stored on the card require the
card's presence as well as the password to the private-key database.
Navigator and Netscape Signing Tool support PKCS #11, a cryptographic standard
developed to support services provided by smart cards. Before purchasing a smart
card for use with Communicator, you should ensure that your vendor provides a
PKCS #11 driver that has been tested with Communicator on your platform. Tested
brands include Litronic Netsign and Datakey's SignaSURE.
Setting Up a Smart Card
Connect the smart card reader according to the manufacturer instructions. You
may need to reset the smart card to a default state using the manufacturer's
configuration utility. Not all smart cards require this step.
Smart cards designed for use with Communicator come with a software driver that
you should install in your computer according to the manufacturer's instructions.
You can then add the driver (also called a cryptographic module) to Communicator
as follows:
Make sure the smart card is inserted in the smart card reader.
1.
Click the Security button near the top of a Navigator window.
2.
104
Netscape Certificate Management System Command-Line Tools Guide • October 2001
Advertisement
Table of Contents
