Skip to main content
Home
for DLMS smart meters
Open source solutions for DLMS smart metering

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Products
  • About us
  • Open Source
  • Community
  • Forum
  • Downloads
User account menu
  • Log in

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Purpose of Authentication Key

Purpose of authentication key

By MH , 4 August, 2023
Forums
General discussion

Hi!

If encryption and authentication is used in DLMS, we need an encryption key (EK) and authentication key (AK).

The authentication tag is created using the AES-GCM algorithm, using the EK. From my point of view, the packet is then already authenticated by the owner of the EK because AES-GCM provides authenticated encryption.

I wonder, what is the purpose of adding an AK to the additional data of the crypto protection?

Thanks for any comments.

Profile picture for user Kurumi

Kurumi

2 years 10 months ago

Hi, The encryption key is…

Hi,

The encryption key is used to cipher the data and the authentication key is used to count the authentication tag that is added after ciphered data.

DLM is using Galois/Counter Mode for ciphering. You can get more information from Galois/Counter Mode at Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galois/Counter_Mode

BR,
Mikko

  • Create new account
  • Reset your password

Hire Us!

Latest Releases

  • Tue, 06/09/2026 - 11:16
    gurux.dlms.java 4.0.95
  • Tue, 06/09/2026 - 10:03
    Gurux.DLMS.Python 1.0.199
  • Mon, 06/08/2026 - 13:39
    gurux.dlms.cpp 9.0.2606.0801
  • Mon, 06/01/2026 - 10:15
    gurux.dlms.cpp 9.0.2606.0101
  • Thu, 05/28/2026 - 16:06
    gurux.dlms.java 4.0.94

New forum topics

  • Error reading L&G Meter
  • Pass a TCP Client to GXNet
  • Australian EDMI Mk10D (Essential Energy area)
  • Strange mix of data notificiation vs get response
  • DLMS Connection
More
RSS feed
Privacy FAQ GXDN Issues Contact
Follow Gurux on Twitter Follow Gurux on Linkedin