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Managing Certificates on an iKey

Solution

Adding an Existing Certificate to Your iKey
If you already have certificates issued to you, you can import them to your iKey. Certificates must be in the .P12 or .PFX format to be imported.

To import a certificate on to your iKey:

  1. To start CIP Utilities, from the Start menu, select Programs > SafeNet Inc> iKey Software > CIP Utilities.
  2. Right-click the iKey you want to import the certificate to, then select Import PKCS#12 File from the shortcut menu.  The Import File window appears. 
  3. Navigate to the location of the certificate file, select the file, and then click Open.
  4. Enter the password associated with the certificate file, then click OK. The Select Container Name window appears.
  5. Accept the default container name or enter a new container name for the certificate, then click OK.
  6. The certificate file is unwrapped and the certificate is copied to the iKey. A message box appears when the process is complete.

Importing a Certificate from the Windows Certificate Store
If a certificate is stored in the Windows certificate store, but is not contained on the desired iKey, you can import the certificate from the certificate store to the iKey. Right-click the iKey you want to import the certificate to, then select Import Certificate from System from the shortcut menu. The certificate stored in the certificate store must be associated with a key pair on the iKey in order to successfully import the certificate to the iKey.

Moving a Certificate to or from Windows

Certificates that Windows “knows” about are stored in the certificate store on your computer. If you are working on a computer that does not contain a copy of your certificate in its certificate store, you will not be able to encrypt a file or an email message.
This is because the certificate in the certificate store acts as a pointer to the more secure portion of your digital certificate - the private key located on your iKey. Without this pointer, the system will not be able to locate your private key.

Copying a Certificate to the Windows Certificate Store 

  1. Right-click the certificate you want to copy, and then select Copy to System from the shortcut menu.
  2. The certificate is copied to the Windows certificate store. The certificate icon changes to a double ribbon, indicating the certificate also resides in the certificate store.

Deleting a Certificate from the Windows Certificate Store 

  1. Right-click the certificate you want to delete, and then select Delete from System from the shortcut menu.
  2. The certificate is deleted from the Windows certificate store. The certificate icon changes to a single ribbon, indicating the certificate resides only on the iKey.