Debian 4.0: Installing gpg-agent

Problem

I want to use gpg-agent on a Debian or Ubuntu console.

Environment

• Debian 4.0
• gpg-1.4.6

Solution

Install gpg-agent and pinentry program:

sudo apt-get install gnupg-agent pinentry-curses

Starting gpg-agent manually

eval $(gpg-agent --daemon)

Starting gpg-agent automatically from console machine

Shell agnostic

Add the lines below to ~/.profile. Any POSIX-confirming shell should include this file.

# Invoke GnuPG-Agent the first time we login.
    # Does `~/.gpg-agent-info' exist and points to gpg-agent process accepting signals?
if test -f $HOME/.gpg-agent-info && \
    kill -0 `cut -d: -f 2 $HOME/.gpg-agent-info` 2>/dev/null; then
    GPG_AGENT_INFO=`cat $HOME/.gpg-agent-info | cut -c 16-`
else
    # No, gpg-agent not available; start gpg-agent
    eval `gpg-agent --daemon --no-grab --write-env-file $HOME/.gpg-agent-info`
fi
export GPG_TTY=`tty`
export GPG_AGENT_INFO

Bash specific

Add the following lines to .bash_profile or .bash_login:

    # Invoke GnuPG-Agent the first time we login.

    # Does `.gpg-agent-info' exist and points to a gpg-agent process accepting signals?
if [ -f $HOME/.gpg-agent-info ] && \
    kill -0 $(cut -d: -f 2 $HOME/.gpg-agent-info) 2>/dev/null
then
    # Yes, `.gpg-agent.info' points to valid gpg-agent process;
        # Indicate gpg-agent process
    GPG_AGENT_INFO=$(cat $HOME/.gpg-agent-info | cut -c 16-)
else
    # No, no valid gpg-agent process available;
        # Start gpg-agent
    eval $(gpg-agent --daemon --no-grab --write-env-file $HOME/.gpg-agent-info)
fi
export GPG_TTY=$(tty)
export GPG_AGENT_INFO

See also

Using gnupg-agent to securely retain keys - Debian Administration

Concise article describing how to use gpg-agent

info gpg-agent

Typing info gpg-agent from a console gives you the manual

Journal

20080401

$ eval $(gpg-agent)  # Wrong syntax
gpg-agent[24981]: directory `/home/myname/.gnupg/private-keys-v1.d' created
gpg-agent[24981]: can't connect to `/home/myname/.gnupg/S.gpg-agent': No such file or directory
gpg-agent: no gpg-agent running in this session
$ eval $(gpg-agent --daemon)  # Right syntax
$

I receive this error when using gpg:

gpg: problem with the agent - disabling agent use

It appeared a pinentry program was missing. I was able to solve the error message by installing a console pinentry program:

$ sudo apt-get install pinentry-curses

You can select your preferable pinentry program by issuing:

$ sudo apt-cache search pinentry

20080921

http://thefunkcorner.blogspot.com/2008/06/using-gnupg-agent-on-console.html

More information to auto-start gpg-agent on the console:

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