crypttab (EN)

Definition

Crypttab is a system configuration file in Linux that contains information about encrypted devices and enables their automatic setup during system boot. This file is typically located at /etc/crypttab and defines how LUKS volumes should be opened, including the keys or keyfiles used. Each entry in the crypttab file describes an encrypted device and specifies the device name, source device path, key file, and options. The correct configuration of this file in conjunction with /etc/fstab enables automatic mounting of encrypted partitions without manual input.

Architecture

flowchart TD     A[System boot] --> B[/etc/crypttab]     B --> C{LUKS volumes}     C --> D[Device decryption]     D --> E[/etc/fstab]     E --> F[Filesystem mount]     F --> G[Data access]          subgraph "Configuration files"         B         E     end          subgraph "Encryption layer"         C         D     end 

In Context

• Typically used together with /etc/fstab
• Related to: LUKS, dm-crypt, initramfs
• Example use case: Automatic mounting of encrypted home directories