Endura Decryption Utility
Description: EDU is a software-based crypto tool used to recover tapes created with Spectra Logic hardware encryption products. Customers need confidence that their data is accessible regardless to access to Spectra Logic products—they own their data—and EDU was the "just in case" tool for that.
I helped design Spectra Logic's encryption products and key management system—the CEO specifically chose me to be the "walking encyclopedia" on encryption and security—and I was responsible for developing EDU. The finished product did encryption as well as decryption, though the feature was hidden and only used in unit tests.
Distinctions:
- EDU was created using the Test-Driven Development process. When problems came up in test, they were always tracked down to a configuration problem in the test lab environment, not a defect in EDU. I filed enhancement requests against the project, but not a single defect was found.
Comments
Very cool utility but the documentation is not complete so when it fails, it's difficult to know if it's a config error or an app error. Example, it's not noted that the OS version of the tape driver does not work, you must install one from the drive mfgr. Also, the decrypt command is not shown consistently, sometimes with -o /dev/st0 (destination drive), sometimes without.
Does the decryption take place during the tape to disk operation or the subsequent disk to tape operation? If during the later disk to tape process, why does it take 20 hours for the initial tape to disk process (full LTO4 tape)?
Posted by: Scott | November 25, 2009 9:25 AM