Lost Encryption Key

[efficiondave]

I changed out the hardware (Processor, MB, Ram) on my server and that seems to have caused me to lose the Encryption key so I can't retrieve CC info and UPS shipping is broken. I haven't been able to find the Key.bin backup file for the site. I believe I do have the Random text string I used to generate the key but I haven't been able to get it back. Is there anyway to restore this info? This is for Gold R10 SR1. The hardware change didn't affect an AbleCommerce 7 site on the same server.

I did make a backup of the site files and db prior to the upgrade. Not sure if that helps.

Any ideas?
David

[Katie]

Hello David,

Sorry, but without the key backup, there isn't anything you can do. Typically the key would be stored somewhere not on the server. You make the backup via the interface and that is copied to a local PC or secure place not on the server.

You can re-enter the shipping info., but the credit card info will be encrypted using the key in place at the time.

I am surprised that hardware would affect this. Are you certain that nothing changed in IIS or .Net?

Thanks
Katie

[jguengerich]

Might be related to whatever causes some servers to need a static machineKey set in the web.config file. Without it, the machineKey changes at each reboot, and the existing AC encryption key is no longer valid.
(viewtopic.php?f=65&t=18580)

[efficiondave]

Yeah, I had found that thread and added a MachineKey after the fact. We managed to get things set back up (Shipping and PayPal were broken) and running. And now I have the encryption key backed up to a few places.

[jguengerich]

Make sure you back up your web.config (or at least the machineKey part of it) too.

[efficiondave]

Good point.