--- title: IBM Cloud HSM description: Learn how to use Keyless SSL with IBM Cloud HSM. image: https://edgetunnel-b2h.pages.dev/core-services-preview.png --- > Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://edgetunnel-b2h.pages.dev/ssl/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. [Skip to content](#%5Ftop) # IBM Cloud HSM The example below was tested using [IBM Cloud HSM 7.0 โ†—](https://console.bluemix.net/docs/infrastructure/hardware-security-modules/about.html#about-ibm-cloud-hsm), a FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certified implementation based on the Gemalto SafeNet Luna a750. --- ## Before you start Make sure that you have: * Initialized [your device โ†—](https://console.bluemix.net/docs/infrastructure/hardware-security-modules/initialize%5Fhsm.html#initializing-the-ibm-cloud-hsm) * Installed the [SafeNet client software โ†—](https://cpl.thalesgroup.com/node/11350) --- ## 1\. Create, assign, and initialize a new partition The first step is creating an HSM partition, which can be thought of as an independent logical HSM within your IBM Cloud HSM device. ```txt vm$ ssh admin@hsm [cloudflare-hsm.softlayer.com] lunash:>partition create -partition KeylessSSL Type 'proceed' to create the partition, or 'quit' to quit now. > proceed 'partition create' successful. Command Result : 0 (Success) ``` Next, the partition needs to be assigned to the client, in this case your key server. ```bash [cloudflare-hsm.softlayer.com] lunash:>client assignpartition -client cloudflare-vm.softlayer.com -partition KeylessSSL 'client assignPartition' successful. Command Result : 0 (Success) ``` After the partition has been assigned, run `lunacm` from your virtual server and initialize the partition. ```txt vm$ lunacm LunaCM v7.1.0-379. Copyright (c) 2006-2017 SafeNet. Available HSMs: Slot Id -> 0 Label -> Serial Number -> XXXXXXXXXXXXX Model -> LunaSA 7.0.0 Firmware Version -> 7.0.1 Configuration -> Luna User Partition With SO (PW) Signing With Cloning Mode Slot Description -> Net Token Slot Current Slot Id: 0 lunacm:>partition init -label KeylessSSL -domain cloudflare Enter password for Partition SO: ******** Re-enter password for Partition SO: ******** You are about to initialize the partition. All contents of the partition will be destroyed. Are you sure you wish to continue? Type 'proceed' to continue, or 'quit' to quit now ->proceed Command Result : No Error ``` --- ## 2\. Generate RSA and ECDSA key pairs and certificate signing requests (CSRs) Before running the commands below, check with your information security and/or cryptography team to confirm the approved key creation procedures for your organization. When you perform this operation, you need define the ID field for the newly generated keys. It must be set to a big-endian hexadecimal integer value. ```txt vm$ cmu generatekeypair -keyType=RSA -modulusBits=2048 -publicExponent=65537 -sign=1 -verify=1 -labelpublic=myrsakey -labelprivate=myrsakey -keygenmech=1 -id=a000 Please enter password for token in slot 0 : ******** # cmu generatekeypair -keyType=ECDSA -curvetype=3 -sign=1 -verify=1 -labelpublic=myecdsakey -labelprivate=myecdsakey -id=a001 Please enter password for token in slot 0 : ******** # cmu list Please enter password for token in slot 0 : ******** handle=61 label=myecdsakey handle=60 label=myecdsakey handle=48 label=myrsakey handle=45 label=myrsakey ``` Using the keys created in the previous step, generate CSRs that can be sent to a publicly trusted Certificate Authority (CA) for signing. ```txt # cmu requestCertificate -c="US" -o="Example, Inc." -cn="ibm-cloudhsm.example.com" -s="California" -l="San Francisco" -publichandle=45 -privatehandle=48 -outputfile="rsa.csr" -sha256withrsa Please enter password for token in slot 0 : ******** Using "CKM_SHA256_RSA_PKCS" Mechanism # cmu requestCertificate -c="US" -o="Example, Inc." -cn="ibm-cloudhsm.example.com" -s="California" -l="San Francisco" -publichandle=60 -privatehandle=61 -outputfile="ecdsa.csr" -sha256withecdsa Please enter password for token in slot 0 : ******** Using "CKM_ECDSA_SHA256" Mechanism ``` --- ## 3\. Obtain and upload signed certificates from your Certificate Authority (CA) Provide the CSRs created in the previous step to your organization's preferred CA, demonstrate control of your domain as requested, and then download the signed SSL certificates. Follow the instructions provided in [Upload Keyless SSL Certificates](https://edgetunnel-b2h.pages.dev/ssl/keyless-ssl/configuration/cloudflare-tunnel/#3-upload-keyless-ssl-certificates). --- ## 4\. Modify your gokeyless config file and restart the service Lastly, we need to modify the configuration file that the key server will read on startup. Change the `object=mykey` and `pin-value=username:password` values to match the key label you provided and CU user you created. Open `/etc/keyless/gokeyless.yaml` and immediately after: **YAML** ```yaml private_key_stores: - dir: /etc/keyless/keys ``` add: **YAML** ```yaml - uri: pkcs11:token=KeylessSSL;object=myrsakeyid=a000??module-path=/usr/safenet/lunaclient/lib/libCryptoki2_64.so&pin-value=password&max-sessions=1 - uri: pkcs11:token=KeylessSSL;object=myecdsakeyid=a001??module-path=/usr/safenet/lunaclient/lib/libCryptoki2_64.so&pin-value=password&max-sessions=1 ``` With the config file saved, restart `gokeyless` and verify it started successfully. ```sh sudo systemctl restart gokeyless.service sudo systemctl status gokeyless.service -l ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"TechArticle","@id":"https://edgetunnel-b2h.pages.dev/ssl/keyless-ssl/hardware-security-modules/ibm-cloud-hsm/#page","headline":"IBM Cloud HSM ยท Cloudflare SSL/TLS docs","description":"Learn how to use Keyless SSL with IBM Cloud HSM.","url":"https://edgetunnel-b2h.pages.dev/ssl/keyless-ssl/hardware-security-modules/ibm-cloud-hsm/","inLanguage":"en","image":"https://edgetunnel-b2h.pages.dev/core-services-preview.png","dateModified":"2026-05-05","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Cloudflare","url":"https://www.cloudflare.com/"},"isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://edgetunnel-b2h.pages.dev/#website","name":"Cloudflare Docs","url":"https://edgetunnel-b2h.pages.dev/"}} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/directory/","name":"Directory"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/ssl/","name":"SSL/TLS"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"/ssl/keyless-ssl/","name":"Keyless SSL"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"item":{"@id":"/ssl/keyless-ssl/hardware-security-modules/","name":"Hardware security modules"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"item":{"@id":"/ssl/keyless-ssl/hardware-security-modules/ibm-cloud-hsm/","name":"IBM Cloud HSM"}}]} ```