User guide
PAGE 14IRONKEY USER GUIDE
INITIALIZING YOUR IRONKEY ON LINUX
If you prefer to use a Linux computer, you can choose to initialize your IronKey on Linux:
Step Description
1 Plug it into your computer’s USB
port.
Your IronKey can be initialized on Linux 2.6+ (x86
systems only). It can also be setup and used on
Windows and a Mac.
To use the full speed of the IronKey, plug it into a USB
2.0 port.
2 Run the ironkey program from
the IronKey’s linux folder.
The IronKey has a virtual CD-ROM.
You must start the IronKey Unlocker manually by going
to the linux folder and running ironkey.
3 Agree to the license agreement. The IronKey’s End-User License Agreement appears.
Scroll to the end of the agreement, and press Q to exit
viewing the agreement. Press Y (Yes) to agree to its
terms. (It’s also online at: https://www.ironkey.com/terms)
4 Create a device password and a
nickname for your IronKey.
Because you can have multiple IronKeys, the nickname
helps you distinguish between different IronKey
devices.
Your password is case-sensitive and must be at least 4
characters long. The threat of brute-force password
attacks is removed by the IronKey’s self-destruct
feature.
5 The IronKey initializes. During this process, it generates the AES encryption
key, and creates the le system for the secure volume.
This process might take a minute.
Your IronKey is now ready for use.
USING THE IRONKEY UNLOCKER ON LINUX
The IronKey Unlocker for Linux will allow you to access your les and change your device
password on Linux, allowing you to securely transfer les from and between Windows, Mac,
and Linux computers. You can use the other IronKey applications and services on a Windows
computer.
Depending on your Linux distribution, you might need root privileges to use the program
“ironkey” found in the Linux folder of the mounted virtual CD-ROM. If you have only one
IronKey attached to the system, simply run the program from a command shell with no
arguments (e.g. ironkey). If you have multiple IronKeys, you will have to specify the device
name of the one you want to unlock.










