OpenSC
OpenSC provides a set of libraries and utilities to access smart
cards. Its main focus is on cards that support cryptographic operations,
and facilitate their use in security applications such as mail encryption,
authentication, and digital signature. OpenSC implements the PKCS#11 API
so applications supporting this API such as Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird
can use it. OpenSC implements the PKCS#15 standard and aims to be compatible
with every software that does so, too.
See our OverView page for more details.
OpenSC was written by an international team and is licensed as
Open Source software under the
LGPL license.
For a list of all authors and contributers as well as detailed
license information see AuthorsAndCredits.
National ID Cards
Smart Cards
USB Tokens
Starting Points
- OverView - A short introduction what OpenSC is and how it fits into the big picture.
- WhatsNew - What is new, what has changed since the last major release?
- OperatingSystems - What your operating system needs to have for OpenSC to work.
- Download the latest stable release of OpenSC.
- CompilingInstalling - How to compile and install OpenSC yourself.
- QuickStart - installation and basic steps to initialize a blank smart card.
- UsingOpensc - options when using OpenSC.
- PKCS#15 Initialization Guide with many small details
Application Support
- PKCS11 Module - OpenSC includes a PKCS#11 module "opensc-pkcs11.so" that works with many applications.
- Tools - OpenSC includes a number of command line tools for exploring, initializing, automatisation and debugging.
- OpenSSL can use a so called engine to delegate cryptographic operations to your smart card.
- WindowsCSP - on Windows a Cryptographic Service Provider (CSP) offers your smart card to all applications.
- AppleCSP - on Mac OS X a Cryptographic Service Provider (CSP) offers your smart card to all applications.
- Mozilla, Firefox and Thunderbird all can use OpenSC for authentication, signing and decryption
- PamModules - allow people to login using their smart card.
- SecureShell - use ssh network connections with smart card authentication.
- PKI - Public Key Infrastructures are used to manage certificates, including those on smart cards.
- VPN - build private networks using smart card authentication.
- WPA - use WPA to secure your wireless network including smart card authentication.
- PGP - email can be signed and crypted in PGP format using smart cards.
- Sign arbitrary data and documents using smart cards.
- XML advanced signatures can be created with smart cards.
- HBCI homebanking with a smart card (HBCI is a standard common in Germany).
Developers Corner
- SubversionRepository has our latest source code, if you want to test it or improve it.
- All changes are listed in the [file:ChangeLog ChangeLog] in the source code or online.
- Bug reports are reported and viewed best online.
- DeveloperHardware is always welcome. Thanks for your donation!
- ReleaseHowto documents our release process.
- ReleaseTodo lists the things we want to do before our next release.
- Interoperability is best discussed on an the interopeid mailing list for national id cards.
- RecentTestresults has the test course we aim to do with each release, and help is always very welcome!
- ResourcesLinks -- Standards, Documents, etc.
- DevelopmentPolicy -- the how and why of OpenSC development.
- SslChoice -- if you want to write an SSL enabled application you can choose between many libraries.
- MacOsXTokend -- a Tokend implementation for Mac OS 10.4, based on OpenSC