(__)
       ('')
        \/                

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How to make a key in GnuPG using command line                  
=============================================


The key you make this way (say a nice freshly new RSA key, of 3072
bits)...

After you have installed GnuPG, you type in into DOS little window...

gpg --gen-key --expert

...and then pops out this...

Please select what kind of key you want:
   (1) DSA and Elgamal (default)        
   (2) DSA (sign only)                  
   (3) DSA (set your own capabilities)  
   (5) RSA (sign only)                  
   (7) RSA (set your own capabilities)  
Your selection?                         

...and you type in...

7

...and then pops out this...

Possible actions for a RSA key: Sign Certify Encrypt Authenticate
Current allowed actions: Sign Certify Encrypt                    
                                                                 
   (S) Toggle the sign capability                                
   (E) Toggle the encrypt capability                             
   (A) Toggle the authenticate capability                        
   (Q) Finished                                                  
                                                                 
Your selection?                                                  

...you type in...

Q

...and then pops out this...

RSA keys may be between 1024 and 4096 bits long.
What keysize do you want? (2048)                

...and you type in this...

3072

...and then pops out this...

Requested keysize is 3072 bits                  
Please specify how long the key should be valid.
         0 = key does not expire                
        = key expires in n days                 
      w = key expires in n weeks                
      m = key expires in n months               
      y = key expires in n years                
Key is valid for? (0)                           

...you type in...

0

...and then pops out this...

Key does not expire at all
Is this correct? (y/N)    

...you type in...

y

...and then pops out this...

You need a user ID to identify your key; the software constructs the 
user ID from the Real Name, Comment and Email Address in this form:  
    "Heinrich Heine (Der Dichter) "                                  
                                                                     
Real name:                                                           

...and you type in your name, say...

Lucy

...and then pops out this...

Real name: Lucy   
Email address:    

...and then you type in your address...

some@nice.com

...and then pops out this...

Real name: Lucy             
Email address: some@nice.com
Comment:                    

...and then you type in say this...

forever

...and then pops out this...

You selected this USER-ID:                         
    "Lucy (forever) "                              
                                                   
Change (N)ame, (C)omment, (E)mail or (O)kay/(Q)uit?

...and you type in...

O

...and then pops out this...

You need a Passphrase to protect your secret key.
                                                 
Enter passphrase:                                

...and you then type in some password, and you then type it in again,
and then pops out something like this...

We need to generate a lot of random bytes. It is a good idea to perform
some other action (type on the keyboard, move the mouse, utilize the   
disks) during the prime generation; this gives the random number       
generator a better chance to gain enough entropy.                      
.+++++                                                                 
...+++++                                                               
gpg: key 0864C04B marked as ultimately trusted                         
public and secret key created and signed.                              
                                                                       
pub   3072R/0864C04B 2006-06-05                                        
   Key fingerprint = 91F2 7525 0651 2476 8712  F3C7 3835 1052 0864 C04B
uid                  Lucy (forever)                                    

...and this is the end of the process, your key is finished!

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