SHASH(1) local SHASH(1)
13 Feb 2000
NAME
shash - generates or checks digests or macs.
SYNOPSIS
shash [-nqvmdbtlhVL ] [-c file] [-a algorithm] [-i config_file] [-o keymode]
[-k key] [ filename ... ]
DESCRIPTION
Shash is a program intended to produce message digests for files, or
it can check with the output of a former run whether the message
digests are still the same (i.e. whether the files changed). Shash
uses several hash algorithms. Since everyone can generate the message
digest, it may not be suitable for some security related applications.
Because of this shash also supports HMAC (rfc2104), which is a
mechanism for message authentication using cryptographic hash
functions. So shash can use a key with a hash algorithm to produce
hashes that can only be verified with the key. This way you can
securely check (i.e. you are sure that nobody can modify the mac,
without beeing detected) if files in a filesystem were altered.
If the list of files and digests, that shash produces, is stored as a
file in a disk, you should also create a digest of the list that holds
the digests, to ensure that no file is removed from the list.
If no filenames are given, it hashes the standard input to standard
output.
OPTIONS
-m --hmac
Works in hmac mode. Prompts for a password or accepts it from the
--key parameter.
-h --help
Display a help screen and quit.
-L --license
Display the shash's license and quit.
-V --verbose
Display some extra information.
--listkeygen
Lists all the supported key generation algorithms. (The
algorithms that generate a key from a password)
-o --keymode keymode
Keymode may be one of the modes listed when the --listkeygen
parameter is specified.
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13 Feb 2000
-q --quiet
Suppress some not critical warnings.
-b Use binary mode. In unix environment, only difference between
this and the normal mode is an asterix preceding the filename in
the output.
-c Check the checksum of all files listed in file against the
checksum listed in the same file.
-t, --text
Treat all input files as text files. This is the reverse option
to --binary.
-n, --nolock
It does not use fcntl() to lock the files.
-d, --doublecheck
It prompts twice for the password.
--nosalt
It does not use a salt, which is normally combined with the key
in HMAC mode.
-k --key KEY
Enter the keyword via the command line. The KEY is then used as
keyword instead of prompting for it. Keep in mind that someone
may see the command you are executing and so your key.
-c --config FILE
Use the specified configuration file. The default is .shashrc in
your home directory. The format of the configuration file is the
same as the parameters. An example file is:
algorithm sha1
keymode s2k_simple
key a_very_secret_one
-a --algorithm ALGORITHM
The algorithm used to encrypt and decrypt. Unless the bare flag
is specified there is no need to specify these for decryption.
-l --list
Displays the supported algorithms.
-v --version
Version. Display the version number and quit.
ENVIRONMENT
Shash uses the following environment variables:
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13 Feb 2000
SHASH_KEY: to specify the key.
SHASH_KEYMODE; to specify the keymode.
You can use these instead of using the command line (which is
insecure).
SEE ALSO
md5sum(1)
DIAGNOSTICS
Exit status is normally 0;
Usage: shash [-nqvmdbtlhVL] [-c file] [-a algorithm] [-i config_file]
[-o keymode] [-k key] [filename...]
AUTHORS
Copyright (C) 1999 Nikos Mavroyanopoulos (nmav@hellug.gr).
- 3 - Formatted: December 14, 2025
