USB Memory key for PGP keyring 5

[chiph]

For those of you who use PGP, and don't want to leave your keyring on your PC, or if you use multiple PCs and want to keep your keyring with you, here's a device that might help you out.

http://commerce.www.ibm.com/cgi-bin...869&cntrfnbr=1&prmenbr=1&cntry=840&lang=en_US

Obviously you can use it for things other than PGP (like using it like a really large, fast, floppy disk for sneaker-netting files around the office).

I bought one myself, and it works great with Windows 2000. It's about 4 inches (10 cm) long, and hardly weighs anything. You can use it with the supplied keyring, or it's got a clip to clip onto your shirtpocket.

Chip H.
(I neither work for IBM, nor sell for IBM)

 

[2ffat]

Chip,

[tab]How durable is this. Can keeping it in my pocket on my "real" keyring with "real" keys damage it? How about EMF, will that damage it? How about heat and humidity? Give us the lowdown from someone who uses it.
James P. Cottingham

I am the Unknown lead by the Unknowing.
I have done so much with so little
for so long that I am now qualified
to do anything with nothing.

 

[chiph]

Well, I've just gotten it, so I haven't had much time to abuse it yet.

I don't think metal keys will damage it too badly, other than scarring the plastic (big deal). It's a little too big to carry around in your pocket, however. People will be saying "Is that a memory key in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?"

I think it'd work best if you're one of those people who already has 3 bottle openers, 2 conference credential lanyards, and a flashlight on your keyring. If you're one of those people who carry a minimal set of keys, then it's probably not for you.

I don't think heat and humidity will be an issue (I live in North Carolina, and it was 92 today). It does have a rubber gasket buried in the clip portion so it might survive a trip through the washing machine.

I don't know about EMF damaging it. It's probably fairly resistant to static electricity, since it's USB. Should be immune to magnetic fields unless you work on radar units for a living.

One cool feature is that it has a LED buried inside it that blinks slowly when in standby, but blinks quickly when being accessed. You are also able to reassign the drive letter to one you like using 2000's Disk Administrator.

I've also used it as a backup device for my Quicken info. Just in case one of the floppy disks I've been rotating through for the past 5 years give out...

Chip H.

 

[johnhoke]

Not bad... now if someone will test it with Linux and/or Solaris to let us know if it works ...


-John

 

[chiph]

Hmmm.

My Linux box is too old to know about USB, so I can't test this myself. But I suspect if the kernel had USB support, and could recognize devices being added/removed dynamically, I think it'd be OK. Part of the USB spec is for removable mass storage devices, which they intended to be hard drives, but since this memory key has a CPU in it, it emulates a hard drive (ATAPI????), which is why there are no drivers needed for computers with full USB 1.2 support.

Chip H.

 

[JVW]

May I ask what PGP stands for?

Thanks,
Vince

 

[johnhoke]

PGP = Pretty Good Privacy

It is an encryption program...

for more info,

http://www.pgp.com

-John ---
John Hoke

 

[Guest_imported]

For the FREE PUBLIC version of PGP go to

http://www.pgpi.org.

Source code is there also. The story behind PGP and its creator, Phil Zimmerman is worth reading about.

 

[johnhoke]

True...

pgp.com (Network Associates) have changed their policy on the source code... they used to make it available... no longer...

there is also an open source GnuPG

-John ---
John Hoke

 

[chiph]

cassj -

Yes, Phil's story is an interesting one. Especially about how an unknown person went from payphone to payphone uploading it to Usenet to ensure it couldn't be squashed by the goverment.

John -

Ever since NAI started hiding the source code I've been referring people to the

http://www.pgpi.com

site.

Chip H.

 

[helpmehelpu]

Has anyone tested the USB key with Linux (Kernel 2.2 or later) or Windows NT 4.0 ?
How is it used ? mounted ? Can a "normal" user mount the key or do you need administrative rights ?

Any help appreciated.

 

[chiph]

helpmehelpu -

I'm pretty sure it won't work under NT4.0 because of NT's lack of USB support (there might be an occasional laptop with USB support added via a 3rd party piece of software).

It *might* work under Windows 95B with the USB patch. It does work under Windows 2000, 98, and WinME. It should work on the newer Macintoshes, but I haven't tried it yet.

Like I said in my post of July 11th, my Linux box is too old to know about USB (Pentium 133MHz -- no MMX even!), so I can't test it myself.

If you or someone else is in the Raleigh-Durham area, I'd be glad to stop by and give it a try on your hardware.

Chip H.

 

[chiph]

OK, I found some info about the memory key & Linux at:
[tab]

http://www.qbik.ch/usb/devices/

Follow these links:
[tab]Device Overview
[tab]Mass Storage
[tab]M-Systems | DiskOnKey | USB Memory Key

It's listed as working with Kernel 2.4.4 when compiled with USB storage and SCSI. Mounts as /dev/sda1. Two users have reported write problems, and one reports a problem umounting it. But others report no problems -- probably just a difference in their dist, or how they compiled their kernel.

Chip H.

 

[johnhoke]

Chip,

Thanks for the headsup... I am gonna try this out in a couple of days/weeks... will report what I find


-John ---
John Hoke

 

[chiph]

OK, and I visited a friend with a MacIntosh on Friday -- This was a Powerbook running MacOS 9.0.4. It recognized the hardware, but did not present a drive icon on the desktop. I suspect some drivers are needed.

My friend was really interested in it for carrying large files to Kinkos for printing. Presently he has to burn them onto a CD-R, which costs him about $1 each time.

Chip H.

 

[johnhoke]

Well, I ordered it yesterday, I hope to see it today or tomorrow (overnight delivery...)

I will probally post something about it after labor day here in the states ....

-John ---
John Hoke

 

[johnhoke]

Ok,

Got the key...

Good news, works great with win2k out of the box... plenty of room for all my privatekeys and a backup of my Visor's data <G>

Bad news.. I cant get it to work under Linux.. it is seen, and recognized in the /proc file sys fine,but I cannot mount it....

Damn

-John
(specs: kernel 2.4.9 usb support and usb-massstorage compiled as modules...scsi emulation modular)

---
John Hoke<br>

 

[chiph]

John -

How good is Linux at recognizing FAT file systems on other than a floppy drive? Can you try reformatting it under Linux?

What dist do you have, and what's the specific error message?

Chip H.

 

[Hokey]

Here is also a simmular product

http://www.usbdrive.com/

I dont know the compatibility of it yet, but you can get it in sizes of 16MB to 512MB. I might order the 32MB and will let you know how well it works

 

[Hokey]

I found a few sites that have the 64MB for about $120US plus I read this review:

http://www.futurelooks.com/reviews/mobile/devices/usbdrive/page1_frame.htm

come Monday morning I am ordering the 64MB