Exporting and importing the credential vault

BMC Helix Discovery provides an option to back up your credential vault using the export and import buttons. 

This feature is useful when you are moving an Outpost from one server location to another. During the move, if you uninstall the Outpost on the original server before installing it in the new location, you will be deregistered from the service and consequently lose the credentials as well. To avoid this, you can use the export option to safely export the credential vault and only then deregister the Outpost. You can then install the Outpost in a new location and use the import option to restore the credentials in your vault.

For exporting the credential vault, it is mandatory to set a guard passphrase of minimum eight characters. Sensitive credential information is encrypted in the exported file using a key and this key is protected using the passphrase. After exporting, you get an encrypted .json file. To successfully import the encrypted credential vault into your system, you must specify the same passphrase that you set during export.

To export the credential vault

1. From the menu bar, select Manage > Credentials.
   The Credentials page is displayed.
2. From the list of installed Outposts, click the Outpost for which you want to export the credential vault.
   You are automatically logged into the Outpost in a new browser tab.
3. In the Outpost window, from the menu bar, click Manage > Credentials.
   The Credentials page is displayed.
   
   
   
   
4. From the top-right corner of the page, click Export.
   The Export Credentials dialog is displayed.
   
   
   
   
5. Configure the following fields:
   • Guard Passphrase: Enter a passphrase of minimum eight characters. 
     This passphrase secures the exported file. Later, you can import this file successfully only if you provide the same passphrase.
   • Verify Passphrase: Enter the guard passphrase again to verify it.
6. Click Export. 
   The credential vault is successfully exported as a .json file to the Downloads folder on your system.  

To import the credential vault

1. From the menu bar, select Manage > Credentials.
   The Credentials page is displayed.
2. From the list of installed Outposts, click the Outpost for which you want to import the credential vault.
   You are automatically logged into the Outpost in a new browser tab.
3. In the Outpost window, from the menu bar, click Manage > Credentials.
   The Credentials page is displayed.
4. From the top-right corner of the page, click Import.
   The Import Credentials dialog is displayed.
   
   
   
   
5. Configure the following fields:
   1. Choose File: Click to browse your system and select the exported credential vault file that you want to import.
   2. Guard passphrase: Enter the passphrase that you had set earlier when exporting the credential vault,
   3. Replace existing credentials: (Optional) Select this check box only if you want the credentials from the imported file to overwrite the existing credentials in your vault.
6. Click Import.
   After the process is complete, the imported credentials are listed in the Credentials tab.