how ro recover encrypted slice

[John-Mark Gurney]

Poul-Henning Kamp wrote this message on Mon, Apr 05, 2004 at 09:21 +0200:
> In message <c3421fc3355c.c3355cc3421f at nyroc.rr.com>, mmarkows at twcny.rr.com writ
> es:
> >I mounted a GEOM-encrypted slice to /home2 and stored all my data there. Two days ago, I decided to update my FreeBSD from 5.2 to 5.2.1. I have done it several times before, so I felt self-assured. I backed up my config files, forgetting unfortunately about /etc/gbde/ad1s2.
> >
> >During the update procedure my system was messed up to the extent that it seemed reasonable to do a clean install of 5.2.1. I did it without saving /etc/gbde/ad1s2, and without touching the encrypted slice.
> >
> >Now, I am in a predicament because I cannot access my files that I need for my work tomorrow. I know that I messed up, but my last backup is 3 weeks old, and essentially it is no good any more.
> >
> >Is there any way to recover the data? I have 13 hours to do it.
> 
> The data stored in the file you lost is only the encrypted location of
> the master key, so in theory you could do a brute force search for the
> master key.

Doesn't this mean he can restore from his 3 week old backup of
/etc/gbde/ad1s2, and then get back to bussiness?  I assume that his
backup covered /etc...  and that /etc/gbde/ad1s2 doesn't change over
time...

-- 
  John-Mark Gurney				Voice: +1 415 225 5579

     "All that I will do, has been done, All that I have, has not."