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How to Back Up the Master Secret

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You can back up the master secret from the master secret server onto an NTFS file system or removable media, such as a floppy disk.

You must be a Single Sign-On administrator and a Windows administrator to perform this task. The Single Sign-On (SSO) system will prompt you for a password. To restore the secret later, you must specify the same password.

Caution

If the master secret server crashes and you lose the key, or if the key becomes corrupted, you will not be able to retrieve data stored in the Credential database. You must back up the master secret, or you risk losing data from the Credential database.

To back up the master secret using the MMC Snap-In

  1. Click Start, point to Programs, click Microsoft Enterprise Single Sign-On, and then click SSO Administration.

  2. In the scope pane of the ENTSSO Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Snap-In, expand the Enterprise Single Sign-On node.

  3. Right-click System, and then click Back up Master Secret.

To back up the master secret using the command line

  1. On the Start menu, click Programs, and then click Accessories. Right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run As….

  2. Select the appropriate Administrator, and then click OK.

  3. At the command prompt, go to the Enterprise Single Sign-On installation directory.

    The default installation directory is <drive>:\Program Files\Common Files\Enterprise Single Sign-On.

  4. Type ssoconfig –backupsecret <backup file>, where <backup file> is the path and name of the file where the master secret will be backed up, for example, A:\ssobackup.bak.

  5. Provide a password to help protect this file.

    You will be prompted to confirm the password and to provide a password hint to help you remember this password.

Important

You must save and store the backup file in a secure location.

See Also

How to Generate the Master Secret
How to Restore the Master Secret
Master Secret Server
Managing the Master Secret