Using filesystem encryption with eCryptfs

The eCryptfs filesytem is implemented as an encryption/decryption layer interposed between a mounted filesystem and the kernel. The data is encrypted and decrypted automatically at filesystem access. It can be used for backup or sensitive files placement for transportable or fixed storage mediums. In this recipe we will install and demonstrate some of eCryptfs, capabilities.

Getting ready

All steps will be performed on nodeorcl1.

How to do it...

eCryptfs is shipped and bundled with the Red Hat installation kit.

1. The eCryptfs package is dependent on the trouser package. As root user, first install the trouser package followed by installation of the ecryptfs-util package:

   [root@nodeorcl1 Packages]# rpm -Uhv trousers-0.3.4-4.el6.x86_64.rpm 
   warning: trousers-0.3.4-4.el6.x86_64.rpm: Header V3 RSA/SHA256 Signature, key ID fd431d51: NOKEY
   Preparing...                ########################################### [100%]
      1:trousers               ##########...