The HSM is normally online to the Host and does not require operator monitoring or intervention. In use the HSM performs cryptographic processing in response to commands from the Host. Some commands are actioned by the user at the HSM Console terminal. These include commands involving plain text data, system configuration and others that do not concern the Host.
This chapter gives instructions for security operations, with the exception of LMK management, operations which are described in the Local Master Keys section (see contents list on the left).
Entry of commands and data at the Console is not case sensitive (i.e., A has the same effect as a). Spaces can be inserted between characters to ease legibility during entry; they are ignored by the HSM. However they cannot be used between command characters (e.g. the LK command cannot be successfully entered as L K).
When entering sensitive (clear text) data, use the Inhibit Echo Back facility to ensure that the HSM does not echo the data to the Console screen. This is set at configuration using the CS (Configure Security) command. Instead of displaying the data, the HSM displays a star for each character entered. Thus:
0123456789ABCDEF
is shown on the screen as:
****************
To exit from a command during data entry, press <Control> and C simultaneously. The HSM responds with:
TERMINATED